Highcliff
Hong Kong, China

HEIGHT: 252m/828 feet
FLOORS: 72 floors
COMPLETION: 2003
ARCHITECT: DLN Architects

The project is located in a prominent location with excellent views both of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and Victoria Harbour to the north and, from the higher floors, the South China Sea and outlying islands to the south. The project brief called for extremely generous planning, with only two apartments on each of the typical floors.

The superstructure has a streamlined form derived from the floor plan of overlapping ovals that announce the separate apartments.

The external envelope is clad in a light blue reflective curtain wall that provides floor ceiling glazing to the living rooms and bedrooms. The development includes parking, swimming pool, clubhouse and common areas of a standard that is in keeping with the luxurious specification of the apartments.

http://www.dln.com.hk/images/highcliff_02.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/503/103hc2.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/rotpics01/highcliff01.jpeg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/503/103hc3.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/rotpics01/highcliff02.jpeg

Wow, looks very slim!! 8/10

7/10

Nice and slim, but the back is bland.

5/10...It just doesn't look right. The facade is stunning but that's it. The shape is horrible, it's too slim, and doesn't soar that well.

Looks like the architects tried too hard.

7/10 - Interesting design and shape, but too slender. I would be afraid to live there because it's so skinny. I'd rather live in a building with a bit more mass and doesn't look like it would blow over in a slight breeze. :baaa:

7.5/10

Its slimness is simply impressive, and helped by its location at the edge of a cliff. But other than that its just a tad too bland.

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/6/2003/05/193890.jpg
it just needs two spheres around its base

its nice, the facade looks like the petronas tower's facade. but its to slim in my opinion

btw, i gave this tower a 7.5

Website : http://www.highcliff.com.hk/

It is wonderful !

10/10

how does something so slim stay up? 9/10

8/10

The oval shapes are slim enough to give the building good, soaring height; they work better than a number of the circular towers I've seen. The facade seems to catch the light well, and the thin metal "spandrels" provide a good contrast.

My major complaint is that they should have done more with the roof, but that's a pretty standard problem these days...

10/10

Is it perfect? No. But it's pretty damn close with a beautiful facade, sexy shape and well articulated base and top. I like that they kept it simple from top to bottom, any heavy "flourishes" would have ruined the effect IMO. I do agree a bit with Liz though in that perhaps the crown could have done with a bit more "ethereal presence"-what exactly that might have been though escapes me and I am in no way put off by the final product.

It gets a solid 10 from me as an architect though for having BALLS! It's not an easy process these days to propose a tower so slim with all the requirements of circulation and profitability working against your vision (and developers, investors and real estate talking heads looking over your shoulder). But they managed to pull it off in earnest. And when you consider its vertigo-inducing hillside site it becomes even more of a triumph against those who might see it as "dangerous"! It's perfectly safe, dramatic as hell and I adore it!

BTW-it's worth noting that Dennis Lau Wing-kwong who heads DLN is a past President of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (1992-1994). DLN also designed Central Plaza and The Centre in HK.

10

8.5 of 10
im must be very very nice to live in such
a wonderfull tower!
I want to have such a tower in my city!
our tallest one is about 210 ft.

6.5. It's growing on me, but the top is ugly.

9/10
Beautifully slim, and soaring. Almost perfect, except it seems a little to slim from some angles. :)

there's something about it which makes me not like it.. 6.5/10
not the facade, probably it's slimness

I just love that building. It is tall, slim and has nice facade.
It deserves a 10!

9.5/10 wow looks great:cool: :cheers: :moods:

The best residential building in the world ! 10/10

So slim and beautiful. The color is nice. :) 9/10

The slimness of this tower:eek: 8.5/10

9/10 Slender one woowwww


The facade looks a lot like the Petronas twins.

this one is good for a 10:guns1:

7.5/10

A slim and sleek skyscraper.

8/10!!!

Love the fact that it's really thin and smooth looking :) 8.5

10/10

AMAZING!

Slim and looks great

10/10

8.5/10

i love slim scrapers

I've seen it in person and it is HOT! Love the reflective glass facade too.

8.5/10 :)

Slim is good! 9.5/10

Not many scrapers in the world would have the same jaw dropping power over me. Amazing they can buiöd this in a typhoon area.

