Select examples of Hong Kong's beautiful architecture that feature artistic and innovative lighting. Part 2 in series on architectural lighting.
Hong Kong…
...a vast territory of rich culture, vibrant history, and economic influence. This region south of China is the fourth most densely populated territory on earth, and boasts an extensive skyline heralding the most skyscrapers of any city in the world. Known as the “Pearl of the Orient,” Hong Kong is so fascinating and immense that I can only scratch the surface. Therefore, my aim of this blog is only to focus on a select few of the city’s amazing architecture that feature innovative lighting and creative design.
Central Plaza
This beautiful skyscraper is often called “The Big Syringe” because of its sharp design and pointed top. On the sides of the building are 1,000 neon transformers which are built into the façade, helping give a stunning gold image of Central Plaza within the tower itself. Unique to any skyscraper, Central Plaza also boasts a feature called “Lightime.” This structure that tops the tower has four neon bands, each one changing color every 15 minutes to simulate a clock. Once all four bands have changed color, an hour has passed and the cycle begins again.
Bank of China Tower
This interesting skyscraper is one of the most well-known buildings in Hong Kong. It is built in a similar manner to Willis Tower in Chicago with multiple triangular sections combining to create an intricate whole. At night, the contours and outlines of this building are lit up with LED technology to produce a web-like visual as the lights crisscross. This tower truly stands out as unique in the world’s architecture.
The Center Tower
The Center building is one of the only skyscrapers in Hong Kong that does not have reinforced concrete at its base; rather, it is a completely steel-structured building. On the sides of this stunning tower are hundreds of neon lights which are arranged in a layered bar pattern that gets more and more dense toward the top. At night, these lights smoothly cycle through the color spectrum and adds to the beautiful displays of Hong Kong's night life.
The Hopewell Centre
Known by some as the “Big Cigar,” the Hopewell Centre is a classic among Hong Kong’s skyline and was the city’s tallest building at the time of its creation in 1980. LED lighting streams down the sides of the building as well as around the crown of the tower, totaling over 7,280 feet of LEDs. There is even a powerful color-changing laser system on the top that adds to the stunning display. This is a must-see in the vast array of Hong Kong’s spectacular architecture.
(Part 3 of this series coming soon - New York City architecture and lighting! Check out Part 1 here!)
