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An urban island floating on the MTR station: A case study of the West Kowloon development in Hong Kong

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Abstract

This article examines the West Kowloon development in Hong Kong by considering the Kowloon Mass Transit Railway (MTR) station and its attached properties in the form of a megastructure. It begins by reviewing the socio-political and economic background of the project in its historical context, which has ultimately given the urban development project its unique characteristics. For a more clear understanding, various types of megastructure prototypes are analysed in comparison to the Kowloon MTR station and the properties in the West Kowloon development. The article describes the entire process of the megastructure, from the formation of the architectural design concept to its final realization. A final part concludes with a consideration of the project as a megastructure and as a significant node along the metro network in Hong Kong. Through the case study of the West Kowloon development, this article aims to assess the spatial characteristics and configurations of the megastructure project, and to establish the criteria by which to critique it in an architectural context.

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Acknowledgements

This article is part of the work supported by the Strategic Research Fund, City University of Hong Kong, No. 7002487. The authors thank Edward Wong, chief project manager of the MTRC, for his opinions in his interview.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Building Science & Technology, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Charlie Q L Xue, Hailin Zhai & Joshua Roberts

Authors
  1. Charlie Q L Xue
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  2. Hailin Zhai
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  3. Joshua Roberts
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Correspondence to Charlie Q L Xue.

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Xue, C., Zhai, H. & Roberts, J. An urban island floating on the MTR station: A case study of the West Kowloon development in Hong Kong. Urban Des Int 15, 191–207 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1057/udi.2010.21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/udi.2010.21

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