Kai Tak’s rapid urban transformation has just reached a new milestone with The Twins, a cutting-edge mixed-use commercial landmark in East Kowloon!

This striking and unmissable duo of 22-storey towers, each one standing 120 meters tall with 22 stories above ground and 4 below ground, combines sleek architecture with innovative retail concepts.

In addition to its commercial offering, the project covers 61,000 square feet of greenery and showcases two signature sky gardens of leisure area, setting a new standard for shopping and leisure in Hong Kong.

The spotlight shines on Tower I, home to the highly anticipated SOGO Kai Tak, the department store giant’s first new store location in a decade.

With over 480 brands — including 22 making their Hong Kong debut such as Grams28, Grandioso Emporium, Pebbly, Moulin, and more — this flagship is set to redefine your average shopping experience.

SOGO Kai Tak has something for everyone – whether it’s East Kowloon’s largest beauty and skincare zone (110+ brands), Hong Kong’s biggest Baby Mart (120+ brands), or the most extensive home and lifestyle offerings (140+ brands).

“The strategic design of this new store ensures SOGO remains relevant to both mature and younger customers with varied consumption habits,” said Mr. Hiroto Taguchi, President & COO of SOGO & SEIBU.

The floors are thoughtfully curated to enhance every shopper’s journey. From beauty on B1/F to luxury fashion on G/F, kids’ essentials on 6/F, sports clothing and equipment on 5/F, and home décor on 9/F, each level promises a treasure trove of surprises. Don’t miss the exclusive Dior Beauty Counter, a first-of-its-kind shop-in-shop concept in Hong Kong.

But the allure doesn’t stop at shopping. The culinary scene is just as enticing. Explore three floors of dining at the upcoming Restaurant Park, featuring debuts like OKOSTA, a Japanese okonomiyaki haven, and Okinawa’s famed YONNA YONNA Gelato. Add to that the serene Sky Koen sculptural park and garden, as well as a state-of-the-art, multi-purpose exhibition space, and you have a destination unlike any other.

To celebrate the grand opening, the SOGO Kai Tak Store is running its Kai Tak Fest until Dec. 1, 2024, offering exclusive deals across beauty, fashion, and more.

For more information on offers and a complete list of shops, visit The Twins on their website, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Renowned for its flagship location in Singapore, 1880 is set to launch its innovative social club concept in Two Taikoo Place, Quarry Bay by the end of 2024. This new venture seeks to transform workspace entertainment by seamlessly integrating work and leisure, fostering meaningful collaboration, and promoting both professional and personal fulfillment.

In collaboration with Swire Properties, 1880 Hong Kong aims to foster a vibrant atmosphere where ideas and interactions thrive, offering a new destination for work, relaxation, and community engagement with premium facilities.

Occupying four floors, the top floor will house the exclusive 1880 Hong Kong Members Club. This luxurious space will feature Leonie’s – a top-tier dining experience, a cutting-edge bio-hacking focused spa, and QUARRY Gym, led by professional athlete Max Woodward. Both the spa and gym will also be accessible to the public for a fee.

Members and 1880 SOCIAL guests can also expand their horizons by participating in a diverse array of experiences, with a large variety of events each month. These include intellectual, culinary and wellness talks, trivia nights, film festivals, music performances, and more. The fourth floor will host an exclusive lineup of premium, curated events for 1880 Hong Kong Members.

The first three floors will be dedicated to 1880 SOCIAL, a vibrant new concept open to both members and the public, featuring dynamic events, curated drinks, and versatile coworking spaces.

1880 SOCIAL will be a hub for a diverse range of dining options from casual to fine dining, including The Double (coffee and wine bar), Hoi Polloi (Southeast Asian cuisine), Té Bo (fine dining), and The Sports Bar (an American diner).

The third floor of 1880 extends the working environment with state-of-the-art facilities. It features modern meeting rooms, a high-spec boardroom, podcast studios, a green screen room, and a spacious event area. These facilities will be accessible to the public, with an in-house event concierge team available to cater to both professional and casual needs.

For more information on the concept, membership details, or to RSVP for their upcoming events, visit their website, or check out their Instagram, Facebook for more updates.

Location: 1/F - 4/F, Two Taikoo Place, 979 King's Rd, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong

As summer draws to a close, TREE has introduced a new range of sustainable furniture designed to inspire productivity for the upcoming season. Whether returning to the office or preparing for a new school year, TREE’s latest collection of desks and racks offers both functionality and style.

Bok Adjustable Desk

The Bok adjustable desk, designed by Belgian designer Alain van Havre, is perfect for those who prefer switching between sitting and standing throughout the workday. Crafted from sustainably sourced solid European oak, the desk features a sleek design with slimline T-shaped legs and an integrated motorized system for easy height adjustments.

Karma Desk

Handcrafted from reclaimed teak salvaged from old Indonesian houses, the Karma desk embodies TREE's commitment to giving old wood a new lease on life. Its brass-coated iron framing and luxurious handles contrast beautifully with the weathered wood, creating a modern industrial look. The desk includes a closed compartment with shelves for ample storage space.

Hemingway Desk

Channeling mid-century modern design, the Hemingway desk is made from sustainably sourced European white oak. It features clean lines, soft-closing drawers, and multiple storage compartments, making it an elegant and practical addition to any workspace.

