MAKING WAVES
Victoria Dockside gives new life to the historic Kowloon waterfront In 1910, a freight and railway hub in Tsim Sha Tsui, connected the city to the rest of the world as one of its busiest ports. This was Holt’s Wharf. Today, it’s the site of up-and-coming art and design district Victoria Dockside. Featuring a variety of developments, from luxury residences and hotels to art and retail complexes and green spaces, the US$2.6 billion project (S$3.521 billion) was launched in 2012 by New World Development, with the massive undertaking set to fully open this year to the delight of the world’s aesthetes. Here are the artistic additions to this neighbourhood:
ROSEWOOD HONG KONG
Designed by American architectural firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates and featuring interiors by New York-based Taiwanese designer Tony Chi of Tonychi studio, this hotel’s 413 luxurious rooms take up 43 out of 65 floors in one of the district’s mixed-use towers. The stately hotel is the new global flagship of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, which boasts other properties throughout Asia in locations such as Sanya, Phnom Penh, Luang Prabang and Phuket.
DARKSIDE BAR
One of the Rosewood Hong Kong’s eight F&B offerings, the Darkside Bar—a reference to the nickname given to the Kowloon peninsula by the locals—is a love letter to vintage cigars, rare aged spirits and contemporary jazz. Its moody, sultry interiors reflect its sumptuous menu of cocktails and spirits that date back to the 19th century. Expect everything from vintage champagnes to casks of port wine; the bar also boasts its own bespoke craft beer and amaro blend (an Italian herbal liqueur).
K11 MUSEA
High-end lifestyle brand K11 Group is known for its philosophy of infusing art into entertainment, retail, and living spaces, and K11 Musea is its anchor project in Victoria Dockside. Featuring world-class art and culture, entertainment, retail and dining experience, the 10-storey building is set to be a veritable museum retail landmark. Most notable, perhaps, is the Sunken Plaza, a 2,00sqft amphitheatre for events and performances. The development will open in the third quarter of 2019.
K11 ARTUS
Another project by K11 Group that’s opening in the third quarter of the year is this full-service luxury residence. Employing a unique “artisanal home” concept designed by André Fu of AFSO, the 287-room residence will feature hotel services, a curated collection of cultural objects and in-house cultural salons. The property’s collection will comprise ancient Chinese artisanal objects, such as wood furniture and ceramics created using time-honoured techniques. Meanwhile, the cultural salons will be led by prominent cultural figures from artists to playwrights, harking back to the salons of yore where likeminded creatives were brought together as a community.
SALISBURY GARDEN
The oval-shaped lawn is a public and exhibition space designed by British landscape architect James Corner. A popular spot for families, the gardens feature ambling paths, plenty of shaded seating (including bleachers facing the harbour), an event platform, a garden wall and a fountain. The green space connects the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Art Square, and the Hong Kong Space Museum. The nearby Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong’s answer to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is filled with plenty of new greenery, too.