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The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

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International Commerce Centre
環球貿易廣場
Map
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeHotel, observation, office, dining, shopping, parking
Location1 Austin Road West,
West Kowloon,
Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Construction started24 July 2002; 22 years ago (2002-07-24)
Completed3 May 2010; 14 years ago (2010-05-03)
Opening2011; 13 years ago (2011)
ManagementKai Shing Management Services Limited
Height
Architectural484 m (1,588 ft)[1]
Tip490 m (1,608 ft)
Top floor476 m (1,562 ft)
Observatory393 m (1,289 ft), Sky100
Technical details
Floor count103 (without Elements)
108 (with Elements)
118 (official)
Floor area274,064 m2 (2,950,000 sq ft)
Lifts/elevators84[2]
Design and construction
Architect(s)Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (design)
Belt Collins & Associates (landscape)
Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd.[3][4]
DeveloperSun Hung Kai Properties
Structural engineerArup
Main contractorSanfield Building Contractors Limited

The International Commerce Centre is a 103-storey, 454 m (1,490 ft)[5][6] supertall skyscraper in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. On top of the shopping mall, Elements, near West Kowloon Cultural District, and the south side of ICC faces Victoria Harbour, directly opposite Hong Kong's 2nd tallest building, Two ifc.[7]

Standing on about 30 m (98 ft)-tall podium floor (level 8), the tower itself would be 454 m (1,490 ft) tall while the top floor is 103 (official 118), but the official incorporates the levels of the mall, making it has a final height of 484 m (1,588 ft) with 108 storeys. With the 6 m (20 ft)-tall parapets on the roof, its official height is 490 m (1,608 ft). Compare with Two ifc, is on the ground, rather than a mall.

Following the most commonly used measurement worldwide – height to architectural top, it is the world's 13th tallest building, 10th tallest by number of floors, also Hong Kong's tallest and the only building with over 100 storeys. It was the world's 4th tallest and 3rd in Asia when completed in 2010.

History

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MTR Corporation Limited and Sun Hung Kai Properties, Hong Kong's metro operator and largest property developer respectively, were responsible for the development. Known in development as Union Square Phase 7, its current name was officially announced in 2005. The building was completed in phases from 2007 to 2010, and opened in 2011, while The Ritz-Carlton opened in March and Sky100 in April. It was designed to be 574 m (1,883 ft) tall with 102 storeys, one of the reasons to the current height is airways.

Floor count

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The top floor is "118". However, levels with "4" in the last digit were skipped because it sounds like "death" in Cantonese and Mandarin (tetraphobia), it also makes levels "higher", similar to Western superstition about the number 13 (triskaidekaphobia). e.g. the 68-storey building, The Cullinan, is declared 93 storeys.

Except for level 3, 103 and 113, levels with "3" in the last digit were also skipped, level 5, 6, 7, 26, 28, 29 and 105 were skipped as well for unknown reason. They are currently replaced by levels with "M" & "R", which stand for "Mechanical" and "Refuge". Although the levels missing, it still shows on the elevator's screen of Sky100 and Skydining 101 while going up and down.

28 floors were skipped: 4, 5, 6, 7, 13, 14, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 33, 34, 43, 44, 53, 54, 63, 64, 73, 74, 83, 84, 93, 94, 104, 105, 114

18 floors were added: UG, M1-1, M1-2, M1-3, M1-5, R1, R2, M2-1, M2-2, R3, M3-1, M3-2, R4, M4-1, M4-2, M4-3, M5, M6

Level Tower level Type Elevation
118 103 The Ritz-Carlton (swimming pool, fitness centre & Ozone bar) 476 m (1,562 ft)
M6 102 Mechanical
117 101 The Ritz-Carlton (presidential suite)
116 100 The Ritz-Carlton (spa & club lounge) 465 m (1,526 ft)
115 99 The Ritz-Carlton (guest rooms)
113 98
112 97
111 96
110 95
109 94
108 93
107 92
106 91
M5 90 Mechanical
103 89 The Ritz-Carlton (reception lobby, Café 103 & buffet) 425 m (1,394 ft)
102 88 The Ritz-Carlton (dining)
M4-3 87 The Ritz-Carlton (staff only) / Mechanical
M4-2 86 Mechanical
M4-1 85
R4 84 Refuge
101 83 Skydining 101 399 m (1,309 ft)
100 82 Sky100 & Café 100 393 m (1,289 ft)
99 81 UBS
98 80
97 79
96 78 Office
95 77 UBS
92 76
91 75
90 74
89 73
88 72
87 71
86 70 IWG plc
85 69
82 68
81 67 Office
80 66
79 65
78 64
M3-2 63 Mechanical
M3-1 62
R3 61 Refuge
77 60 Office
76 59
75 58
72 57
71 56
70 55
69 54
68 53
67 52
66 51
65 50
62 49
61 48 Deutsche Bank
60 47
59 46
58 45
57 44
56 43
55 42
52 41
51 40
50 39 Office
49 38 Sky lobby
48 37
M2-2 36 Mechanical
M2-1 35
R2 34 Refuge
47 33 Morgan Stanley
46 32
45 31
42 30
41 29
40 28
39 27
38 26
37 25
36 24
35 23
32 22
31 21
30 20
27 19 Office
25 18
22 17
21 16
20 15 SPACE (fitness centre)
19 14 Office
18 13
17 12
16 11
15 10
12 9
R1 8 Refuge
M1-5 7 Mechanical
M1-3 6
M1-2 5
M1-1 4
11 3 Office
10 2
9 1 The Ritz-Carlton (entrance), office lobby & podium floor
8 G
⬆ ICC ⬆
⬇ Elements ⬇
3 4 The Ritz-Carlton (ballroom) & lobbies (office & Skydining 101) 25 m (82 ft)
2 3 Sky100 (tickets & entrance) & skyway to WKCD
1 2 -
UG 1
G G Entrance (Nga Cheung Road), bus stop & loading dock
B1 B1 Carpark
B2 B2
B3 B3
B4 B4

