Cover Michael Jones, Senior Partner at Foster + Partners, reviews the Central Crossing development model at the firm’s offices. The Yorkshire-born architect leads his first project in Hong Kong, integrating heritage preservation with contemporary design.
Michael Jones, Senior Partner at Foster + Partners, reviews the Central Crossing development model at the firm’s offices. The Yorkshire-born architect leads his first project in Hong Kong, integrating heritage preservation with contemporary design.
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Senior Partner Michael Jones discusses Central Crossing, a 433,000 sq ft development scheduled for completion in mid-2026, where heritage preservation meets modern development in one of the world’s most densely populated cities
Central Crossing represents a test case for heritage preservation in one of the world’s most densely populated cities. The mixed-use development in Hong Kong’s Central district combines 433,000 square feet of new construction with the restoration of Grade 1 and Grade 3 heritage buildings, including one of the city’s oldest surviving shophouses.
The project sits between three heritage sites: Tai Kwun, PMQ, and Central Market, on Wellington Street between Graham and Cochrane Streets. Wing Tai Properties and CSI Properties are developing the site, with Foster + Partners serving as master architect for the dual-tower structure scheduled for completion in mid-2026.
Michael Jones, the Senior Partner overseeing the project, has spent three decades working on adaptive reuse of historic buildings, including London’s Great Court at the British Museum and the Stirling Prize-winning Bloomberg Headquarters. His first Hong Kong commission addresses how urban density affects the integration of old and new construction. The development aims to restore pedestrian connections through the Central district whilst demonstrating how heritage buildings can remain economically viable.
Tatler Homes spoke to Jones about balancing preservation with development pressures in Hong Kong’s unique urban environment.
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Above The mixed-use towers of Central Crossing rise above Hong Kong’s dense urban fabric. Foster + Partners' design features articulated facades with tighter grain at lower levels, transitioning to expansive glass at upper floors for panoramic city views.
The mixed-use towers of Central Crossing rise above Hong Kong’s dense urban fabric. Foster + Partners' design features articulated facades with tighter grain at lower levels, transitioning to expansive glass at upper floors for panoramic city views.
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As your first project in Hong Kong, how did the city’s distinctive culture and urban density influence the vision for Central Crossing?
On my first visit to Hong Kong, I was struck by the city’s incredible density, as well as its rich history and many interesting juxtapositions between tradition and modernity. Our design for Central Crossing takes cues from these defining features of the urban landscape. The location of the site – between Tai Kwun, PMQ and Central Market – also presented an exciting opportunity to create a brand-new centre for the area, at the intersection of these heritage landmarks and cultures. The project is a celebration of Central’s heritage and street life, which is enhanced with a vibrant new public space at the heart of the development and the crossing of many significant links through the city.
Central Crossing thoughtfully integrates Grade 1 and Grade 3 heritage buildings. What were the key considerations in preserving these historic structures while introducing modern elements?
Our design was guided by the tried-and-tested principle of ‘look back to look forward,’ involving a detailed analysis of historic street grids and the form of heritage buildings. One of the oldest surviving shop houses in Hong Kong is integrated into the design, while remnants of former buildings and historic shop fronts are celebrated and repurposed as part of the new public spaces and commercial activities. The project is not only about preserving the legacy and heritage of the area but also giving it a vibrant and purposeful future.
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Above Central Crossing’s ground-level public space creates pedestrian connections between heritage landmarks Tai Kwun, PMQ, and Central Market. The development reinstates historic routes through the Central district whilst providing new retail and community spaces
Central Crossing’s ground-level public space creates pedestrian connections between heritage landmarks Tai Kwun, PMQ, and Central Market. The development reinstates historic routes through the Central district whilst providing new retail and community spaces
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The project combines offices, a luxury hotel, retail, and green open spaces into one development. How did you ensure a seamless integration of these diverse functions into a unified urban experience?
While the office and hotel towers are clearly articulated, the design of the development allows for functional cross-overs between the two buildings, encouraging office workers to use the hotel facilities and vice versa. Retail is designed to activate the ground plane, creating an animated and welcoming public space that encourages people to dwell and interact. There is a clear hierarchy of public, semi-public, and private spaces, with public amenities at ground level, semi-public spaces above, and private hotel rooms and offices at the top of the development.
