The Hong Kong Housing Authority intends to build a new permanent exhibition centre within their existing headoffice building in Homantin, Kowloon. The centre aspires to portrait the Authority as a forward-looking, innovative and efficient organization. The objective of the design is to project that image physically by using new display technologies to encourage maximum public interactions.
The Team was commissioned through a concept design competition. Our proposal explores the utilization of the floor; walls and ceiling to maximize display opportunities. The centre has three merged display zones, the Past, the Present and the Future. The displays focus on the organization of the Authority; its development history; its evolution through social changes; its current roles and services to the public; past and present projects; future directions and responsibilities to the social demographic development of Hong Kong.
The design concept hinges around the diorama of Hong Kong - a 1:1000 scale model that illustrates all the projects carried out by the Authority over the years. A 22m long structural steel suspended glass bridge spans over the diorama offers a panoramic view of the exhibition centre. On the bridge explanations on the Authority are provided, as well as 5 head-up display computers for data on projects and products completed as and when these computers are steered towards a particular model in the display area.
The display area comprises of suspended panels and objects in 3 superimposed layers. The first layer is made of glass with both static and projected video images of general information. The second layer is made up of large-scale models and mock-ups. The third layer is a fixed panel with in-depth information including graphic displays and artifacts representing the social and cultural background of the relevant period. All displays are clear of the ground to allow the diorama to extend under the glass floor across the entire display area.