Times Square (Hong Kong)
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| Times Square | |
 |
|
| Facts and statistics | |
|---|---|
| Location | Causeway Bay, Hong Kong |
| Opening date | April 1994 |
| Developer | The Wharf (Holdings) Limited |
| Management | The Wharf (Holdings) Limited |
| Owner | The Wharf (Holdings) Limited |
| Total retail floor area | 83,700 m² |
| Website | timessquare.com.hk |
Times Square (traditional Chinese: 時代廣場) is a major shopping centre and office tower complex in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.
The complex, owned by Wharf Properties Limited, part of The Wharf (Holdings) Limited group, was opened in April 1994.
Contents |
[edit] History
The site was previously occupied by the original tram depot of the Hong Kong Tramways, another of the Wharf's subsidiary operations acquired in 1974. The Executive Council approved Tramways' plan to relocate its depots to Sai Wan Ho and Sai Ying Pun in July 1986, on the argument that the HK$3.5 million in operating costs savings would allow for tram fares to be held down.[1]
The area was predominantly residential,[1] and the Town Planning Board insisted that the project did not include any more residential space. In July 1987, Wharf unveiled draft plans to redevelop the site into 1,600,000-square-foot (148,600 m²) of office and retail space.[2] Following the relocation of Wanchai depot, the site was surrendered to its associate in 1988.
In 1991, the concrete plans were announced: the project would create 186,000 m² of retail and office complex, an estimated construction cost of HK$ 2 billion.[3]
At the time, this part of Wanchai/Causeway Bay was deemed "not a very attractive part of town". The developer's debt levels and the uncertainty over sovereignty also rendered project financing more problematic.[3] Now it is considered prime property in the heart of Causeway Bay.
[edit] Project configuration
The project consists of 83,700 m² of retail space, and two office towers with 102,300 m² of accommodation.[3]
[edit] Shopping mall
Times Square is considered the first of its kind, the first "vertical mall" in Hong Kong.[4] Due to the high land price in Hong Kong, and the higher yield on retail property, Times Square departs from the common western model of the flat shopping mall.[4] The space allocated to retail is configured over 9 storeys. The mall and lifts to the office tower are accessible by long escalators linking the ground floor podium and the first level of the mall.
[edit] Office buildings
It is common practise for owners to allow naming buildings after its important tenants and giving illusion of ownership.[5] The entire complex remains owned by Wharf, but western and eastern office towers of the complex have been named "Shell Tower" and "Tower One" respectively.
[edit] Ground floor open space
Under the terms of a Deeds of Dedication signed with the Government, 3,010 sq. m of the ground floor was set aside for public access, although the company has the right to organise exhibitions there, and charge fees. The exact details of the concessions to the developers were not made public.[6]
Between July 2003 and March 2005, a corner of the piazza was leased to Starbucks Coffee. The company claimed it was an "unintentional oversight" that was quickly corrected after the Buildings Department complained.[6] In 2008, controversy was again sparked following complaints that private security guards attempted to stop people lingering in the public area, and building management apologised for their "over-zealous" guards.[7]
[edit] Transport
Times Square is served by the MTR's Causeway Bay station. There is an underground passage which directly links the building, and an exit, coined "A1" opens into the ground floor podium level.
It is also accessible by tram in the direction to Happy Valley or Shau Kei Wan.
[edit] Cultural reference
The Times Square Marketplace Mall was featured in the 2003 film Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life where a department store that is marked as 'closed for renovation' is secretly hiding a biological weapons production plant.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Plan to relocate depot keeps tram-fares down, South China Morning Post, July 16, 1986
- ^ Christopher Marchand, Offices, shops plan for tram depot site, South China Morning Post, July 24, 1987
- ^ a b c Michael Taylor, Sign of the times, Far Eastern Economic Review, June 13, 1991
- ^ a b Danny Chung, Reach for the sky, The Standard, December 9, 2005
- ^ Danny Chung, Name of the game is signage rights, The Standard, June 23, 2006
- ^ a b Diana Lee, "Democrats enter fray in Times Square rent row", The Standard, March 6, 2008
- ^ Diana Lee, "Pushy Times Square guards raise hackles", The Standard, March 5, 2008
[edit] External links
- Times Square Homepage
- The Wharf Holdings Limited - owner of the complex
