The Peak Tower, Hong Kong. 1991-1995.

Terry Farrell & Company’s design for the redevelopment of the Peak was the winning entry in a limited international competition for a landmark building to replace the existing Peak Tower on a dramatic and prominent site in Hong Kong. It provided a total floor area of approximately 85,000 square feet incorporating the pre-existing tram station, retail and restaurant. With Peak Tram arrival at the mid-level, the internal layout was designed to spread movement of visitors throughout the building, in a clear system of vertical and horizontal circulation.

The building form, visible from Victoria Harbour, Kowloon, and the New Territories to the North, was intended to symbolise Hong Kong in the way that the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben symbolise their cities. With a solid base and floating roof it was designed to be reminiscent of traditional Chinese architecture and during the foggy season was designed to appear to be entirely separated from the earth. The building was constructed of a reinforced concrete frame and pre-cast concrete panels, with the podium clad in granite similar in appearance to the many retaining walls on the Peak. In contrast to the rest of the structure, the bowl was clad in silver anodised aluminium panels with areas of planar glazing.