Our client, New World Development Company, wanted to create a sustainable Vertical Creative City. The creative city would be an office and business complex containing a host of lifestyle amenities, to foster a creative working culture, but also benefit the surrounding community by bringing greenery and liveliness to the neighbourhood.

Arup was appointed to provide engineering services in building sustainability, MEP and façade engineering services. Key sustainability features include the extensive greenery wrapped building envelope, Asia’s largest commercial hybrid solar PVT installation on the rooftop, and a WELL-designed interior, including high performance low-e glazing, LED lighting system linked to daylight sensors, air handling unit and supply diffusers.  With its green façade and rooftop, the building contributes to the carbon sequestration of 4 tonnes of CO2 each year and reduces urban heat island effect in the high-density neighborhood.

In addition, as the world’s first building to have achieved the WELL Building Standard (core and shell) pre-certification, this ideal workplace environment is expected to increase productivity of building users.  Integrating over 70 sustainability features, the building not only creates a sustainable and pleasant workplace, but also brings green and healthy to the neighbourhood. 

Distinctive envelope 

This project is situated in the typical Hong Kong urban landscape with extensive greenery wrapping the podium. Together with the roof, the total greenery covers an area of 6,700m2, which is equivalent to 2.2 times the total site area. It contributes to the carbon sequestration of 4 tonnes of CO2 each year and reduces urban heat island effect in the high-density neighborhood. 

Its ‘floating green box’ podium is greatly set back on all façades at pedestrian level, up to 12.8m, to enhance the accessibility and comfort at street level. The building envelope adopts a cubic recession and projection design to further introduce greenery and visually enrich the view at low-zone floors. 

Terrace at K11 Atelier building Hong Kong

Its ‘floating green box’ podium is greatly set back on all façades at pedestrian level, up to 12.8m, to enhance the accessibility and comfort at street level.

Sustainable building materials used in the project including certified wood

In addition, as the world’s first building to have achieved the WELL Building Standard (core and shell) pre-certification, this ideal workplace environment is expected to increase productivity of building users. 

Pushing the boundary 

We equipped the building with Hong Kong’s first and Asia’s largest commercial hybrid solar photovoltaic and thermal (PVT) installation on the rooftop with an area of 220m2. A total of 138 PVT panels co-generate electricity and hot water for the lift lobby lighting and showers on typical floors. The system has a higher energy efficiency than conventional photovoltaic systems, with an annual renewable energy generation estimated to be 77,000 kWh, accounting for 1.3% of the total building energy use. A 3kW wind turbine is also installed for powering-up the landscape lighting. 

Aerial view of the k11 building

We equipped the building with Hong Kong’s first and Asia’s largest commercial hybrid solar photovoltaic and thermal (PVT) installation on the rooftop with an area of 220m2