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HSBC Atrium
HSBC Atrium
Hong Kong
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Other Projects by illumination Physics
HSBC Atrium
Hong Kong
http://illuminationphysics.com/hsbc-Atrium
An 11 storey high Atrium.
A 50 metre high Cathedral Wall.
illumination Physics relighting of a remarkable and unique modern structure.
he main banking hall of HSBC’s headquarters is referred to as ‘The Cathedral’ for good reason; the modern resemblance to a grand abbey is undeniable. This vast space soars above the glass floor of the main banking hall and is accessed via escalators from the plaza below. The vaulted ceiling is crowned with the sparkle of an immense mirror. The office floors are the galleries and the bridges the cloisters. The eastern elevation contains a grand symbolic gesture, a vast unstained glass window complete with its tracery of mullions and transoms, which extends the full height of the vault.
The idea of lighting the atrium had been proposed more than a year ago by Mindseye Lighting Consultants from London. The impetus to develop and implement the concept came from the 150th anniversary of the Bank which would fall on the 3rd of March 2015.
Illumination Physics was already engaged on a major project for the HSBC headquarters – the design replacement of all external lighting and the creation of three large media walls, all of which would be used during the nine month long 150th celebrations and beyond. Being chosen to illuminate this remarkable atrium was an additional honour.
There is much that is unique about this 1985 example of ‘Structural Expressionism’. If the first view of the building is arresting, the internal design is just as fascinating. With no internal core structure, the building is suspended from the steel exoskeleton and the services are hung from this using bridge building techniques. Thus, Foster was able to create a spectacular atrium that soars 55 metres upward from the glass floor of the main banking hall; itself suspended 10 metres above the ground so that an open public plaza can exist at street level. The bank’s customers ride up through the transparent belly of the building via the world’s longest free standing escalators.
The atrium is eleven stories high. Mounted at the top are a bank of giant mirrors designed to reflect natural light being captured by the computer controlled ‘Sunscoop’, a massive articulated reflector mounted on the exterior of the South façade.
Sadly, the proliferation of new skyscrapers has rendered this remarkable device largely ineffective today but if you are lucky enough to be present on a day when the light strikes the Sunscoop, you will witness these magical mirrors come to life, even if just for a brief moment.
At the centre of the eastern façade is the ‘Cathedral Wall’. This 50 metre high double layer glass wall is transparent on the outside but opaque on the inside allowing natural diffused light to enter which exposes the remarkable metal structure.
The concept was decorative and conceived of the use of a mix of direct-view lighting and back-lit panels. The areas to be treated included the chamfered edges of the floors that surround the atrium, the Sunscoop mirrors and the Cathedral Wall.
Creating an internally illuminated light box on the chamfered floor edges proved problematic for structural reasons. Indirect grazing light produced obvious aberrations because of the slight differences between the metal panels.
This is always a problem even with the best quality cladding. Mock-ups and testing found that a direct view LED strip with a 100% diffused lens would produce the best result. The clean lines emphasise and support the architecture and add spectacle and drama to the space.
Previously the upper levels of the atrium were regarded as too dark and the addition of the line of light on each of the five floors which bound the atrium corrected that impression.
An 11 storey high Atrium.
A 50 metre high Cathedral Wall.
illumination Physics relighting of a remarkable and unique modern structure.
he main banking hall of HSBC’s headquarters is referred to as ‘The Cathedral’ for good reason; the modern resemblance to a grand abbey is undeniable. This vast space soars above the glass floor of the main banking hall and is accessed via escalators from the plaza below. The vaulted ceiling is crowned with the sparkle of an immense mirror. The office floors are the galleries and the bridges the cloisters. The eastern elevation contains a grand symbolic gesture, a vast unstained glass window complete with its tracery of mullions and transoms, which extends the full height of the vault.
The idea of lighting the atrium had been proposed more than a year ago by Mindseye Lighting Consultants from London. The impetus to develop and implement the concept came from the 150th anniversary of the Bank which would fall on the 3rd of March 2015.
Illumination Physics was already engaged on a major project for the HSBC headquarters – the design replacement of all external lighting and the creation of three large media walls, all of which would be used during the nine month long 150th celebrations and beyond. Being chosen to illuminate this remarkable atrium was an additional honour.
There is much that is unique about this 1985 example of ‘Structural Expressionism’. If the first view of the building is arresting, the internal design is just as fascinating. With no internal core structure, the building is suspended from the steel exoskeleton and the services are hung from this using bridge building techniques. Thus, Foster was able to create a spectacular atrium that soars 55 metres upward from the glass floor of the main banking hall; itself suspended 10 metres above the ground so that an open public plaza can exist at street level. The bank’s customers ride up through the transparent belly of the building via the world’s longest free standing escalators.
The atrium is eleven stories high. Mounted at the top are a bank of giant mirrors designed to reflect natural light being captured by the computer controlled ‘Sunscoop’, a massive articulated reflector mounted on the exterior of the South façade.
Sadly, the proliferation of new skyscrapers has rendered this remarkable device largely ineffective today but if you are lucky enough to be present on a day when the light strikes the Sunscoop, you will witness these magical mirrors come to life, even if just for a brief moment.
At the centre of the eastern façade is the ‘Cathedral Wall’. This 50 metre high double layer glass wall is transparent on the outside but opaque on the inside allowing natural diffused light to enter which exposes the remarkable metal structure.
The concept was decorative and conceived of the use of a mix of direct-view lighting and back-lit panels. The areas to be treated included the chamfered edges of the floors that surround the atrium, the Sunscoop mirrors and the Cathedral Wall.
Creating an internally illuminated light box on the chamfered floor edges proved problematic for structural reasons. Indirect grazing light produced obvious aberrations because of the slight differences between the metal panels.
This is always a problem even with the best quality cladding. Mock-ups and testing found that a direct view LED strip with a 100% diffused lens would produce the best result. The clean lines emphasise and support the architecture and add spectacle and drama to the space.
Previously the upper levels of the atrium were regarded as too dark and the addition of the line of light on each of the five floors which bound the atrium corrected that impression.
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