In the middle of Hong Kong, one of the most densely populated cities in the world, you will find a walled complex of listed buildings. The main police station, the magistrate's office and the prison, which were built in 1841 after the British colonial period and have been closed since 2006, represent some of the city's most important historical monuments.

By blending this heritage with contemporary architecture, these buildings were to be transformed into a venue for events and cultural activities. For this purpose, a total of sixteen listed buildings were restored and two new buildings were added. In particular, the construction of the two new buildings poses a number of challenges for the architects Herzog & de Meuron. For example, the requirements were set that the acoustic performance of the building walls should comply with an STC value of 55. In addition, a high standard of fire safety was required.

In order to be able to meet the special properties required for the new buildings, the architect decided to use an exterior drywall system with AQUAPANEL^® Technology. Due to its construction with an additional sound-absorbing membrane (Tecsound SY70), the facades can achieve the expected STC value of 55, thus helping to maximise sound insulation. In addition, by incorporating three layers of the non-combustible AQUAPANEL^® Cement Board Outdoor into the wall construction, a fire safety value of 1 hour FRP can be guaranteed. A particularly spectacular sight is the façade of the building, which is made of 100% recycled aluminium elements. AQUAPANEL^® Cement Board Outdoor can be used with a wide range of different surface finishes, offering unlimited scope for creativity.

By modernising the historic buildings and adapting contemporary architecture, the cultural heritage was made accessible to the public and is still a symbol of law and order.

Knauf Aquapanel can help take all of your concepts to higher peaks. Get in touch to see what we can do for you.