This tower is just amazingly thin! The façade is very nice too. There is very little I can say to fault this building.
9.5/10

Average design......incredibly slim.

6.5/10

8/10

a good looking residential

http://www.building.com.hk/feature/04_03highcliff.pdf

Technical information on the building's constraints and their solutions + some nice photos of the interiors.

10/10

Another icon in HK.

6.5/10

Great looking building inside and out

After seing the interior I regret not giving it a 10. One of the most impressive buildings in the world!

7/10

http://www.student.math.uwaterloo.ca/~j3fung/highcliff.jpg

It's OK. It looks similar to VUB Building in Bratislava, Slovalia(but much taller).

7/10

One of my fave! 9.5/10!

This seems to remind me of clams? ;)

I do not like anything :bleep: 3/10

it is sooo slim =.=". i'm kinda worry about the building safty~ hahahaha 8.5/10

9

Beautiful, soaring, sexy lady......Love the sleek facade and oval shape, roof fits in real well for the shape too. Wish I saw it in real life though when I was there.

10/10 !

Just great !

An exceptionally cool building. 10/10

One of my favorite residentials in the world!! So slim and sleek! 9.5/10

the facade color's awesome, but the slimness of it freaks me out. i wouldn't want to live in that thing. looks like it only has 2 apartments or so per floor.

nevertheless it still deserves a 8.5

wonderful structure! Nice design!
9.5

10/10, the greatest penciltower in the world

That is perfect for Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Urban Planning Board will be happy with its slim design because not many years later, there will be buildings surrounding that one, and the shape simply saves space.

Would look better in Miami!!

8.0

Too thin for a higher mark. In an earthquake, the people on the upper floors would be doing the funky chicken.

10/10, the greatest penciltower in the world

:bowtie: Highcliff's a 10 in my book.

almost perfect !

10/10

My favorite modern residential tower in the world. So high and graceful, with a great position on a hill. The elegant and simple facade and coloring are just amazing, and the oval shapes make the building feel even slimmer and soaring. A masterpiece.

Nice slim design, with subtle curves. I like the wavey top. 8/10

Very tall and skinny, pretty good shape. 8.

Woooooooooooooow 9\10

Mean and lean, chic and sleek... fabulous! 10/10

i've been at the base and looked up amazing 9.5/10

although i don't like thin buildings, this is one the few i love! 8.5

Wow, :eek2: what an incredibly amazing super tall scrapper. I love it's color, height it's curvey sleek and slender desighn. Everything about it!! It's definetly one of my favorites. Yes this one really surprised me. 10/10

The cladding and facade are nice, but I don't like the shape, it just doesn't seem to 'soar' very well. The design looks a bit contrived and awkward to me. For something so tall, its positioning on the hill makes it look like it's in danger of falling over.
Sorry but I have to give this 5.5

cool design!!
10/10

Its a incredible tower, so slimb and nice. 8.5/10

Images:

http://www.cityskyscrapers.com/images/s200311183636.jpg

http://www.cityskyscrapers.com/images/s200311183639.jpg

http://img43.exs.cx/img43/3884/RIMG7738.jpg

http://www.seaoi.org/assets/images/Highcliff_1.jpg

Too thin, but I like it. 8.5.

:crazy2: very dope design..l,ll give it a 9 :righton:

:crazy2: very dope design..l,ll give it a 9 :righton:

Welcome to SSC! :hi:

its alright. 5/10. i dont see how people find this impressive. it just looks completely out of proportion.

8/10

This building resembles two high pipes.

10/10.. Gotta love this building :)

Wow, great tower 10/10 :eek2:

it is next to the summit. i like the summit more.

from some angles it's just ugly but from other angles it's a beautiful tower

Great tower, nice design, looks very good :) 8.5/10

9

It's 72 floors! That high plus it looks great.... can a tower really be too slim as long as it holds its own? The views have to be amazing and the lobby looks kinda cool. I'd live there!

Skinny.
But round and glassy and tall.
6/10

Mint 9/10

Wow, I wonder how much an apartment goes for in this thing

all those 3 or less votes cant be serious, this is beautiful 9

9.5 - Sleek, elegant residential building - Soaring height with graceful curves. The only detraction for me is the sloped angles at the top. This seems abrupt and doesn't match well with the graceful curves of the building's profile.

ver very slim...6,5/10

Very nice : 8/10!!

