Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank - HSBC Building
Address: The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd, 1 Queen's Road, Central Hong Kong
Architect: Foster & Partners
Date built: 1979-85


Photos © Andrew McRae

Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank : photos

At 179m high the HSBC Bank seems tiny now relative to recent Hong Kong skyscrapers but at the time became world-famous for its strong concept and clean expression of technology and structure. Norman Foster combines some ideas from Lloyds building in London with local requirements to creat a simple but striking tower. The space underneath is amazing, a public space the size of a cathedral nave in the heart of the city: visit on a Sunday for the throb of Filipino's gathered below.

HSBC Bank by Foster + Partners, left; in the middle is the Cheung Kong Centre

Photo © adrian welch

HSBC Bank building architects : Foster & Partners

First-ever addition to Norman Foster’s HSBC Headquarters in Hong Kong
2007
One Space
HSBC Hong Kong building - extension

A key Hong Kong building close to the HSBC Building:

Bank of China - Tower
Bank of China, 1 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong
1985-90
I.M. Pei & Partners, Sherman Kung & Associates Architects Ltd

High towers cluster, Bank of China on left:

Photo © adrian welch

367m high skyscraper, clean styling with strong diagonal motif & double spikes at top. Apparently bad feng shui according to Hong Kong architects that I spoke to.
Bank of China in Hong Kong

Ten Key Hong Kong Buildings (chronological):

1. Happy Valley Racecourse
Architects n/a

2. Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank - HSBC Building
Foster & Partners

3. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre - HKCEC
Architects n/a

4. Bank of China
I M Pei & Partners; Sherman Kung & Associates Architects Ltd

5. The Peak
Terry Farrell, Architects

6. One International Finance Centre
Cesar Pelli & Associates Architects; Rocco Design Limited; Hirsch Bedner
Associates

7. Chep Lap Kok Airport
Foster & Partners, Architects

8. The Center
DLN Architects & Engineers

9. Cosco Tower
Hsin Yieh Architects & Associates Ltd

10. Two International Finance Centre - 2 IFC Hong Kong
Rocco Design Limited, Cesar Pelli & Associates Architects

Aswell as the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank Norman Foster also designed one of the largest buildings in the world nearby:

Chep Lap Kok Airport, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
1998
Foster & Partners, Architects
Hong Kong Airport

Hong Kong - Architecture News:
Foster & Partners' $5 billion West Kowloon Cultural Complex in Hong Kong - known as the 'dragon' - was commissioned in 1999. A massive organic-shaped glass roof encapsulates museums, concert halls, theatres, school, offices, retail,
community facilities and residential property. The WKCC started a 16-week public review began in Dec 2005.



Hong Kong Buildings

Modern Architects

Architecture Competition

Hong Kong Skyscraper

Chep Lap Kok Airport + HSBC Bank building are both world-famous structures, sometimes labelled 'Hi-Tech', and both by London-based Foster & Partners



Hong Kong Architecture - Photos

Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank Building Photos

Hong Kong Architects

World Architecture : e-architect - a guide to key buildings across the globe

Comments / photos for the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank Architecture page welcome: info@e-architect.co.uk

Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank Building - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt