The new architectural highlight of Hong Kong, “The Henderson”, fascinates with its organic shapes and reflective surfaces. The skyscraper designed by Zaha Hadid Architects is approximately 210 m high and a masterpiece when it comes to the realization of complex geometries made of glass and steel.
seele’s scope in this project includes a wide range of different and complex façades, including an all-glass entrance façade with single-curved panes reaching heights of up to 11 m and a curved stick façade with laminated double-curved insulated glazing units with an element size of approximately 2 x 5 m. On the top floor, seele built the banquet hall, a striking double-curved all-glass structure with glass panes of approximately 2 x 8 m, offering spectacular panoramic views. A true highlight is the fully glazed roof that ensures an unobstructed view of the sky.
One of the most challenging tasks in realizing the architect’s futuristic vision was to achieve innovation in glass construction, requiring precise geometric tolerances, while still meeting the stringent requirements of the building code. Particularly noteworthy are the very high wind loads encountered in a typhoon-prone region and the strict climatic requirements. After the design phase, extensive testing of the various façade types was carried out to meet regulatory requirements. A key challenge was the complex installation at 210 meters, requiring careful handling of daily wind loads.
This project shows how engineering collaboration and advanced technologies can lead to the successful realization of the architect’s design. The result is a visually stunning and structurally outstanding architectural masterpiece.
