Tamar Development - Building · Architectural design The Tamar development embodies the CGC, LegCo Complex and Open Space. The CGC comprises the CGC Low Block for accommodating the

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24 Building Journal Hongkong China February 2008

The HKSAR Government has issued a

Letter of Acceptance to the Gammon-

Hip Hing Joint Venture (G-HH JV) for

the design-and-build contract of the

Tamar Development Project. The Letter

of Acceptance allows the G-HH JV to

start the detailed work needed to

execute the contract. The letter is legally

binding on the Government and the G-

HH JV.

The contract covers the design

and construction of the Central

Government Complex (CGC) Office

Block, the Legislative Council Complex

(LegCo Complex), an open space of not

less than two hectares, two covered

pedestrian footbridges and other

ancillary facilities.

Tamar Development

T A M A R D E V E L O P M E N T

February 2008 Building Journal Hongkong China 25

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T he Tamar complex will be one of thegovernment’s “greenest” complexesw h e n c o m p l e t e d i n 2 0 1 1 .

Environmentally friendly and energy-efficientfeatures will include double-layer ventilatedfacades, green roofs, high energy efficiencysea-water cooled chiller plants, rainwaterrecycling for irrigation purpose, solar electricitypanels, service-on-demand escalators, daylightsensor controls and computerized lightingcontrols. The G-HH JV design also provides a

The design projects the spirit of Hong Kong: an openness & receptiveness to newideas and diverse cultures. The Open Door also symbolizes openness and transparencyof governance. Tamar’s architecture demonstrates a passionate commitment tosustainable design, contributing to the concerted effort to bring back the Blue Sky.

landscaped “green carpet” open space forpublic enjoyment.

The contract is worth HK$4.94 billion, andthe construction work commenced in February2008, and is scheduled for completion in 2011.

Design conceptThe design concept of the developmentoriginates from four main themes of ideas,namely Openness, Enjoyment, Sustainabilityand Togetherness which form the basis for the

Land always Green: Within the site the Architecture isintentionally understated, and lush greenery takes centre-stage. The Green Carpet that connects the Harbourthrough the Door leads to a multitude of people-friendlyvenues.



People will be connected: The essence of Tamar’sdesign is connectivity, both physically in terms ofpedestrian movement, and symbolically in terms ofdialogue between different parties.

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transparency of governance; Land always green— Within the site the architecture is intentionallyunderstated, and lush greenery takes centre-stage. The green carpet that connects theharbour through the door leads to a multitudeof people-friendly venues; Sky will be blue —Tamar’s architecture demonstrates a passionatecommitment to sustainable design, contributingto the concerted effort to bring back the bluesky; People will be connected — The essenceof Tamar’s design is connectivity, bothphysically in terms of pedestrian movement,and symbolically in terms of dialogue betweendifferent parties. Physically, it enhancespedestrian access, making the place and thewaterfront accessible to the public with easeand fluidity. Symbolically, the design expressesa gesture to unite the diverse functions ofgovernment, suggestive of constructive dialoguebetween all parties.

Architectural designThe Tamar development embodies the CGC,LegCo Complex and Open Space. The CGCcomprises the CGC Low Block foraccommodating the Chief Executive’s Office,the Executive Council (ExCo) and its secretariat,and the CGC Office Block for accommodating

The Green Carpet: a civicplace with generous greenopen space for people.

orientation of the building and open space forsubject site. The metaphor of G-HH JV’s designis ‘Door always open; Land always green; Skywill be blue; People will be connected’.

Door always open — The design projectsthe spirit of Hong Kong: an openness andreceptiveness to new ideas and diverse cultures.The open door also symbolizes openness and



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the offices of Principal Officials, their bureauxand key staff. The new LegCo Complex willinclude a LegCo Low Block for accommodatingthe LegCo Chamber, conference rooms, pressrooms and other ancillary facilities, togetherwith the LegCo High Block for accommodatingthe LegCo Secretariat, council members,printing room and other ancillary facilities.

Central Government Complex Office BlockThe CGC Office Block is situated at the southernedge of the site abutting Harcourt Road. TheCGC Office Block consists of three portions,namely the low zone, mid zone and high zone.The low zone (podium) contains main entrancelobbies, conference rooms and concourse forlift lobbies and facilitates the circulation of thepublic and staff at or near the ground floor. AMulti-Purposes Hall, the entrance foyer of whichfaces the sea, is located within the podium at

the uppermost level below the West Wing ofthe towers.

The mid zone is then divided into two towers,East and West Wings, and houses theGovernment Bureaux. The high zone is a link,bridging the East and West Wings and containsthree independent levels of office. The twouppermost levels are reserved for the offices ofChief Secretary and Financial Secretary, andthe Central Office.