Amazing..... 10 points

:cheers:

8,5/10

OMFG! Absolutely splendid. A truly great building overall, from the facade to the height. I give it a 9.5/10. :)

10/10

oh my

9.0 This tower has anorexia.

beautiful, I like this building very much. Especially becouse it is an anorexia tower, that makes it different from al the other ones. 10!/10 It deserves it.

its too slim and very ovally. only 7 from me

http://img70.exs.cx/img70/8230/highcliff13ge.jpg
http://img225.exs.cx/img225/2843/highcliff28ae.jpg
http://img225.exs.cx/img225/6220/highcliff33rs.jpg
http://img225.exs.cx/img225/4313/highcliff49ct.jpg

Highcliff at night

Great building! but there may be some problem with its name, it should named Everest not just Highcliff, how cool it is

Very nice 9/10

Unusual and a nice facade 8/10

Hmm, 7/10. Very slim and has a kind of elegance although it also seems a bit bland.

Great stuff.
Fascinating how slim it is. Every time I look at it I can't help but thinking how much would the top would move with high wind. I guess not so much as it is residential ?
Apart from this, the shape is very nice, some good features, but well, nothing special with the cladding.
Lighting is OK for a residential, and the location is great.
8.5

A bit too slender, but it certainly looks neat.

8.

sleek, tall, and petronas looka like facade [from a distance away] :) 10/10

8/10

It's a bit slender,however the design is pretty good.Plus,the location is amazing.

http://photos5.flickr.com/9225979_697f335cef_b.jpg

^wow, that pic is amazing!

Nice design - 9.5/10

I like this one very much
9.5/10

One of the best residentail towers I know. 9.5/10.

9/10

very slick and slender in a sexy way. the view from there must be one of the best in HK, especially since, besides the height, its on a mountain

great building, 10/10

Wow! that's cool - its shape is incredible and the facade looks great. 9,5/10

very slim 9/10

i am surprised no one show thest two pics yet.

http://www.micpix.de/gallery/data/media/164/PhotoContest042-41CD-aerial.jpg

http://www.micpix.de/gallery/data/media/164/PhotoContest046-SumHigh.jpg

8.5/10

10/10

I like it. Very sleek. 8/10.

Great building!!! 9/10

One of the best residentail towers I know

8/10

10

Absolutely brilliant skyscraper!!
9.5 from be because no building's quite perfect :D

9/10

one of the highest compartment skyscraper in the world!!!!!
Marvellous work!!!!

8/10

slim, and soaring
8/10

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Rachmaninov/CIMG1227.jpg
Shot today.

10/10 i love the design`
`

7.5/10.

slim and tall!!
love it 9.5

i give it an 8.0, just a tad too slim though.

Good 7/10

very nice building 9.5/10

9.5/10 But it's amazing of having a 70+ storie flat on a hillslope!

Hong Kongers sure know how to live the high life. 8/10.

looks slim and tall.
love this one.9.5/10

7.5/10

9.5/10.

nice, slim but the backside looks plain... 7/10

9/10

Nice and slim
9/10

I love it. it looks extremely slim.9/10.

Oh baby! Love it. 9.5

8.5/10

That building is awesome... :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

Amazing, would love this at canary wharf instead of the boxes we have there now. 10

I love this tower
Great shape, awesome facade!
10/10

Yummy.

A Hong Kong residential that doesn't look like a Communist Goverment project for the poor.

So sleek and sexy.

9/10

Cheers,

Adam

8.5/10

6 Too Slim..... :weirdo: :baaa:

8.5

9/10...

if only i can stay there :drool:

Great design idea, Oz-like in it's overlapping towers:)

Breathtaking slim size, with impressive height and grandeur. And I think the top is cool. Too bad it wasn't designed even more Oz-like, with more futuristic flourishes (?)

I rate this one a 9.

9/10 I like it, so slim...

http://www.pbase.com/csher/image/53153079/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/csher/image/48721290/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/csher/image/53153077/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/csher/image/53153081/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/csher/image/53153083/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/csher/image/53153080/original.jpg

It is a fabulous tower. 9/10

8.5/10
nice.

:)

Very unique 9/10

8.5/10, but a little to slim.

If there is a typhoon this building will collapse! Jking...

