Six years ago, land here was sold for a mind-boggling price. Henderson Land paid HK$23.3 billion for an old multi-level car park. That was the world’s most expensive land sale at the time. Today, we’re standing before The Henderson, a testament to ambition and architectural innovation.
The Henderson is designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The building aims to embrace the city. It also challenges the skyscraper status quo. The location of The Henderson is hard to beat. It flanks the eastern edge of Chater Garden. This gives it a commanding view of the heart of corporate power in Hong Kong.
Henderson, Hong Kong’s third-largest developer, wanted to build something special here. The goal was a new skyline icon in a city full of them. The Henderson is ZHA’s largest and most ambitious Hong Kong project to date. ZHA director Sara Klomps says it should be something exceptional. It needed to be exceptional visually and functionally. The Henderson should be future-proof. A more accurate term might be future-flexible.
The Henderson has 3.5-metre ceilings. This can accommodate a trading floor on every level. This is a rare feature in the commercial property market. The tower has just 36 floors. A residential building of similar height would have nearly 60. Each floor is free of columns. This is thanks to the building’s six super-columns and offset core. The core is moved to the side instead of the centre. This opens up space. Klomps notes companies want collaborative workspaces. These require larger and unobstructed floorplans. Each floor in The Henderson spans just over 43000 square metres.
Starting the project with adaptability in mind proved smart. The COVID-19 pandemic hit a few years into the design process. Klomps says they developed a completely contactless journey. You can walk in and get to your seat without touching anything. The high ceilings encourage air flow. Additional filtration was added. Natural ventilation is automatically triggered when outdoor air quality is good.
The Henderson will also have spaces where workers can get fresh air. There is a double-height refuge floor. Klomps says it is very green and open. Tenants can use it as a breakout space or lunch area. The building integrates into Central’s footbridge network. The Henderson’s ground floor and footbridge level are meant to be lushly landscaped gardens. These areas will feature food and beverage outlets.
Klomps says they didn’t want to create another building that cuts off the park. Henderson is giving up leasable space for these public open areas. Klomps says Hong Kong is stingy in offering GFA allowances for green space. GFA restrictions can also limit sustainable features.
The Henderson has highly reflective glass. It also features interior shading and high-performance glazing. The tower has rooftop solar panels. These control a patented solar responsive ventilator. It pumps air around the interiors of the glass façade when the sun is strongest.
The building’s undulating form stands in contrast to the rigid towers around it. The form is inspired by the bud of a bauhinia. That is Hong Kong’s official flower. Klomps says the structure lets the city flow through it. She defends the fluidity against notions that it is purely aesthetic. She says there’s an emotional utility to the curves.
The Henderson is nearing completion. It is already an icon. The Henderson embodies the future of workplace well-being with smart and sustainable design. The curved glass facade uses highly resilient UV-blocking glass. It insulates from solar heating. The facade is constructed from bespoke four-ply double-laminated glass panels.
The Henderson has a magnificent Ballroom called Cloud 39. The iconic glass façade creates an 8m clear glass ceiling. It floats over the column-free banquet hall. It offers panoramic views. The Henderson’s enhanced IT backbone infrastructure creates a future-proof digital platform.
A revolutionary lift sterilisation pod keeps lifts hygienic. It uses UV-C and ionisation. AI-optimised lifts minimise wait time. A solar responsive ventilator keeps tenants comfortable. An air quality enhancing system provides better air quality. The Henderson is powered by technological firsts created through a people-centric philosophy.