Now art galleries in Hong Kong have a purpose-built alternative to cramped office buildings or remote industrial lofts
The David Zwirner Gallery, the Pace Gallery and Hauser & Wirth are among some of the world’s leading art galleries that will be tenants of H Queens in city’s Central district, specially designed to accommodate big artworks
The H Queens tower is an ambitious 24-storey vertical art space opening in Hong Kong’s Central district this winter that’s set to boost the city’s standing as an international art centre.
“Hong Kong may be famed for its hyperactive skyline but its sheer density and exorbitant rental [prices] means that many of the city’s art galleries find themselves squeezed into buildings originally designed to accommodate shops or offices,” says William Lim, the building’s architect and founder of Hong Kong-based architecture firm CL3.
Art gallery Hauser&Wirth to open in Hong Kong’s H Queens tower next year on back of strong Asian sales
“Many have relocated to older industrial areas like Wong Chuk Hang and Chai Wan but this has a serious impact on their accessibility for the wider public. The result is you’ll often find exhibition openings happening [only] on the weekends, while in Central, galleries have much more flexibility.
A typical office building’s ceiling height and lifts, however, come with a host of sacrifices that significantly limit the scale of art that can be accommodated.
Lim should know. The Cornell University-educated architect is also an artist and a renowned art and design collector. Much of his eclectic collection of furniture, paintings and sculptures is stored in an industrial warehouse.
