Location Hong Kong
Site Area 30m2
Floor Area 10m2
Status Design Proposal
Design Architect O Studio Architects
Collaborators Janice Leung, Ryan Leung
Recording Past ● Witnessing Present ● Anticipating Future
This station witnesses weather in its past, present and future tense. Its surfaces record the history of tide and storm. Its form and skin resonate the dynamics of wave, rain and wind. Its technological operation monitors and analyzes the future change of climate. Under the weather, architecture does not only resist and isolate, but also embrace and reflect the forces of nature.
● Form
The architectural form is generated by a 15-degree gradual horizontal rotation of 20 layers of rectangular supporting frames to echo with the dynamics of wave, rain and wind, and a 23-degree vertical rotation of the roof plane to address the installed position of solar panels.
● Structure, Skeleton and Skin
The main structure of the station is made of reinforced concrete and anchored firmly to the pier structure. Its interior and the roof deck provide sufficient space for all necessary equipments of the station. The skeleton made of galvanized mild steel frames is firmly anchored to the concrete structure, providing a firm support for the outer skins and addressing the formal rotation. The outer skin is made of light-weight anodized aluminium sheets with perforation (exempted from projected surface requirements). While minimizing the wind load, the single curvatures of the skins also channel, collect and drip rain water in a poetic way. The tide levels of the most powerful typhoons in Hong Kong’s history have also been engraved onto the skin surfaces as a memory for the citizens.
● Panelization
This design intends to maximize the number of standardized panels on each facade while maintaining fair amount of curvature variation (all panels to be extrusion with single curvature surfaces). And the use of perforation reduces the panel weight.