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Last week, we shared photos of the views from The Shard, which boasts London's highest observation deck. This time, we travel halfway around the world to the tallest building in Hong Kong. The International Commerce Centre (ICC) is a 108-storey skyscraper standing at 484 metres in height. The Kohn Pedersen Fox-designed project is the most prominent component of the Union Square development, which is situated above Kowloon Station of Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway. The tenth tallest building in the world contains a large shopping mall, class A office space, a five-star Ritz Carlton hotel, and a 360-degree observation deck called Sky100.
From here, the views of the Hong Kong skyline — undoubtedly one of the densest in the world — are extraordinary. Numerous advanced telescopes store pre-loaded 'sunny day,' 'night view,' and 'fireworks' settings to give visitors a full experience, regardless of the weather. A number of interactive touch screens provide facts about the building and the city.
Sky100 offers aerial views 393 metres above sea level. Hong Kong Island, with its mountainous terrain and undulating skyline silhouette, can be appreciated in all its glory. This is where the majority of the city's most famous skyscrapers have risen. The Center, a 73-storey office building finished in 1998, was one of the first urban renewal projects undertaken by the modern day Urban Renewal Authority. The star-shaped tower is clad in reflective glass and features a unique night lighting scheme of horizontal colourful strips.
Cesar Pelli's Two International Finance Centre (2 IFC) was the tallest building in Hong Kong from 2003 until the completion of the ICC in 2010, and it dominates the view from the ICC. The 412-metre tower culminates with a distinct sculptural crown that tapers inwards. To the east is I.M. Pei's Bank of China Tower, which was the tallest building outside the United States at the time of its completion in 1990. The glass curtain wall cladding envelops the triangular framework of the building, which is meant to resemble sprouting bamboo shoots. The structure's sharp edges attracted controversy from some feng shui practitioners, yet it has grown to become one of the most identifiable landmarks of Hong Kong.
The pyramidal top of Central Plaza is visible further to the east, where its gold and silver glass shines in the daylight. The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, identified by its curved roofline, is positioned a short walk northwards on the waterfront. Hong Kong's sweeping Victoria Harbour is home to various popular promenades and the site of annual fireworks displays. The image above shows boats scattered across the landscape, a common sight in the busy shipping corridor. Stonecutters Bridge can be seen in the far distance. Spanning the Rambler Channel, it was the second longest cable-stayed bridge in the world when it opened in 2009.
Like many buildings in the city, the ICC is located on reclaimed land. Lying opposite Hong Kong Island, the area of Kowloon is defined by a forest of tightly packed skinny residential highrises. The name Kowloon is derived from the term Nine Dragons, which denotes eight Hong Kong mountain peaks and Emperor Bing of Song. With the completion of the ICC, Kowloon now possesses a landmark in the same vein as Hong Kong Island's 2 IFC. Both supertall skyscrapers anchor their respective areas with gleaming office towers that have become internationally recognized assets for the city. The architectural prowess of Hong Kong's contemporary cityscape is highlighted by buildings that paved the way for Asia's ongoing skyscraper revolution. The expansive skyline is often considered to be among the best in the world and the ICC serves as the premier platform from which to admire Hong Kong's built legacy.
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