[caption id="attachment_5086" align="alignnone" width="2500"] © Nigel Young / Foster+Partners[/caption]

THE MURRAY | FOSTER + PARTNERS

Hong Kong, China Project description provided by the architect. The Murray is a luxury 336-room hotel located on the southern edge of Central with panoramic views of The Peak and the gardens to the south. This major transformation of the listed building aims to reinvent this unique urban quarter – stitching together the urban fabric by linking the large green spaces flanking the site to the east and west.   [caption id="attachment_5079" align="alignnone" width="1200"] © Nigel Young / Foster+Partners[/caption]   A former government headquarters tower, the Murray Building was originally designed at a time when the city was planned around the car, and consequently stands on an island site, surrounded by roads making it impermeable for pedestrians. One of the central aims of the project is to reconnect the building with the city at ground level, creating a new street frontage on Garden Road, transparent and welcoming ground floor spaces, and enhancing and extending the landscaped grounds to incorporate a public tai chi area. At the tower’s base is a sequence of four-storey high arches intersected by a podium, and a vehicle ramp, which is a distinctive feature of the original building.   [caption id="attachment_5070" align="alignnone" width="2500"] © Michael Weber[/caption]   A large old and Valuable tree, which rises up through a void in the parking slab of the podium has been liberated and conserved as the centerpiece of the arrivals sequence for guests.   [caption id="attachment_5071" align="alignnone" width="1500"] © Michael Weber[/caption]   The architecture of the original building is in direct response to the climate of Hong Kong – the windows are recessed and carefully orientated to avoid the harsh tropical sunlight – gaining it an Energy Efficient Building Award in 1994. The design team consulted Ron Phillips, the original architect from the public works department, thus gaining valuable insights into the building’s history. The new design retains the façade while upgrading other aspects of the building and extending the life of the building by introducing a new function appropriate for changing demands of the city – giving it a sustainable legacy for years to come.   [caption id="attachment_5080" align="alignnone" width="2000"] © Nigel Young / Foster+Partners[/caption]   The tower is characterised by the distinctive pattern of its white façade, which is made up of a grid of square windows. In a fusion of interior and exterior, the inset bays provide a modular unit and organising principle for the hotel rooms, allowing for a variety of planning options. The upper level suites are angled to create a generous central living space. Luxurious corner suites benefit from spectacular dual-aspect views of the harbour and the peaks and gardens.   [caption id="attachment_5072" align="alignnone" width="2000"] © Nigel Young / Foster+Partners[/caption]  

“Our design for The Murray creates a dialogue between the old and the new – giving the building a new lease of life and a renewed purpose, with a unique sense of character that is embedded within the fabric of the building. It recalls the tradition of the grand hotels with its distinctive presence and seeks to redefine the idea of luxury, which is about a generosity of space, a sense of calm, and an inherent understanding of how the hotel responds to the needs of the guest. The experience is seamless – from how the guests arrive at the destination, and then travel through the building to the interiors that showcase the inherent beauty of the materials, all coming together within a holistic vision for The Murray.” Luke Fox Head of Studio, Foster + Partners

[caption id="attachment_5081" align="alignnone" width="2500"] © Nigel Young / Foster+Partners[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5068" align="alignnone" width="1500"] © Michael Weber[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5078" align="alignnone" width="1800"] © Nigel Young / Foster+Partners[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5077" align="alignnone" width="1800"] © Nigel Young / Foster+Partners[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5082" align="alignnone" width="2000"] © Nigel Young / Foster+Partners[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5083" align="alignnone" width="2000"] © Nigel Young / Foster+Partners[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5085" align="alignnone" width="1200"] © Nigel Young / Foster+Partners[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5073" align="alignnone" width="1800"] © Nigel Young / Foster+Partners[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5075" align="alignnone" width="1800"] © Nigel Young / Foster+Partners[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5076" align="alignnone" width="2000"] © Nigel Young / Foster+Partners[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5084" align="alignnone" width="2500"] © Nigel Young / Foster+Partners[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5069" align="alignnone" width="2000"] © Michael Weber[/caption]  

Credits

Client: The Murray Limited Architect: Foster + Partners Foster + Partners Team list: Norman Foster, Luke Fox, Armstrong Yakubu, Colin Ward, Andy Lister, Stefano Cesario, Tim Dyer, Lawrence Wong, Won Suk Cho, Benjamin Stevenson, Carl Bonas, Amy Butler, Charlotte Gallen, Catt Godon, Manuela Guidarini, Tanja Heath, Abbie Labrum, Harry Twigg, Bong Yeung Collaborating Architect: Wong and Ouyang Architects HK Ltd. Structural Consultant: Wong and Ouyang Civil Structural Engineering Cost Consultant: Rider Levett Bucknall Mechanical Engineers: Wong and Ouyang Building Services Landscape Consultant: Urbis Lighting Engineers: Tino Kwan Lighting Main Contractor: Gammon Façade contractor: Entasis Podium and Presidential Suites fitout contractor: Pat-Davie Ballroom fitout contractor: Permasteelisa Typical rooms + Rooftop restaurant fitout contractor: B.S.C.

Facts and Figures

Appointment: December 2013 Completion: December 2017 Opening: 2018 Site area: 6,330m2 Area (gross): 33,750m2 Typical floor area (gross): 1,425m2 Number of buildings: 2 Number of floors: 25