The Architecture of Hong Kong – Present Days

During the colonial period, the British also introduced Victorian and Edwardian architecture into Hong Kong. Examples of these architectural styles that are still in existence include the Murray House, Central Police Station and also the Legislative Council Building.

The first high rise in the Hong Kong was built between 1904 and 1905 by the Hong Kong Land Company. These were a total of five buildings that were each five to six stored tall. Hong Kong’s first skyscraper was the Hong Kong Bank in 1935. Multi-story residential buildings did not begin to appear in the city of Hong Kong until 1955 when a building ordinance removed the height limit that had been in place for the residential buildings. The demand for housing had increased due to the wave of refugees coming into to the city following by the communist takeover of China in 1949. Seven storied public housing estates with public bathroom facilities, crowded conditions and almost no kitchens were quickly built to house the homeless. At the same time, private apartment houses began to be constructed and by the 1960s it had had grown to 20 stores or more.

Beginning in the 1980s, and continuing till the present day, Hong Kong has seen a great construction boom. This boom was fueled by Hong Kong’s transformation from a manufacturing-based to service-based economy, with Hong Kong emerging as one of the leading financial and banking centers in the world. Hong Kong has more skyscrapers and high-rise buildings than anywhere in the world these days. A few of the most notable buildings, known for both their height and architectural style include the Two International Finance Centre, Nina Tower 1, One Island East and the Bank of China Tower, designed by world famous architect I.M. Pei. The building boom in Hong Kong continues, including plans for a new waterfront development, governments buildings, and the International Commerce Centre, which when it opens in 2010 will be Hong Kong’s tallest building.