Po Pin Chau Viewing Platform

How can we create a design that is not only a place of rest, but also offer a fresh perspective for the surrounding?

Typical viewing platforms provide little function aside from shelter. In Hong Kong, such shelters often take the form of a pagoda or pavilion, creating a place to look at the scenery, sometimes with seating inside for visitors to rest. We questioned whether the design could offer more in terms of function by not only offering some form of shelter, but also a new perspective on the surrounding.

Inspired by the rugged nature of the site and the hexagonal form of the rocks forming Po Pin Chau, the design steps up in a six-tiered design to offer a new perspective on the feature island. As each tier rises, it forms a seating ledge for visitors to rest, with each step offers a different view of the site.

By lowering one end of the viewing platform’s roof and curling it around in a loop, the design takes the form of a circular staircase, creating an upper and lower platform. The circular motion to access the upper level also encourages visitors to look around the site, drawing attention to the surrounding apart from the main feature of Po Pin Chau.

The outer frame forms a framed perspective on the surrounding. At the lowest level, a raised deck create a seating platform for people to rest while being shaded by the steps above.

To blend in with the natural landscape, the design is constructed of steel for the structure and timber for the platforms.