When one thinks of Hong Kong, the memory of crowded pedestrian walkways, neon signage-lined cobblestone streets, blaring chatters in char chan teng and old-school infrastructure comes to mind. The city’s unique antique character is marked by a refreshing juxtaposition against compact, skyscrapers infused with glamour and energy at a relentless hectic pace.
But what seems to be overlooked is the city’s penchant for art. Despite the difficulties in the past few years, Hong Kong has undergone a kind of art renaissance. This is evident in the West Kowloon Cultural District, which sprawls along reclaimed land lining Victoria Harbour. We’re starting with one of its most dazzling attractions: K11 MUSEA. While a shopping mall wouldn’t necessarily be the first on the travel agenda for any art enthusiast, this art-meets-retail complex has set out to be just that.
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MUSEA is “a muse by the sea” intended to offer endless visual talking points for visitors, no matter where you are in or outside the complex. A galaxy of architects, artists, and designers have joined forces to create this out-of-this-world complex, which cultural entrepreneur and founder, Adrian Cheng hopes to establish as Hong Kong’s “Silicon Valley of Culture”. The architecture itself is inspired by nature and its surrounding cityscape. The fluid facade of Portuguese limestone forms a hill of green terraces facing Kowloon and Victoria Harbour. 50,000 square feet of green walls, designed by Bangkok studio PLandscape, contrast with the stone.
Along the harbour, look out for the golden cube and you will find OMA-designed %ARABICA at KUBE (inspired by Hong Kong’s dai pai tong) which serves up amazing coffees with a side of uninterrupted views of Victoria Harbour.
Inside, the Opera Theatre—the heart and soul of K11 MUSEA—is simply unmissable. This is where an amalgamation of artworks and installations comes to life. Look up and you will be in awe of the hundreds of painstakingly positioned lights that resemble a galaxy, evoking curiosity and creativity. The cosmic theme continues at the sunlight-filtering Oculus—embedded with over 1,800 spotlights. Beneath the Oculus sits the Gold Ball, a multidimensional event and exhibition space that resembles a luminous, lattice-wrapped ball that appears to be floating. On the same floor, you will find other artworks from local and foreign artists, many of which are exhibited by the K11 Art Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Cheng.
Contemporary art is decidedly key in K11 MUSEA. Some of the pieces you should check out are John Baldessari’s Beethoven Trumpet (With Ear), Opus 127; a bright yellow Hot Dog Bus installation by Erwin Wurm; Sterling Ruby’s theatrical sculpture DRAG ON and the legendary original Nike Moon Shoe from 1972. Meanwhile, Level Three is dedicated to street fashion and graffiti, with an extraordinary cacophony of works by artists such as Adrian Wong, Ron English and Geng Yini.
As you wander around the 10-storey premises, past some iconic furniture (our favourite is the Wegner Valet Chair), make sure you stop by some of the luxury stores like Cartier and Yohji Yamamoto to marvel at their architecture as well as creations. Take a coffee break at Tokyo’s famed Omotesando Koffee or CURATOR Art & Café where you can print a painting on your coffee from Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkins”, Murakami’s “Dokodemo Door”, or any print of your choice.
Kids will be drawn to play spaces like the Peacock Playground, which features a huge avant-garde-looking slide by award-winning Danish playground designer Monstrum. If you are travelling with kids, consider heading to the Nature Discovery Park, Hong Kong’s first in-mall urban biodiversity museum and sustainability-themed education park, to check out a variety of plants and butterflies along with an outdoor aquarium system. Nothing about K11 MUSEA feels like a traditional mall, and that is the biggest draw. Who knew shopping could be so artsy?
Live it Up with K11
Eat
Journey into the art of gastronomy with two restaurants boasting a 1-Michelin star at K11 MUSEA. Sushi Wadatsumi serves up traditional Edomae-style sushi in a fine omakase dining experience meanwhile Ye Shanghai offers a mix of Shanghainese tradition paired with Chef Sze Man-Sui’s innovative cooking. There is no wrong choice here.
Sleep
Hong Kong’s first ‘artisanal home’ made for cultural creatives around the world, the K11 ARTUS is a fully serviced residence with all the privacy and luxury a five-star hotel would have. Inside, famed architect André Fu outfitted its 287 short and long-stay residences with calming neutrals, earthy accents, retro furnishing and subtle oriental touches. Each suite comes with a comfy living room, a self-contained kitchen and a wraparound balcony with stupendous views of the Victoria Harbour or Tsim Sha Tsui. It’s hard not to be impressed by the views but as an extension of the K11 brand, the museum-quality art dotted around the hotel is equally impressive. Make sure you check out the well-curated Chinese crafts produced by the K11 Crafts & Guild Foundation. Really, it’s just like home, but better.
Celebrating its fourth anniversary, K11 ARTUS is offering special long-stay offers for home-seekers to experience the luxurious, art-centric residence.
Play
A donut-themed playhouse with a three-storey high giant slide? Every child’s dream. The unique sculptural slide designed by Danish designer Ole Barslund Nielsen is the largest in Hong Kong. Plus, a science-themed indoor golf playground and digital interactive games for children to engage all five senses make it an edutainment zone not to be missed.