There are three main entrances to the CGCOffice Block, one from Tim Wa Avenueservicing the West Wing, one from Tim MeiAvenue servicing the East Wing to be used bythe staff and public respectively. The thirdentrance from the deck area entering the EastWing to be used by office users only. Thefacade design varies in different parts of thebuilding, giving a unique identity for eachtower.

Master layout plan



The CGC Office Block serves as an iconicobject, a symbolic support to the wholecomplex. Its expression is of openness andtransparency that enhances the connectionbetween the city and the harbour. Thearchitectural language projects a civic dignityand accentuates the provision of the CivicPlace through the centre of the block thatallows for the enjoyment and convenience ofthe public, and as a visual amenity for the city.

Central Government Complex Low BlockThe CGC Low Block locates at the westernperiphery of the site abutting the Tim WaAvenue. The CGC Low Block contains theExCo Chamber and an Ante-Chamber, both ofwhich are proposed to be located at the 1/F.

The Chief Executive Office is proposed to belocated at 3/F along with a Conference Roomand Drawing Room for supporting the ChiefExecutive’s Office.

In a gesture of a balanced and constructivecontrast to the LegCo Complex, the CGC LowBlock is represented by an unfolding opencube. The visual impression is geometricallysimple but the imagery is distinctive, intendingto convey a sense of civic dignity, steadfastnessand forward vision characterizing responsibilityand leadership.

Legislative Council ComplexThe LegCo Complex is located at the easternside of the site abutting the Tim Mei Avenue.The LegCo Complex comprises two blocks,

Second floor andlandscape master plan

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namely the Low Block and the High Block. TheLow Block embodies the LegCo Chamber, theAnte-Chamber, the Conference and PressRooms, the Dining Hall, etc. The LegCoChamber, in an elliptical form facing the harbourprovides a distinctive landmark for the site. TheLegCo High Block is primarily an office blockhousing the LegCo Secretariat staff and theLegCo Members.

The public is able to enter the complexthrough two entrances either from the formal

forecourt on the north to the Low Block oralternatively, to the High Block from a coveredarea fronting Tim Mei Avenue.

The ground floor of the LegCo Low Block isprimarily public in nature. The Public Foyeroverlooks the “Green Carpet” and hasconvenient access via escalators and lifts to thegallery levels of the LegCo Chamber. The secondfloor provides access to the Chamber gallery.The third floor provides the upper level galleryto the Chamber for Education and access to the



An Anchor of Hong Kong’s Spatial Heritage Respecting the Natural Backdrop

Re-establishing Visual and Physical Connectivity to the Waterfront The Central reclamation phase III as shown on the Approved CentralDistrict (Extension) Outline Zoning Plan No. S/H24/6

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public gallery Conference rooms.Through smaller in scale the expression for

the LegCo Complex is intended to project acohesive and understand dynamism and is aresponse to the nature of debate andconstructive discourse inherent in the practiceof the legislative. Its centrepiece, the debatingchamber, is expressed as a timber clad conicalform that signifies inclusivity and multi-facet-ness, symbolic of the society that it represents.The transparency of the facades, in particularthe glass wrapping around the chamber issymbolic of the Legislatives Council’s opennessand the democratic nature, while the entirecomposition with the swirling light funnel abovethe chamber evokes a sense of dynamism andcreativity with which the members are hopefullyimbued.

tendererGammon - Hip Hing Joint Venture

JV participantsGammon Construction LtdHip Hing Construction Ltd

lead design architectRocco Design Ltd

lead structural designerMeinhardt (C&S) Ltd

lead building services designerJ. Rogers Preston Ltd

planning consultantEDAW City Planning Ltd

landscape consultantHOK International (Asia/ Pacific) Ltd

air ventilation consultantRowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc

East elevation West elevation

1st floor plan

Ground floor plan



North elevation South elevation

3rd floor plan

2nd floor plan

5th floor plan

4th floor plan

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Fast Factstotal site area Approx 42,000 sq mtotal GFA (whole site) Approx 129,160 sq marea of open space Approx 21,020 sq mnumber of blocks 3

CGC Office Blocknumber of storeys 27 storeys plus 2 storeys below groundbuilding height 120 mGFA Approx 94,280 sq m

CGC Low Blocknumber of storeys 4 storeys plus 1 storey below groundbuilding height 25.1 mGFA Approx 5,420 sq m

LegCo Complexnumber of storeys 10 storeys plus 1 storey below groundbuilding height 52.3 mGFA Approx 29,460 sq m

Night view

Documents

Tamar Development - Building · Architectural design The Tamar development embodies the CGC, LegCo Complex and Open Space. The CGC comprises the CGC Low Block for accommodating the