Farrells win NEC Award for delivery of futuristic Hong Kong swimming pool
Architecture studio Farrells have been honoured with an NEC Award for their delivery of a waterfront swimming pool in Hong Kong.
The firm, led by Terry Farrell, won the NEC Award for Large Project Of The Year 2016 – which recognises excellence in project delivery and good practice.
They were commissioned to build a new home for the Kennedy Town Swimming Pool, after its former facility was demolished to make way for a new MTR train station.
The site chosen for the pool was a derelict car park on a patch of reclaimed land, with an uninterrupted sea view. Farrells were commissioned to create a memorable landmark surrounded by landscaping, trees and green walls to revive the neighbourhood and attract local residents to keep fit and healthy by using the facility.
To achieve this, they designed a futuristic triangular form derived from the shape of the site and framed by the city’s historic tram line, residential towers and Victoria Harbour. From some angles, when completed the building will resemble an oncoming train.
The first phase of the complex – a 50m (164ft) outdoor pool and a smaller leisure pool – was completed in 2011. The second phase, which will see the addition of two indoor pools, a jacuzzi and an outdoor garden, due to be finished in October this year.
The project has cost an estimated HK$671m (US$86.5m, €76m, £60m), funded by the MTR Corporation.
The NEC (New Engineering Contract) is a type of legal document that facilitates the implementation of sound project management principles and practices. The designers of NECs host an annual awards ceremony honouring “innovative projects and organisations that demonstrate successful cooperation and have worked in the spirit of mutual trust.”
The NEC judges cited the Kennedy Town Swimming Pool project for the “excellent time management and delivery” demonstrated by the development team, and the effective working relationship between the Hong Kong government, the MTR Corporation, engineering firm Paul Y Construction and Farrells.
All project stakeholders attended regular workshops and training sessions during the tender process and after the contract award. According to the team, a ‘no blame’ culture was fostered “to encourage team members to express their views unreservedly to enable early identification and resolution of potential issues.”
Farrells director Stefan Krummeck told CLAD: "An integrated team approach was adopted amongst to ensure thorough understanding of the common objectives for time, cost, quality, safety and community expectations for project delivery. This teamwork was integral to the project’s success.”
Farrells NEC Award Hong Kong swimming pool architecture design Kennedy Town Swimming Pool Victoria Harbour New Engineering ContractSir Terry Farrell proposes six new bridges for London's River Thames
Farrells' Hong Kong Police Club will be state-of-the-art leisure space
Farrells masterplans £2bn London Paramount Resort, with Ray Hole Architects designing core facilities
Chinese firm invests £1bn in London Docklands regeneration
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
Three years after Pegasus Capital bought Six Senses, how close is the private equity firm to realising its goals for its first spa and hospitality investment? Pegasus’ founder Craig Cogut tells us what’s been achieved and what comes next