Urban Planning
Size: 33 acres
Location: Hong Kong
Luminosa is a project that aims to re-imagine the notion of public place in the context of Hong Kong. The society is undergoing drastic transformation but the rapid development of the urban skyline does not necessarily reflect the actual needs of the people.
The underground project mainly emphasizes on the contrasts of - past and future; light and shade; busyness and quietness; as well as density and vastness, etc. To create a combination of vibrant underground spaces for the public to walk, gather and stay. It aims to provide a human-centric public space to balance out the hectic city life. “Luminosa” makes reference to a natural phenomenon: Waitomo Glowworm Caves. Insulated from the external world, the caves are filled with imaginations where one can relax and enjoy.
“Luminosa” is mainly divided into three zones, namely the Past, Present, and Future, designed for different kinds of uses to
meet the public demand. The ‘Past’ is a series of corridors to be transformed from the historical air-raid shelters to form galleries and exhibition spaces. The ‘Present’ is a sports centre, as an underground extension to the existing public swimming pool. Part of it is Skate Park which is rare in Hong Kong. The ‘Future’ is a place dedicated to the public, a grand hall designed to contrast with the street level activities. Its voidness and quietness contrast with the aboveground crowdedness and noises.
The underground space also aims at enhancing the connectivity within and around Tsim Sha Tsui, becoming the starting point
of the wider underground pedestrian network in the future that link up different areas like the West Kowloon Cultural district, harbourfront cultural district, and other surrounding land uses. “Luminosa” can be accessed from various entrances at different levels, both underground and ground levels, connecting the nearby MTR stations and Kowloon Park to form an all-weather public realm.
“光影之旅”希望為香港的公眾空間帶來全新的定義。現今社會日新月異，急促的發展改變了城市的天際線，卻未能满足市民對公眾空間的需求。
整個地下空間設計着重於空間上的對比 - 過去與將來;光與影;繁暄與寧靜;擠擁與廣闊等等。以此營造出一連串多元化的地下空間，讓公眾步行，聚會和歇息。希望提供一個以人為本的公眾空間，以平衡節奏急促的都市生活。
“光影之旅”取材至一個自然生態空間 - 紐西蘭懷托摩的螢火蟲洞。這些洞穴彷彿與世隔絕，卻令人充满幻想。“光影之旅”主要分為三區 - 過去、現在和將來，以回應不同使用 者對公眾空間的需求。“過去”是一組由昔日的防空洞改造出來的展 覽長廊。“現在”是以現有的游泳池拓展出來的體育中心，其中包含了香港少見滑板場地。“未來”則是針對大眾的需求而設計的廣大空間。其廣闊與寧靜跟外間地面上擁擠的鬧市形成强烈的對比。這個地下空間也着重於尖沙咀區内，以及與周邊發展的連繫。市民可以不受天氣限制，自由穿梭於各個地鐵站及公園地面和地底的出入口。使“光影之旅”作為地下網絡之起點來貫通區內，以至擴展至整個西九龍的行人樞紐。