Cover Kam Sen Lau (Photo: Zed Leets; Styling: Jacky Tam; Clothing: Hermès)
Kam Sen Lau (Photo: Zed Leets; Styling: Jacky Tam; Clothing: Hermès)
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The former runway of Kai Tak Airport, dormant for two decades, now hosts one of Hong Kong’s largest retail developments. Tatler speaks to The Twins mastermind, Kam Sen Lau, for this exclusive interview
The first phase of The Twins, a pair of 22-storey towers spanning 1.1 million sq ft, opened in November 2024 as part of department store operator Lifestyle International’s confident investment in the future of physical retail in East Kowloon.
At its core lies an architectural philosophy that challenges conventional retail design through what executive director Kam Sen Lau terms “different together”—two structurally identical buildings housing fundamentally different lifestyle experiences. Behind this vision stands Lau, whose eight-year journey seeing the complex from concept to completion reflects a deeper understanding of how Hong Kong lives and shops. As someone who spends his days analysing customer journeys and retail flows, his perspective on urban spaces extends beyond commerce. “Spatial design and urban planning are ever-present, sometimes taken for granted but always fascinating,” he says. “We are a product of Hong Kong’s unique urban environment, and it is itself an artifact of many decisions made before us.”
Above Kam Sen Lau has spent eight years developing The Twins. (Photo: Zed Leets; Styling: Jacky Tam; Clothing: Hermès)
Kam Sen Lau has spent eight years developing The Twins. (Photo: Zed Leets; Styling: Jacky Tam; Clothing: Hermès)
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Tower I operates as Sogo Kai Tak, anchoring 480 brands across nine floors. Tower II, scheduled to be completed later this year, will house SNDO, a contemporary lifestyle platform targeting younger customers. The contrast is deliberate, reflecting Lifestyle International’s objective of serving multiple demographics within a single destination.
The development’s ethos embraces what the team describes as flexible business models accommodating everything from established luxury counters to experimental pop-ups. The numbers underlying The Twins reveal the scale of Lifestyle International’s commitment. The total investment in the project exceeds HK$15 billion, and the development will generate approximately 3,800 jobs and house more than 700 shops across both towers when fully operational.
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Above Kam Sen Lau's development will generate approximately 3,800 jobs and house more than 700 shops across both towers when fully operational.(Photo: Zed Leets; Styling: Jacky Tam; Clothing: Hermès)
Kam Sen Lau's development will generate approximately 3,800 jobs and house more than 700 shops across both towers when fully operational.(Photo: Zed Leets; Styling: Jacky Tam; Clothing: Hermès)
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For Lau, who has been involved from the beginning, the project presented unique challenges. “It has been trial by fire,” he says. “While this is neither our first nor largest development, it is the first I’ve delivered from start to finish.” The complexity stemmed partly from managing parallel construction schedules and resource allocation across both towers.
The project’s genesis coincided with widespread scepticism about physical retail’s viability amid e-commerce growth. But Lau rejects binary thinking about the sector’s future. “While retail has, for many years, faced significant challenges, it is a dynamic industry that has been forced to evolve,” he says. “It is important to expand the question of physical versus non-physical retail to a broader reflection of physical versus non-physical spaces.
“[What’s more,] retail has encompassed a broader category of services that aren’t just the commercial exchange of products; services and experiences are certainly part of this,” he says. The Twins incorporates this vision through the Restaurant Park,
which spans three floors, the TT SITE exhibition space and the Sky Koen garden areas—spaces designed for gathering rather than merely shopping. In fact, The Twins features 61,000 sq ft of greenery and signature sky gardens, creating what Lau describes as “third spaces” that serve purposes beyond commerce.
Kai Tak attracts what Lau identifies as “new Hongkongers”—families drawn to integrated district planning that combines residential, commercial and recreational facilities. “This population is affluent, well-educated, young and native Mandarin-speaking. There is huge potential in unlocking this new customer base,” he says.
Looking ahead, Lau says: “The success of Kai Tak is linked to a broader existential question of Hong Kong’s competitiveness.” The development represents both commercial investment and civic confidence in the territory’s future as a retail destination.
While the completion of Tower II will provide the full expression of the “different together” concept, Tower I’s successful launch established The Twins as a case study in large-scale retail development. For Lau, the transition from construction to operation marks a new chapter. “There is nothing more gratifying than to see lines on a paper become a reality,” he says. “It has taken us a long time to get to this point, but the following years will be the real start.”
Credits
Production: Carlos Hui
Photography Assistant: Vicky Cho
As Content Director at Tatler Hong Kong, Tara shapes the brand's editorial vision across social, digital and print, and reports on Asia's most influential figures — from CEOs and leaders across business, style and the arts. In her dual role as Head of VIP, she also drives the planning and execution of Tatler's flagship IPs, curating star-studded events and building the relationships and communities that define the brand. Born and raised in the Middle East, she honed her craft in Dubai, crafting communication strategies for luxury brands across the Gulf. Follow her on Instagram @tarasobti.
