HONG KONG | Tamar Government Headquarters

[muppet]

best design methinks

[hkskyline]

Planners to approve extra five storeys for new Legco building
18 September 2009
South China Morning Post

The five-storey expansion of the new Legislative Council building at Tamar is likely to win initial approval from town planners today, despite objections from a Hong Kong-listed mainland company that owns an office block behind the site.

The expansion will equip Legco with a constitutional library, an archive, a studio for sign language interpretation and press photo rooms. It also allows for a possible increase in the number of lawmakers - from 60 to 120. The administration proposed the plan after lawmakers requested extra space to allow for more users. It will raise the height of the building from 63 to 85 metres, with 15 storeys.

The directors of Goldon Investment, owner of the Citic Tower in Tim Mei Avenue, filed an objection with the Town Planning Board on the expansion plan during a public consultation. The directors are also executive directors of Citic Pacific.

In its submission, the company said the proposal would "further block the sea view from the west side of Citic Tower". It would also block the penetration of sunlight to the middle and lower zones on the west side of the tower and intensify the "wall effect", it added.

However, the Planning Department, backing the expansion, said: "In the highly developed context of Hong Kong, it is not practical to protect private views without stifling development opportunity and balancing other relevant considerations.

"In the interests of the public, it is far more important to protect public views, particularly those easily accessible and popular to the public or tourists."

The expansion will also add a Tamar cafe, part of it outdoors, on the second floor of the government office block, connecting to an extensive lawn dubbed the "Green Carpet".

The 265 square metre cafe will be open to the public, and will add variety and vibrancy to the public open space, the department said.

Designing Hong Kong, an NGO concerned with urban design, expressed support during the consultation but urged the government to consider a subway connection between Tamar and a commercial tower in Admiralty to improve pedestrian access. The existing plan to land the walkway on a pavement was a less direct route to inner Admiralty, it said.

The government rejected the suggestion, saying it would involve road closures. The Town Planning Board will discuss the plan today.

The Tamar development will house two government office blocks as well as Legco. It is expected to be operational by 2012.

[hkskyline]

By fatshe from skyscrapers.cn :

[hkskyline]

7/31

[hkskyline]

10/24

[Infernal_Elf]

intresting building

i would love to see some final pictures it is probably finished on the exterior by now.

[Fabb]

The cladding looks very conventional... it's like this building is here to blend into its environment. That's a shame. Its location is so promiment that it deserved a bold, iconic building.

[hkskyline]

7/23

[Travis007]

Looking good. I'll definitely have to check this out during my next trip to HK.

[hkskyline]

Flag-raising marks the move to Tamar
The Standard
Tuesday, August 02, 2011



The first batch of officials have moved into the government's new HK$5 billion headquarters at Tamar.

A flag-raising ceremony was held yesterday morning to mark the event with staff from the Commerce, Industry and Tourism Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau having the honor of being first in.

Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Andrew Wong Ho-yuen said he is pleased his staff of 100 were the first into the new building and believes they will quickly adapt to the new environment.

"My colleagues are happy to be the first to move into the new complex with its modern facilities. I believe they will enjoy working here," he said.

Wong said amenities seem to be working properly and while construction work continues in other parts of the complex, his staff are able to access the building through a footbridge.

He said he understands there may be some hiccups but there are no safety issues at present.

The office, which is now on the 23rd floor of the West Wing of the new complex, was formerly at Pacific Place.

An employee, who did not reveal her name, said the new environment is good and the office is well equipped.

"It is much better than our previous office. And there is little noise from the continuing construction work," she said.

About 120 civil servants in total have moved to the Tamar complex, a waterfront office tower in Admiralty.

Other government departments are expected to move in before the end of this year. Work began on the complex in February 2008. The offices can accommodate about 3,200 staff.

The new headquarters is under the Tamar Development Project, which includes the Legislative Council Complex. About half of the Tamar site will be dedicated to public open space where community events can be held.

[hkskyline]

Tsang staff make the move to Tamar
The Standard
Tuesday, August 09, 2011

The new government headquarters at Tamar continues to fill up - with the Chief Executive's Office moving in over the weekend.

It is the second administrative office to relocate to the HK$5 billion complex and follows the Commerce, Industry and Tourism Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau that moved in last Monday.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen is on holiday but will be back at work on Thursday. The 100-strong staff from his office occupy the third floor.

Chief Executive's Office director Raymond Tam Chi-yuen assured the public there will be sufficient room for protesters and the media at the new building.

Tam said when Executive Council meetings take place on Tuesday mornings, protesters may make their voices heard on both sides of the main entrance while, at the same time, providing councillors space to enter the building. Exco meetings will resume next month.

"Each and every Executive Council member passing through the main entrance will have sufficient opportunities to hear what the people have to say and to receive petitions, and this arrangement is no different from what we have been doing on Tuesdays," he said.

Tam also said the new headquarters provides more space and facilities for staff.

Construction of the new building began in February 2008. It can accommodate around 3,200 staff. Other government departments are expected to move in before the end of the year.

Around half the Tamar site is set to become public open space where community events can be held.

[hkskyline]

10/31