MET Studio’s masterplan for a new district of Hong Kong.

The Tamar site takes its name from the British warship HMS Tamar that was moored in this prime Hong Kong harbour location. MET Studio was commissioned by the Government’s Planning Department to assess architectural submissions and subsequently draw up a masterplan to include a public visitor attraction on the subject of urban planning.

Working with local architectural practice The Oval Partnership, MET canvassed opinion from civil servants and law-makers at the highest level of the Hong Kong Government to feed into the masterplanning process, and the eventual masterplan comprised of an Interpretive Plan (outlining themes and content to be explored in the new venue) and a Practicable Plan (exploring issues of space management, adjacencies and containing a detailed schedule of accommodation).

Central in our considerations for the success of the masterplan was to look at the development of an extensive outdoor recreational area and a Harbour Walkway linking Central to Wan Chai, which would include courtyard areas for relaxation, F&B and retail outlets.

Tamar Park is now part of the Tamar Development Project covering an area of around 1.76 hectares, with the park opening for public use in October 2011. The masterplan also proposed public piazza areas where people could gather and discuss topics of the day or watch the world go by.

Others have followed our advice, and today an amphitheatre with a seating capacity of about 240 and Tamar Café are located on the site.

Once the most expensive piece of empty land in Hong Kong, our masterplan has led the site to attract projects including the government’s new headquarters, highly profitable office and retailing space, and a beautiful waterfront open green space.