‘kai tak cruise terminal’ by foster + partners images courtesy of foster + partners

foster and partners kai tak has broken ground. located in hong kong, the project looks to reinvent the site of the former kai tak airport as one of the world’s foremost cruise terminals. acting as a gateway to the city, the design will create a sustainable multi-purpose facility where local residents can enjoy various forms of entertainment.

arranged over three levels, the long, rectangular structure is punctured by four atria that draw daylight into the terminal. a pedestrian promenade rises up through the building and opens onto a large public roof garden with space for picnics, dining social gatherings.

foster + partners: kai tak cruise terminal view of rooftop

designed in anticipation of a new generation of larger cruise liners, the terminal will have the capacity to disembark a total of 8,400 passengers and 1,200 crew members. the large interior, which spans seventy meters, is highly flexible and can be adapted to suite a range of programmatic needs and ensures that the building will be used year round.

foster + partners: kai tak cruise terminal waterfront facade

mouzhan majidi, chief executive of foster + partners, says: ‘today’s ceremony marks an exciting moment in the reinvention of kai tak – we were delighted to win the competition to design such an important new gateway to the city. the terminal will establish hong kong as a major cruise hub in asia and, together with the west kowloon cultural district, will further enhance the city’s position as a center for tourism and culture.’

foster + partners: kai tak cruise terminal aerial view