How Zaha Hadid Architects is changing Hong Kong’s skyline with The Henderson

It’s this brand of envelope-pushing, futuristic architecture that people have been expecting with The Henderson, a 36-storey building designed by ZHA, which is soon to be opened in Hong Kong.

Set on Murray Road, it’s a historic plot of land in a distinguished location that reportedly broke real estate record prices when Henderson Land acquired it in 2017. Flanked by iconic buildings such as Bank of China Tower by IM Pei and the HSBC building by Foster + Partners, it’s a skyscraper that will transform one of the world’s most recognisable skylines.

The first order for Klomps, who moved to the city seven years ago to oversee the project, was to understand the context. “What struck me first about Hong Kong is its density. It’s an exceptional mix of apartments, offices, shops and public spaces, all compressed into a sliver of land,” she says. “Then there’s the juxtaposition to the landscape: forested mountains right next to hyperdensity. It’s a super interesting diagram in an energetic, multicultural place.”

The Henderson is a microcosm of Hong Kong, with gleaming, man-made glass and nature—it is adjacent to the Hong Kong Park and Chater Garden—seamlessly intertwined. There’s a distinct biophilic approach to its creation; strategic planting is seen from the ground floor all the way up to the rooftop and, thanks to the building’s columns, the core of the structure is designed to look like it’s hovering above the park. “This is the only large green space left in Central, and we wanted to honour that.” says Klomps.

The embrace of greenery is also evident in the sky garden, which is envisioned as a sanctuary for future tenants. The partially double-height area features large, open, ventilated spaces—ideal for a bit of exercise, ad-hoc meetings with colleagues or a quiet space to think. The plants here were done in collaboration with PWP Landscape Architecture, which worked on Jewel Changi Airport; the same flora is used here, chosen because it would also thrive in this setting.

Construction of The Henderson was underway when the world was turned upside down by Covid-19. The pandemic resulted in seismic changes in society, especially in the way we work, leading many to question whether there’s still a place for enormous office buildings.

ZHA accounted for changes in the world of work in the aftermath of the pandemic. “What does an office of the future need and how should it look? These were the first questions we asked ourselves when we got the brief. Our answer was creating multipurpose, collaborative environments,” says Klomps.

As such, the building’s column-free interiors were designed to be flexible, allowing for both focused work and breakout sessions. With hybrid working arrangements now the norm, people go to the office to reinforce connections more than anything else. Featuring 3.5 metre-high ceilings and generous space, the interiors offer a sense of freedom and stunning views.

There’s also a lot of substance to go with the style. The glass is designed to withstand extreme weather while ensuring energy efficiency within; solar-responsive ventilators, a device patented by The Henderson patented, boosts ventilation; there is a circadian lighting system inside the building. It has been pre-certified for sustainable and healthy building designations, such as Leed and Well Platinum. They’re also well on their way to achieving a three-star rating in the China Healthy and Green Building Design Labels, alongside a BEAM Plus Platinum certification.

Attention will mostly be directed to The Henderson’s undulating glass façade—one that certainly looks like the work of the Queen of the Curve. Inspired by the blossoming of a Bauhinia bud, the building’s organic, rounded shape mimics the curvature of a flower petal.

The show-stopping façade is fashioned from 4,000 double-curved panes—representing a breakthrough in glass technology. “It only became possible to mass-produce this recently, [but] it’s always a different story when it comes to a large-scale application like this. Our client had high ambitions, and we had the right contractors and right glass fabricator to make it happen,” explains Klomps.

Apart from representing the city’s floral emblem, The Henderson’s silver external envelope is also a tribute to Hong Kong. “It reflects the surroundings and reinforces the connection to the city, which is the opposite of having a harsh border,” she adds.

With Christie’s moving its Asia Pacific headquarters in, and an exciting lineup of shops and restaurants set to open, The Henderson is shaping up to be another successful project for ZHA—and one that will change Hong Kong’s skyline forever.

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