center to divert (pamphlet)

At the age of high-rise, core is a representation of a transfer from ground to top or vice versa.  These types of transfer including the structure and the circulation:

1) Structure – the shear wall or the column, transferring the load to the ground
2)Circulation – Both the lifts and the fire escape route allowing people to move through, as a connection for different programs and spaces
3) Services – the management of pipes and electricity for different parts of the building, maintaining the function of the program

When Hong Kong was developing, the plot was drawn to such size due to the structural technology. At the time it was wooden beam and the span limits was 5m. Over the years, these plots merge and redevelop into mega-blocks and podium towers. Some of the plots were left over due to various reasons and when those develop, they become pencil towers. In these pencil tower, the structure and the circulation takes around 50% of the plan as those components in the core is essential in the high rise building. The developers when they design this sort of typology, the pack all the components into one straight extrusion due to the very stringent building regulations. Hence, the plan and the spaces of the building become very regular. Therefore, the aim of my thesis is to release and dissolve the rigidity of the elements of the core into the plan and to make variation of spaces even in such small plot size.