Page 58 - Designing Ways 238

ON THE
TERRACE

Nature Discovery Park

Hong Kong

ocated at the heart of the urban city in always open to draw in sunlight and to environment by enabling eco-tours
Hong Kong, Nature Discovery Park enhance natural ventilation to minimize and a series of education programmes
Lis a rooftop nature conservatory in energy consumption. The steel structure, on biodiversity and sustainability. The
a newly redeveloped retail destination, aluminium cladding, and glass panels nature exploration journey begins with
the K11 MUSEA, offering experiential were all prefabricated and installed on- an archive that showcases rare butterfly
learning and farm-to-table dining site to reduce construction waste. The species, leading to an aquarium that hosts
experiences for city dwellers. LAAB was roof is slightly pitched forward so that the water and tropic marine species of the
tasked with the challenge to turn an the architecture catches the prevailing Victoria Harbour across the site if there
otherwise residual space in the shopping wind from the harbour while visually were no pollution. Inside the greenhouse,
mall into a learning and experience centre embracing the farm. The reflection of a hydroponic nursery brings organically
of nature. the farm on the glasshouse against the grown vegetables to the table. The farm
surrounding skyscrapers produces a in front of the glasshouse offers urban
Architecture of Urban Nature visual reminder of the co-existence of farming opportunities for city dwellers,
In the middle of Nature Discovery nature and urbanism. The door handles, promoting eco-parenting through
Park are a glasshouse and an urban farm. pendant lamps, and dining tables were activities such as rooftop farming and
Steel structure and aluminium cladding crafted by LAAB using sustainable wood. nature art jam. As Hong Kong is home to
were used to frame the glasshouse, which a dazzling diversity of butterfly species,
features large sliding glass doors that Urban Nature that Nurtures the nature discovery journey ends with
open its interior to the outdoor farm. To The spatial design of Nature Discovery a butterfly garden that grows plants to
save energy, IGU glass facade was used Park advocates for the co-existence attract butterflies.
to reduce heat gain. The sliding doors are of human, nature, and the urban

58 Issue 238 • dw