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With an investment estimated at US$ 8 billion, West Kowloon cultural district will be the most expensive infrastructure project to date in Hong Kong. It will include among others a new contemporary art museum, a concert hall as well as a Chinese Opera House.
HONG KONG- This is by far Hong Kong most ambitious cultural project which is supposed to provide to the metropolis a cultural dimension that it still struggles to get. The idea of converting West Kowloon into a centre for arts was evocated for the first time in 1998 but it was only approved in July 2008 by the Hong Kong SAR government, who wanted to invest by the HK 21.6 billion (US$ 2.8 billion).
However, the rise in building material costs and manpower has pushed up the total investment. West Kowloon Cultural District is now due to request a massive HK 60 billion investment (US$ 8 billion) into the project according to local media resources, even if the government claims that the bill should not exceed 23.5 billion of Hong Kong dollars.
Despite a cost multiply by three, the government remains convinced of the well-being of such a project which is certain to boost tourism to the former British colony. “We will continue to give strong support to the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) Authority in implementing the project to set up arts and cultural facilities and enhance cultural software in tandem. Despite rising construction costs, we will adhere to our original plan,” explained recently Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying in his annual Policy Address.
They have been delays in the execution of the massive project as costs became inflationary. Originally set to be finished by 2014-2015, Hong Kong new hub for the arts is planned to be ready now by 2016. It will spread over 40 hectares of land around the newly created Kowloon Station. Some 12 facilities are planned in the area offering over 24,000 seats to the public. Among the facilities, the Chinese Opera Centre Xiqu, the Concert/Chamber Music Hall and finally the Contemporary Art Museum M+ will turn into the three most iconic developments. Other venues include two medium-size theatres, four blackbox theatres and piazza area.
The “M+” museum which will focus on design, moving image, popular culture and visual arts and the hub will also include retail, dining and entertainment facilities. A few saving measures will be implemented such as a modular theatre instead of a permanent one while cost-saving measures of approximately 5% will also affect the Opera Centre. The West Kowloon Cultural District will be designed by British architectural star Norman Foster. M+ Design Competition has attracted 80 entries and the 6 shortlisted teams were internationally renowned.
While projects out of concrete are likely to dominate the district development, there will also be a 19-hectare or urban park. The most iconic part of the project is Hong Kong new contemporary art gallery, M+ Museum is due to open by early 2017 while some of the other major projects might not open before 2018.
The museum will be a highlight of any visitor coming for cultural reasons to Hong Kong. Especially as Dr Uli Sigg, a veteran Swiss art collector and former ambassador to Mainland China, gave in June 2012 some 1,463 Chinese contemporary artworks valued at HK$1.3 billion, including 26 pieces by mainland dissident Ai Weiwei, to the M+ Museum.
The district is also planning to build new blocks of hotels as well as additional cultural facilities. By the time the first phase opens it is expected that accessibility to the area will have been improved and by 2016 an estimated daily average of 99,000 passengers will be arriving at and leaving West Kowloon via the Regional Express Rail Link (Guangdong – Shenzhen – Hong Kong) serving the Pearl River Delta.
M+ will become Hong Kong museum for visual culture, focusing on 20th and 21st century art, design, architecture and moving image.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
