Meccano Set Skyscraper

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions (SAR s) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC ), the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China’s south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. The area consists of Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula, the New Territories, and over 200 offshore islands, of which the largest is Lantau Island. With a population of seven million people, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Hong Kong’s population is 95 percent ethnic Chinese and 5 percent from other groups. The density of its population more than 6200 people per square kilometer, and continues to grow due to the influx of immigrants from mainland China, which annually are about 45,000 people. It is mainly concentrated in the very center of the densely populated territory, which includes the northern part of Kowloon and Hong Kong Island.

Under rapid housing developments in the past years, Hong Kong has benefited much in terms of economy. However, important values such as value in sense of community and individual identity were lost. This thesis hereby critically reviews current and past housing projects in Hong Kong and stating the notion of verticality as the only solution. The ambition is a new alternative highrise residential typology, in which its inhabitants are given unique units and allocations in accordance to specific zoning strategy within a tower structure, thus creating a phenomenal living experience through bonding and acquiring needs by each and every single individual. It is a re-interpretation of the balance between genericity and specificity aiming at formulating an extraordinary democratic living concept.

Empowerment of individuality
A catalog of 1,960 unique residential units that reflects the importance of individual identity is provided- at the same time, it enables the owners as individuals to choose their own unit types from XS to XL, custom-fit to their own features, namely kitchen, bathroom/ powder, closet, balcony, entry/ facade in accordance to their specific needs. All unit types are formulated based on the primitive cubic size of 2.6m x 2.6m x 2.6m, ranging from 4 to 20 cubes that would define their unit types: XS, S, M, L, XL. Also each unit feature is highly modularized such that it enables open configuration and arrangement in the interior, accommodating each individual’s needs. Life cycle of each unit is approximately 30 years, and maintenance will be on a 5-year-basis to ensure high quality living condition.

Project: Unit Fusion - a new alternative high-rise residential typology
Architect: Y Design Office
Project Team: Tony Yam, Victor Leung, Paul Mok, Stacey Fung, Gillson Chan, Dennis Chau
Location: WKCD, Hong Kong
Status of Project: concept design
Building Type: tower / prefabricated unit
Building Height: 427.5m
Number of Dwellings: 1940
Dwelling Types: XS, S, M, L, XL 18 types [27.4sqm to 133.38sqm; studio, 1,2,3 BR]
Number of floors: 75
Floor to floor: 5.7m
Section Type: plug-in unit on slab corridor
Exterior Finish Materials: prefab. steel panel/glass panel
Construction Type: prefab. steel and precast reinforced concrete
Ancillary Services: urban park, entertainment/ food & beverage, shopping, art & cultural, recreation, sky-garden/ observation
Total GFA: [90% unit plug-in] 166,874sqm

Full version you can download here

Materials provided by Y Design Office