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WKCDA shortlisted seven Design Teams for Park  
Seven design teams have been invited to submit technical proposals for the development of Hong Kong's first art-themed park, 14 hectares of landscaped public space for arts and culture at the West Kowloon Cultural District, by the waterfront in Kowloon.

They will be challenged to maximise the greening opportunities and integrate innovative green ideas in their designs on the sculpted terrain, with abundant planting, and a new green open space in the heart of the city and a vibrant venue for music, dance, theatre, art exhibitions and other free outdoor cultural programmes. The park is to open by phases from 2014/2015 and will be the first to be conceived as a cultural destination.

The seven shortlisted design teams (in alphabetical order) are:

  • Cook Robotham Architectural Bureau and VOGT Landscape
  • Dennis Lau & Ng Chun Man with Grimshaw, West 8 and ACLA
  • Diller Scofidio + Renfro, with Olin and Urbanus
  • Grant Associates / Wilkinson Eyre / WSP
  • Gustafson Porter / Michel Desvigne Paysagiste / Foster + Partners
  • Hargreaves Associates with Ennead Architects
  • James Corner Field Operations
exhibition
Mr Michael Lynch, Chief Executive Officer of WKCDA, said, "The park in the West Kowloon Cultural District  will be an arts destination in its own right providing a vital flexible open space for the visual and performing arts. Opening in phases beginning from 2014/15, the park aspires to be the most dynamic and inspiring public space in Hong Kong with arts and culture at its core."

Twenty-two teams from all over the world expressed interest in being considered for the project, following an open call for Expression of Interest launched in July 2012. The teams were shortlisted by the Development Committee on recommendation from a Working Group of Park Development set up under WKCDA to steer and oversee the exercise.

The seven shortlisted design teams will be requested to submit a detailed technical proposal to WKCDA around end of this year. Entries from the shortlisted design teams will be judged by an assessment panel of leaders in the relevant professional and arts and culture fields from Hong Kong and internationally: Mr Andrew LAM Siu-lo, Prof Leslie CHEN, Ms Kai-Yin LO, Prof David LUNG Ping-yee, Dr Elvin WONG Chi-chung, Mr Michael LYNCH, Dr MW CHAN, Dr Lars NITTVE, Mr Louis YU. The chosen design team will be appointed by early 2013.

The Park features artistic elements such as Freespace, The Freespace Theatre, The Music Box, The Outdoor Stage, The Lawn, Arts Pavilions and the space will be specifically designed throughout the park for art installations and sculptures.		  
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