Innovation Tower Zaha Hadid

This nearly-completed building by Zaha Hadid is truly a stunning piece of architecture. The new building on the Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus looks as if it is leaning forward, which gives it such a prominent sense of motion. There is such a distinct flow to the shape of the building, which resembles a ship, in a way – like it was built to float on and cut through the surface of an ocean. The stacked layers of glass windows and awnings that jut out at seemingly sporadic intervals offer a playful quality to the structure, and add to the motion that the frame already possesses.

Innovation tower will add 1,200 square meters to the design school, where 1,500 students attend. The project is intended to aid in turning Hong Kong into a leading design hub in Asia, with the stunning new building sparking interest in that area of study. Innovation Tower was commissioned to be designed back in 2008, and now that it is almost complete, it is clear to see that the design “dissolves the classic typology of the tower and the podium into a seamless piece,” says Hadid, “The design unashamedly aims to stimulate the vision of possibilities for the future whilst reflecting the history of the institution.” This philosophy is simply a continuation of the research that the designer started in Hong Kong 25 years prior – the fluid connection between the architecture and the city itself.

Grace Eire

FLUIDITY IN ARCHITECTURE