How does Central Crossing redefine urban lifestyle in Hong Kong, especially in terms of community engagement and public access?
Our design for Central Crossing reinstates historic routes through the city, enhances public access for everyone, and creates inclusive spaces for residents, workers, and visitors. By reinstating historic pedestrian routes through the site, we are promoting intuitive movement and connections through the city, as well as creating a new public space that acts as an urban oasis at the symbolic, physical and cultural heart of Hong Kong. The design also promotes connections at the many different levels that define this part of the city, including the Mid-levels escalator. This ensures accessibility from all parts of the surrounding city and beyond.
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Above Heritage shophouses are integrated into Central Crossing’s design, preserving one of Hong Kong’s oldest surviving shophouses
Heritage shophouses are integrated into Central Crossing’s design, preserving one of Hong Kong’s oldest surviving shophouses
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Sustainability is critical in contemporary architecture. What sustainable design features have been incorporated into Central Crossing, considering its mixed-use nature? Can you share your approach to designing green open spaces in such a dense urban site, and the impact you hope they will have on the user experience?
Although the towers appear to principally have high-performance glass facades that flood the occupied spaces with natural light, the majority of the envelope is solid, providing significant solar and thermal benefits. Beyond energy, we sought to enhance the well-being of both the building’s occupants and those who come to the site for other reasons. We worked hard to deliver a landscape both in the new public space and along the neighbouring streets, with the inclusion of trees, a dramatic new water wall, outdoor seating and biophilic elements. This creates a welcoming urban oasis in the heart of the most vibrant of cities.
How did the heritage preservation component at Central Crossing influence the overall architectural language and material palette of the project?
The ambition to reinforce the city’s heritage has influenced the architectural language and material palette of Central Crossing, resulting in the unique facade treatment that responds to the local context. In a city where the high-rise dominates and a single façade usually encloses the entire tower, our buildings are each articulated in two halves. At the lower levels, a tighter facade grain provides a visual screen between immediately adjacent buildings in this dense urban setting, whereas large-scale transparent glass facades at the upper levels deliver expansive panoramic views across the city.
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Above Central Crossing’s office tower entrance demonstrates the project’s approach to creating hierarchy between public, semi-public, and private spaces
Central Crossing’s office tower entrance demonstrates the project’s approach to creating hierarchy between public, semi-public, and private spaces
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Foster + Partners has a global reputation for innovation and sensitive design. How has your firm’s design philosophy evolved in recent years to respond to rapidly changing urban environments?
From the earliest days of the practice, sustainability and innovation have been the driving forces behind our work – and we have also established a significant reputation for working with existing and historic buildings. These basic principles continue to underpin our work, and we have seen that they are able to adapt and evolve in response to the ever-changing world we inhabit. The importance of good design cannot be underestimated relative to the impact it can have on people’s lives.
Collaboration and technology are hallmarks of your work. How do these factors shape the way Foster + Partners approaches large-scale mixed-use developments around the world?
Central Crossing has been a highly collaborative design process. We are working closely with our client as part of a multidisciplinary design team, as well as other local stakeholders, to ensure the project best meets the objectives and needs of all. As an international office with a local presence, our aim is to design a project that has an international appeal and perspective but brings benefits not only to its occupants, but also the local community, the people of Hong Kong and the international community.
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Above The development’s multi-level public spaces encourage pedestrian movement and community interaction
The development’s multi-level public spaces encourage pedestrian movement and community interaction
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Given Foster + Partners’ extensive portfolio, how do you see the firm’s role evolving in shaping sustainable and resilient cities over the next decade?
We believe that density is crucial for creating enjoyable, sustainable and resilient cities for people – and Central Crossing is an exemplar in this respect. Working with the scale and grain of this densely populated part of historic Hong Kong, we hope to encourage sustainable mobility and lower carbon footprints by reconnecting the urban fabric, improving local connections and promoting the use of sustainable public transport. The creation of a valuable new green space in the heart of its location delivers a literal and metaphorical breathing space that will enhance people’s daily lives.
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Jennifer Choo is Regional Managing Editor of Tatler Homes, covering architecture, interior design, and art across Asia. Based in Malaysia, she oversees regional content on luxury residential design and contemporary art collections. Legally trained but choosing to pursue her passion for design, she previously led notable design publications and worked as an interior stylist and art consultant for property developers, design firms, and private clients.