Circa17 Desk

The Circa17 desk is perfect for small spaces and is designed with both functionality and aesthetics in mind. Made from FSC-certified solid teak, it includes a convenient drawer and integrated compartments for books and stationery, making it ideal for students and home offices alike.

Sophisticated Multi Rack

TREE's sophisticated multi rack, crafted from FSC-certified solid teak, offers a versatile storage solution with unique geometric shelving. It can be placed vertically, horizontally, or even upside down to suit various spaces and needs. This piece also serves as a stylish room divider, adding a natural and striking element to any environment.

TREE's new collection combines sustainable materials with innovative design, providing stylish and practical solutions for the new work and school season. For more information, visit TREE's official website.

Zaha Hadid Architects announced that construction of their landmark development above the Hong Kong High-Speed Rail West Kowloon Terminus has reached roof level. The project, situated next to the West Kowloon Cultural District, aims to connect neighborhoods with a network of public gardens and landscaped plazas.

The development, which integrates with the existing station and rooftop park, includes civic, office, and retail spaces. It is located above the West Kowloon Station, a key gateway between Hong Kong and mainland China, and is near the Kowloon and Austin MTR stations, enhancing connectivity within the city.

The project features nearly 9,290 square meters of green terraces and plazas, and includes interconnected office towers at both ends. The central plaza, linked to the West Kowloon Parkway, offers sheltered outdoor spaces for public events.

The design emphasizes maximizing outdoor public space and natural ventilation while maintaining views of Kowloon’s mountains. The towers are designed with vertical shading pleats and photovoltaic panels to reduce energy consumption. The development has achieved an 'excellent' BREEAM rating and top pre-certifications from LEED, WELL, and HK BEAM Plus.

This project aims to provide new public spaces and improve well-being for Kowloon’s residents, highlighting sustainable design and innovative architecture.

For more updates on architectural developments, visit Zaha Hadid Architects' news page.

Mong Kok is about to gain the title of Hong Kong’s “Green Heart,” as property developer Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) has unveiled its plans for the development of the residential district with an array of green and sustainable elements.

Under the project, SHKP is slated to build a 320-metre tall, 53-storey tower as the development’s centerpiece. The building is projected to be the second tallest commercial landmark in Kowloon and will be equipped with a public rooftop viewing platform.

It will also feature a 200,000-square-foot shopping mall, five community facilities, outdoor spaces, and a 1.2 million-square-foot commercial space.

Another landmark rising soon in Mong Kok is SHKP’s “Ficus Plaza,” a public space that will feature three banyan trees, along with 50 other trees and green areas that will create a “'Cool Island Effect.”

Other facilities to look forward to include 800 private car parking spaces, a public transport hub, two landscaped walkways that will lead visitors to the Mong Kok East MTR Station deck, and a footbridge to Hak Po Street for greater connectivity to neighboring districts.

The development comes after SHKP won the tender to build a commercial site in the district’s Sai Yee Street last year, allowing them to develop the area.

Stay tuned for more updates on SHKP’s Mong Kok development by visiting their website.

It’s no surprise to know that Hong Kong and the Philippines share an amicable bond. The two destinations, which are a mere hour and a half away from each other, are both frequented by many Southeast Asian fliers. Filipinos have been visiting Hong Kong for its vibrant culture, delicious eats, and even to visit family. Many OFWs find themselves in this bustling city, to earn bread for their families as well.

Celebrating each other, as well as the many other cultures that make Hong Kong such an exciting melting pot, is the annual Home InStyle event. Known for exhibiting thousands of houseware items, brands, and legacies from a variety of countries and regions, this year’s Home InStyle event boasted 1,750 exhibitors from 16 countries which included first-timers from Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. Pavilions featured familiar cultural elements from countries such as China, Taiwan, India, Japan, and Thailand.

In total, the Home InStyle event attracted an impressive 24,000 buyers from 100 different countries and regions to its grounds at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

Not to be left out from the excitement is the Philippines, from which came two brands: Art Meets Craft and La Bonne Vie.

Art Meets Craft provides homeowners with vibrant, handmade sculptures in urethane varnish. Pieces are playful and cover a range of animals and even “fat ladies,” making it a unique showpiece. Established in 2010, Art Meets Craft also does custom designs, each of which is made meticulously by artists Tisha Paculba, Didi Diaz, or Pau Kimberly Co.

On the other hand, La Bonne Vie specialises in handloom woven textiles and products. Culturally significant, these weaves — which include inabel from Ilocos — are a treasure to the Philippines.

“In the past, Inabel Iloko was used as sails or masts for the galleons during the galleon trade,” shares Geraldyn Bonnevie Savellano, who helms La Bonne Vie. “It was also bartered in exchange for gold since it was at par with the French brocade.”

Despite challenges faced during their earlier years, La Bonne Vie has since grown and is a significant supplier for establishments such as Kultura and Rustan’s. Their shop offers everything from inabel cushion covers to woven blankets, both of which are common accoutrements in a Filipino home.

Currently, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Hong Kong (PTIC-HK) is in talks with 13 potential buyers from around the globe, all of whom have expressed an interest in the brands and suppliers.

The Home InStyle Event is a distinguished effort and has been participated by the Department of Trade and Industry through PTIC-HK and its attached agency the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) in partnership with the Philippine Consulate General in Hong Kong.