#116 l Highcliff l HONG KONG l 252m l 72fl

RafflesCity · July 12th, 2003, 08:44 AM

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.

AtlanticaC5 · July 12th, 2003, 02:06 PM

Wow, looks very slim!! 8/10

Wu-Gambino · July 12th, 2003, 06:49 PM

7/10

Nice and slim, but the back is bland.

New Jack City · July 12th, 2003, 07:01 PM

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.

Ersh · July 12th, 2003, 08:56 PM

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.

RafflesCity · July 14th, 2003, 08:56 AM

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.

***3tmk*** · July 14th, 2003, 09:37 PM

it just needs two spheres around its base

james2390 · July 15th, 2003, 01:50 AM

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

james2390 · July 15th, 2003, 01:57 AM

btw, i gave this tower a 7.5

***hkskyline*** · July 15th, 2003, 02:13 AM

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

Galactica · July 16th, 2003, 09:29 AM

It is wonderful !

10/10

deep sea buildings · July 17th, 2003, 05:47 PM

how does something so slim stay up? 9/10

Liz L · July 21st, 2003, 08:14 PM

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...

July 21st, 2003, 11:22 PM

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.

July 22nd, 2003, 04:03 PM

10

July 30th, 2003, 04:53 AM

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.

Izeklah · August 1st, 2003, 05:00 PM

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

Labrador · August 2nd, 2003, 07:11 PM

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

renell · August 7th, 2003, 05:39 PM

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

kuba · August 7th, 2003, 08:20 PM

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

View Poll Results: Highcliff, Hong Kong
10	137	20.24%
9.5	112	16.54%
9	119	17.58%
8.5	72	10.64%
8	90	13.29%
7.5	36	5.32%
7	41	6.06%
6.5	15	2.22%
6	7	1.03%
5.5	3	0.44%
5	6	0.89%
4.5	4	0.59%
4	1	0.15%
3.5	4	0.59%
3 or less	30	4.43%
Voters: 677. You may not vote on this poll

July 12th, 2003, 02:06 PM	#2
AtlanticaC5 Right Here, Right Now Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Stockholm Posts: 2,655 Likes (Received): 0	Wow, looks very slim!! 8/10 __________________ Higher and higher, straight up we'll climb

July 12th, 2003, 06:49 PM	#3
Wu-Gambino Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,678 Likes (Received): 2	7/10 Nice and slim, but the back is bland. Last edited by Wu-Gambino; December 19th, 2003 at 10:00 PM.

July 12th, 2003, 08:56 PM	#5
Ersh Skyscrapercity Hobbit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Atlanta, Ga Posts: 78 Likes (Received): 0	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. __________________ 9/11 - We will remember

July 15th, 2003, 02:13 AM	#10
*hkskyline* Hong Kong Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 71,164 Likes (Received): 961	Website : http://www.highcliff.com.hk/ __________________ Hong Kong Photo Gallery - Click Here for the Hong Kong Galleries World Photo Gallery - \| New York \| London \| Egypt \| Dubai \| Shanghai \| Xian \| Tokyo \| Kyoto \| Prague Beijing, Seoul, Taipei, Mumbai, Iceland, Sydney, Rocky Mountains, Toronto, and much more!

July 12th, 2003, 08:44 AM	#1
RafflesCity By Spirit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S I N G A P O R E Posts: 26,215 Likes (Received): 6	#116 l Highcliff l HONG KONG l 252m l 72fl 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. Last edited by ZZ-II; June 23rd, 2008 at 08:20 PM.

July 12th, 2003, 07:01 PM	#4
New Jack City User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 5,646 Likes (Received): 7	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.

July 14th, 2003, 08:56 AM	#6
RafflesCity By Spirit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S I N G A P O R E Posts: 26,215 Likes (Received): 6	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.

July 14th, 2003, 09:37 PM	#7
*3tmk* Dennis Rodman Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Pyongyang Posts: 10,298	it just needs two spheres around its base

July 15th, 2003, 01:50 AM	#8
james2390 Tribune Tower Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,920 Likes (Received): 1	its nice, the facade looks like the petronas tower's facade. but its to slim in my opinion

July 15th, 2003, 01:57 AM	#9
james2390 Tribune Tower Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,920 Likes (Received): 1	btw, i gave this tower a 7.5

July 16th, 2003, 09:29 AM	#11
Galactica ADC Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 144 Likes (Received): 0	It is wonderful ! 10/10

July 17th, 2003, 05:47 PM	#12
deep sea buildings Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Wolverhampton Posts: 487 Likes (Received): 0	how does something so slim stay up? 9/10

July 21st, 2003, 08:14 PM	#13
Liz L Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 403 Likes (Received): 0	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... __________________ Liz L Art Deco rules!

July 21st, 2003, 11:22 PM	#14
enzo Guest Posts: n/a Likes (Received):	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. Last edited by enzo; July 21st, 2003 at 11:34 PM.

July 22nd, 2003, 04:03 PM	#15
HKguy Guest Posts: n/a Likes (Received):	10

July 30th, 2003, 04:53 AM	#16
NYC4ever Guest Posts: n/a Likes (Received):	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.

August 1st, 2003, 05:00 PM	#17
Izeklah Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 660 Likes (Received): 0	6.5. It's growing on me, but the top is ugly.

August 2nd, 2003, 07:11 PM	#18
Labrador of Cumberland Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Carlisle Posts: 200 Likes (Received): 0	9/10 Beautifully slim, and soaring. Almost perfect, except it seems a little to slim from some angles. __________________ Carlisle Click for skyline poll

August 7th, 2003, 05:39 PM	#19
renell Here Since 2002 Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Sydney/Metro Manila Posts: 6,747 Likes (Received): 2	there's something about it which makes me not like it.. 6.5/10 not the facade, probably it's slimness __________________ dafuq I've been here ten years?!

August 7th, 2003, 08:20 PM	#20
kuba Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Krakow Posts: 153 Likes (Received): 0	I just love that building. It is tall, slim and has nice facade. It deserves a 10!

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