Windowless edifice on waterfront takes its place in line up of global landmarks
The Hong Kong Cultural Centre will take its place this week in a group of the world's elite arts organisations at the unveiling of the design for a futuristic new international arts centre in Spain, in a move that has surprised cultural critics in the city.
The windowless pink edifice on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront will join such cultural icons as London's Barbican Centre, Paris's Pompidou Centre, New York's Lincoln Centre, the Sydney Opera House, Egypt's Alexandria Library and the Tokyo International Forum as part of the future Niemeyer Cultural Centre.
The Niemeyer centre - aimed at transforming the obscure Spanish city of Aviles into an international artistic magnet - will bring together what is described as the 'Cultural G8'. The Euro30.5 million (HK$350.31 million) bill is being footed by the Spanish cultural establishment.
The centre has been designed by veteran Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, one of the world's most influential architects who designed the Brazilian capital Brasilia as well as the United Nations building in New York and the London Serpentine Gallery Summer Pavilion.
The Hong Kong centre's representative at a two-day conference of the 'Cultural G8' starting on Friday will be Linus Fung Wai-fan, chief manager (Urban/Cultural Services) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
Ms Fung said the department was 'very honoured' to be invited. She said the centre had a similar profile to the others in terms of variety of programmes and service excellence, and she understood that it was not chosen on the grounds of architectural design.