New World Development promotes cultural, creative industry

Major Hong Kong developer New World Development Co Ltd is promoting the Silicon Valley culture in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, nurturing small and innovative enterprises by providing opportunities for them to participate in the cultural, innovative and architectural projects in the region.

“NWD’s concept is to incubate local small enterprises with innovative ideas and designs to provide them a platform to grow. And we want to replicate it in the Bay Area and other cities on the Chinese mainland,” said Jeff Tung Jing-kong, senior project director at the Project Management Department of New World Development.

During the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Outstanding Cultural and Creative Industries Awards Ceremony on Friday, co-organized by China Daily and the Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Tung said that Hong Kong architects are closely engaged on the Chinese mainland building industry with their extensive international exposure and experience, and are acquainted with new designs and new technologies.

Meanwhile, the opportunities arising in the Bay Area could provide more opportunities for cooperation and achievement among the region.

“The industry is evolving at a fast pace, and Hong Kong architects have to prepare to enrich themselves with new knowledge and technologies as the new generation in architecture on the Chinese mainland is fueled with full potential,” Tung said.

Featuring the revitalization of Tsim Sha Tsui in the 1980s and 1990s, Victoria Dockside was developed by New World Development, which brought together more than 100 designers and architects to make waves with a ripple of exciting theatrical, art and cultural happenings at the city’s historic heart, Victoria Harbour.

As the heart of Victoria Dockside, the newly opened cultural-retail destination K11 Musea connects and guides visitors among landmarks in the district as well as to the waterfront.

To revive romantic ambience with Victoria Harbour as a backdrop, the Avenue of Stars and Salisbury Garden adopted a simple but people-oriented design, as well as environmental protection measures, Tung said.

After the renovation, the Avenue of Stars got eight times more greenery, seven times more shading, and twice the seating capacity as before. The seating set up at the waterfront was designed with ideas to better serve the people.

In addition, the group strives to apply innovative products for sustainable development in projects. For example, the low-energy consumption LED lighting design provides lighting, a power supply, a mobile signal and loudspeakers at the Avenue of Stars. A wave energy demonstrator has been introduced there to raise public awareness on renewable energy, Tung said.

Together with landscape architect James Corner and his team, NWD opened up the space of Salisbury Garden and included an expansive, welcoming lawn in the center with doubled exhibition space which bring visitors closer to the waterfront and offer alternate views and experiences walking along the Avenue.

Through the completion of Victoria Dockside, “we are connecting withVictoria Harbour to the people”, Tung said.