Located at the heart of the urban city in Hong Kong, Nature Discovery Park is a rooftop nature conservatory in a newly redeveloped retail destination, the K11 MUSEA, offering experiential learning and farm-to-table dining experiences for city dwellers. LAAB was tasked with the challenge to turn an otherwise residual space in the shopping mall into a learning and experience centre of nature.
Architecture of Urban Nature
In the middle of Nature Discovery Park are a glasshouse and an urban farm. Steel structure and aluminium cladding were used to frame the glasshouse, which features large sliding glass doors that open its interior to the outdoor farm. To save energy, IGU glass facade was used to reduce heat gain. The sliding doors are always open to draw in sunlight and to enhance natural ventilation to minimize energy consumption. The steel structure, aluminium cladding, and glasses were all prefabricated and installed on-site to reduce construction waste. The roof is slightly pitched forward so that the architecture catches the prevailing wind from the harbour while visually embracing the farm. The reflection of the farm on the glasshouse against the surrounding skyscrapers produces a visual reminder of the co-existence of nature and urbanism. The door handles, pendant lamps, and dining tables were crafted by LAAB using sustainable wood.
Urban Nature that Nurtures
The spatial design of Nature Discovery Park advocates for the co-existence of human, nature, and the urban environment by enabling eco-tours and a series of education programmes on biodiversity and sustainability. The nature exploration journey begins with an archive that showcases rare butterfly species, leading to an aquarium that hosts the water and tropic marine species of the Victoria Harbour across the site if there were no pollution. Inside the greenhouse, a hydroponic nursery brings organically grown vegetables to the table. The farm in front of the glasshouse offers urban farming opportunities for city dwellers, promoting eco-parenting through activities such as rooftop farming and nature art jam. As Hong Kong is home to a dazzling diversity of butterfly species, the nature discovery journey ends with a butterfly garden that grows plants to attract butterflies.
Nature Discovery Park
Location: K11 MUSEA, Hong Kong
Client: New World Development
Consultants:
Design Architect & Interior Designer: LAAB Architects
Design Landscape Architect: PLandscape
Design Lighting Consultant: Speirs Major
Design Structural Engineer: Eckersley O’Callaghan
Executive Architect: Ronald Lu & Partners
Executive Landscape Architect: Urbis
Executive Structural Engineer: Arup
MEP Engineer: WSP
Contractors:
Managing Contractor: New World Construction
Façade Contractor: EFT Craft
Interior Contractor: Ngai To
Special Carpentry: LAAB Architects with Studio 818
Photographer: Otto Ng of LAAB