Looks great! 9/10

9/10

I give it a 9.

its beautiful but too thin, 7.5/10

It actully looks taller then 252 m, before i read the info I thought it was 300+. BTW 9/10 I love it looks sleek and slim.

9.5/10 fantastic. Super high rise at the edge of a cliff. I would kill to live here. Its such a beautiful building. great colors. great lines. great shapes.

8/10

Hmm,I just don't know,it's one of those love it/hate it buildings.5/10 :D

The slim shape makes it look 50 to 100 metres taller
Great facade too :okay:
8.5/10

9/10

Its a weird shaped building and it looks perculiar but none the less 8/10

kinda monotonous, but the smooth slim shape is amazing..
8.5/10

9.5/10 - OMG I love it!

9.5/10 One of the reasons Hong Kong has the worlds most beautiful skylines

http://static.flickr.com/34/112743656_5844a19ae7_b.jpg

Amazing how slender it is! :eek:

soo slim. but i really love green-glassy buildings so 8/10

Love it! 9.5/10

unique building!
so slim! 72f and only ~150 apartments.
9/10

Sleek, but too sleek, for it looks like a wing sticking vertically out of the ground and not a building.

7/10

looks a bit stretched out in some angles. 7/10

Wow. I really don't like it. 3.0

I love that it's so slim, and it's great architecture

8/10 !

Amazing, futuristic tower!
9,5/10

http://static.flickr.com/44/125074506_6ca30ce22e_b.jpg

This tower is amazing 10/10
I wonder how much a flat costs

looks nice but i wouldent wanna live there it looks like its going to fall over or something 8/10

10/10 of course

9/10

Awesome!

9,5/10

9.0 out of 10. Looks great, very slim and tall, with nice shape. Top could be better.

WOW! great stuff

always a sucker for slimscrapers.
8.0

Not bad. Its slimness is its best feature. 7.5

9.5/10

Very slim and sleek

6/10

That is perfect for Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Urban Planning Board will be happy with its slim design because not many years later, there will be buildings surrounding that one, and the shape simply saves space.

^^ Exactly. There are many projects to renovate that upper-class residential neighbourhood in the next decade.

tall and slim.. incredible.
10/10

beautiful!!! 10/10

:eek2: :eek2: OMG how slim can it be 9.5/10

10/10 It's my dream to have an apart. in this tower!

it's a little bit to thin but i like it 9/10

One of my favorites in the world!
10/10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7.5/10.

Love the color and the shape. Hate the gaps in the building and the top.

8/10 wow looks very slim

7/10

It's original, I'll give it that.. but a tad bit too thin, IMO.. 7/10

sweet. 9.5/10

5/10

9/10

This building just doesn't do anything for me.I would hate to live in it.A mere 2/10 from me

way too slim! 6/10

way too slim! 6/10

You already voted for this tower.

7/10

http://photos5.flickr.com/9225979_697f335cef_b.jpg

I saw it twice every day during consctruction. From start to finish :).

btw, great shot Skybean. Really shows how precarious it actually is.

In a city full of amazing buildings, that one had me craning and twisting my head around as we drove past just to believe what I was seeing. Wow.

I saw it twice every day during consctruction. From start to finish :).

btw, great shot Skybean. Really shows how precarious it actually is.

This must be great

http://static.flickr.com/70/204063238_78d16d44cf_b.jpg


http://static.flickr.com/65/204062815_8095e774bb_b.jpg

Very nice tower! Very high not to big. I don't like the colour that much.

It looks awesome!! 10 ;)

OMG! :drool: 11/10

not bad 8/10

In first moment I thought that it installment foto.. Monumental building. Lack of scale in order to evaluate.

8.5/10.

10 :D:DD:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

10/10

Nice and very slim. 8/10

8 / 10

9/10 is fair !

A nice slim babe.

9/10

8/10
nice tower

Sleek, slim, good color and shape. 10.

Sleek.

7.5/10

10. the slimmest building ive seen!

It is like a huge stainless steel knife slicing into the sky.

It is an 8.

9 / 10

it is sooooo slender.....hmmm7

9/10 :)

4/10 :ohno::ohno::ohno:

8.5/10 Love the height, love the design.

yes, me too

9 / 10

9 / 10

very slim, tall, and glassy building. i like it 9/10:okay: