2 MURRAY ROAD, ZHA ARCHITECTS
ZHA ANNOUNCES THE DESIGN OF 2 MURRAY ROAD Located in the heart of Hong Kong’s central business district, the 36-storey Murray Road project for Henderson Land replaces a multi-storey car park to create an urban oasis adjacent to Chater Garden, within a short walking distance to both Central and Admiralty MTR metro stations. ZHA ARCHITECTS
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ith its base elevated above the ground to shelter courtyards and gardens cultivated with trees and plants in the centre of one of the world’s busiest cities, the design creates new civic plazas that are enveloped by nature. Echoing the organic forms of the natural world; the redevelopment connects with the adjacent public gardens and parks. These tranquil outdoor areas flow into the FC&A – NOVEMBER – 2020
generous communal spaces of the interior; the craftsmanship and precision of the curved glass facade enhance this seamless connectivity between the building’s interiors and the surrounding gardens and city beyond. The design reinterprets the structural forms and layering of a Bauhinia bud about to blossom. Known as the Hong Kong orchid tree, the Bauhinia x blakeana was first propagated in the city’s botanic gardens above the Murray Road site and its flowering bud features on Hong Kong’s flag. At the core of the city’s financial district, the project is situated at the east-west/north-south junction of Hong Kong’s network of elevated pedestrian walkways; connecting directly with surrounding gardens, shops and restaurants as well as the offices of leading financial and civic institutions. 12
A high-tensile steel structure provides a wide span (up to 26m) of naturally lit, column-free, Grade A office space with a 5m floor-to-ceiling height, giving maximum flexibility. Its vertical core is located on the eastern side of the building to optimise views of Chater Garden and the city’s renowned skyline to the west. Working with Henderson Land and Arup’s Building Sustainability Team, the design has achieved LEED Platinum and WELL 'Platinum' precertification together with the highest three-star rating of China’s Green Building Rating Programme. The design, procurement and construction targets full certification at occupancy. The building’s smart management system creates a contactless pathway for all occupants from the street to their workstation that eliminates direct contact with communal surfaces and includes AI-assisted lift controls. Using a mobile phone, contactless
