Invest and Settle in Hong Kong focuses on Hong Kong Education: The Innovation Tower at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, designed by Zaha Hadid, serves as the headquarters for the School of Design and the Jockey Club Design Institute for Social Innovation.
This fifteen-story building covers an area of 15,000 square meters and can accommodate over 1,800 students and staff. The "Jockey Club Innovation Tower," resembling a bundle of steel ribbons, is filled with a futuristic atmosphere, showcasing its unique personality from various angles. The Innovation Tower features a streamlined, irregular shape, cleverly integrating horizontal design effects with the campus environment through its topography and the materials used for its floors and windows. Its internal and external courtyards create a friendly and comfortable space for activities, complemented by a large outdoor exhibition area and recreational facilities, showcasing the diversity of urban space.
Mr. Woody Yao, Deputy Director of Zaha Hadid Architects, stated: "The unique and innovative shape of the Innovation Tower posed a significant challenge due to its small footprint and irregular shape. Therefore, the design resembles a 'ship' to maximize usable space in land-scarce Hong Kong and enhance its functionality." The "Jockey Club Innovation Tower" offers 15,000 square meters of usable floor space, accommodating 1,800 staff and students; it also houses a design museum, exhibition space, and a public viewing gallery. Furthermore, the Innovation Tower provides a creative and interdisciplinary learning environment, with a design focus on encouraging interaction and communication among faculty, students, and community members within this space filled with flowing curves.
According to Mr. Yu Jinwen from Zaha Hadid Architects, the open porches, interconnected corridors, and inviting communal spaces span both the interior and exterior of the Innovation Tower, connecting it to various buildings on campus. This design aims for everyone entering the Innovation Tower, especially students seeking design inspiration, to feel that it is a place brimming with creativity—this is the significance of the ever-present flowing curves within the Innovation Tower. The glass curtain walls of the student studios and workshops showcase meticulously crafted works, while the transparent design of the space enhances the connection and response between viewers and exhibits. The atrium of the Innovation Tower introduces natural light and fresh air, providing a sense of continuity. Additionally, the Innovation Tower features both small group study spaces and spacious areas, facilitating various forms of interactive communication.
