There are very few buildings which are known by so many. It was the most expensive building in the world for the usable floor area when it was built. The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited's headquarters remains an icon for the "building as machine." And yet it is slowly being dwarfed by its neighbors. It no longer stands as the proud conclusion to the prominent path of arrival of millions. Today, it is nestled amoung dozens of glittering, glass skinned towers that represent Hong Kong's passion for cold cash. A poignent reminder of the only constant in the city - change.

An even greater change will be wrested upon the community next year. In this image the British administrative center can be seen in the foreground. It is a very good example of the colonial style of design which is slowly being erased from the city. Despite the style's imperial connotations, it represents architectural design at a very human scale. Porticoes, balconies, rooftop terraces and verandas were typical reactions to the tropical climate that pervades the region one third of the year. Contemporary design in Hong Kong can be best described as "Eye Candy." It may look good for present taste, but after the pollution of the urban center attaches to the fassades they look dark and dingy. They are designed with the same consideration as exhibition buildings at World Fairs. However, they lack visionary inspiration. Their designs reflect a distinct short-sightedness.

A Closer Look

The edifice is indeed unique. It stands as a monument to the potential of teamwork. The architect, Sir Norman Foster, working together with the engineering expertise of the Ove Arup Partnership created another one of his architectural masterpieces. Many technological features can be found that were introduced for the first time at such a large scale to the design profession. Some of these are no longer functional. The design team could never have imagined the extent of the pollution in the water today. One example was a system in which sea water was pumped from nearby Victoria Harbor to help cool the working environment. There is so much litter and sewage in the harbor today that the cooling system barely functions. Yet, it was very innovative at the time and installed in order to save energy. One can only hope that this kind of environmental consideration in architectural design will return.

The bank is a very good example of a building in which the fassade is an expression of the supporting structural elements. Each part is clearly articulated These images were taken on one of the very rare days when the sky is blue. A grey haze is the most common background. The vertical supports are huge Vierendeel Trusses that extend from the foundation to the rooftop. This kind of a truss does not have the diagonals that are found in standard trusses. Each and every member is rigidly connected to the other at right-angles This is not a very efficient use of the materials, but aesthetically quite interesting. These "legs" support "arms" which reach out horizontally to grab onto the hangers. Each hanger suppports a block of office floors.

Notice the dome in the foreground of the image. The dome was often used in buildings of public stature to represent the heavens or the globe of the world. Thus, a ruler or ruling society could represent their domination of the world, and possibly their respect of the heavens, through the erection of great domes. It was a very clear symbol throughout the world. It is perhaps approprite that a bank reaches out to tower over this classical representation of the "world."

© 1996 Chris H. Luebkeman.