West Kowloon Station: Andrew Bromberg at Aedas

An in-depth look at the dramatic architecture and design for the largest rail transportation hub in the world, serving a high-speed rail network that connects Hong Kong to major cities in China, with its pioneering, ecofriendly, and socially sound design. The is the first book to document the highly innovative Terminal in Hong Kong, completed in 2018, with a rare glimpse at all stages of plans, design, and construction. Located centrally in Hong Kong, this is the largest below ground station in the world. The high-speed rail terminus station will connect Hong Kong to Beijing with the largest rail network in history, expected to strengthen the city's strategic position as the southern gateway of China. West Kowloon Station enjoys a spectacular location with a panoramic view of the Hong Kong skyline, but when Bromberg's team entered the competition to design it, they encountered a problem the station is mostly 100 feet belowground. His solution was to ensure the station was civic-minded and to create a large volume capped by a shell-like dome that rises from the earth, capturing daylight and sending it deep underground. Even as they stand on the subterranean concourse, passengers can catch a glimpse of Victoria Peak and the city's tallest buildings. In order to keep the space open and airy, Bromberg minimized the number of columns needed to support the vast atrium. His team devised a system that branches out, giving the organic appearance that complements the sweep of the station roof. This book contains never-before-seen sketches, models, renderings, drawings, and all-new photography of the building as well as an interview with the architect.