The ICC Light and Music Show

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The LED light show set a new Guinness World Record for the “largest light and sound show on a single building” using a total of 50,000 m2 on two facades of ICC.[8] The Show is designed by the lighting design supervisor, Hirohito Totsune,[9] who already designed the lighting system of the Tokyo Skytree.[10] It creates a theme and story line by using lights and music elements, similar to "A Symphony of Lights" in Victoria Harbour.

Sky100 & Skydining 101

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  • Sky100
    Sky100
  • Office lobby with the passage to Skydining 101, while L4 to 7 missing!
    Office lobby with the passage to Skydining 101, while L4 to 7 missing!

A 67-second journey takes guests to the 360-degree, 393-metre high indoor observation deck Sky100 on level 100 from level 2. It is the 2nd highest observation deck in Hong Kong, after outdoor Sky Terrace 428 on The Peak Tower.[11][12] It opens from 1000 to 2030 daily (last entry at 2000), but depends on the weather and sometimes for private only,[13] the admission fee of aged 12 to 64 is $198. The Hong Kong action film, Cold War, which stars Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Ka-fai as the main character, was also filmed here in 2011.

Skydining 101 (Inakaya, Odyssée, The Sky Boss and The Kitin) sits on level 101 at 399 m (1,309 ft).

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

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  • The original hotel was demolished in 2009[14]
    The original hotel was demolished in 2009[14]
  • View from The Ritz-Carlton
    View from The Ritz-Carlton
  • Tin Lung Heen on L102
    Tin Lung Heen on L102
  • The Lounge & Bar on L102
    The Lounge & Bar on L102
  • Lobby on L103
    Lobby on L103

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong is the highest five-star hotel in Hong Kong and 3rd highest in the world, which occupies level 3, 8, 9 and the top 17 floors (M4-3 to 118), offering 312 rooms. The Ritz-Carlton is a brand of the American company Marriott International. It was the world's highest hotel when opened in March 2011, and was surpassed by Rosewood Guangzhou on the top 16 floors of 530 m-tall Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre in September 2019,[15] and Heavenly Jin Restaurant of J Hotel Shanghai Tower on the 120th floor at 556.36 m (1,825.33 ft) in June 2021,[16][17] although it says "HIGHEST HOTEL IN THE WORLD AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, HONG KONG" on its official website until present day (November 2024).[18]

The hotel was located on Chater Road, Central from August 1993 to January 2008, and re-opened at ICC on 29 March 2011. Its interior lighting is designed by British lighting designer, Sally Storey.[19]

Features

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A 90-second journey takes guests to the reception lobby and Café 103 (buffet) on level 103 from level 9; another coffee zone, Café 100, located on the west side of Sky100 on level 100. The Michelin-dining can be experienced on level 102, including a one-starred Italian cuisine, Tosca di Angelo, and two-starred Cantonese cuisine, Tin Lung Heen,[20] which has been awarded since 2013 and was one-starred in 2012; the Hong Kong action film, Raging Fire, which stars Donnie Yen as the main character, was also filmed here in 2019.

The spa and club lounge are on level 116 at 465 m (1,526 ft);[21] the world's highest presidential suite sits on level 117, covering an area of 366 m2 (3,940 sq ft), with a 270-degree, floor-to-ceiling city view of Hong Kong Island, Victoria Harbour, and Kowloon Peninsula;[22] the world's highest swimming pool, fitness centre and outdoor Ozone bar set on the top floor 118 at 476 m (1,562 ft), although it says "490 metres above sea level" on its official website, Facebook page, and the sign on that level.

Suicide & homicide of The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

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A woman jumped to death from 84th floor

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On 8 August 2017, a 29-year-old guest, Liao Yi-lin, was found dead on the ground outside of level 8 at 0300. She was a daughter of Liao Rong-jiu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Political Consultative Conference. She climbed over the fence and jumped from the fire barrier on level "R4", which is the 84th floor at about 404 m (1,325 ft) above sea level. The protruding windows on level M1-1 were shattered after she fell.[23]

A South Korean CEO murdered wife and son

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On 14 January 2018, a 42-year-old South Korean CEO of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, murdered his 42-year-old wife and 7-year-old son in Room 31 on level 109 because of business failure and told his friend who was in South Korea that he was going to commit suicide. The South Korean police and the Consulate General in Hong Kong intervened.[24][25] He was arrested at the crime scene and remanded in Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre. On 16 April, he hanged himself with a bed sheet.[26]

Murder of yoga instructor

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A 23-year-old yoga instructor, Aqua Chow, was going to the United States for studying and boarding by 0200 on 30 June 2022. She disappeared after leaving her apartment, Seaside Sonata in Sham Shui Po, at 1634 of 29 June with her 28-year-old ex-boyfriend, Alex Lo, who was arrested next day. Her corpse with more than 30 stab wounds, and the 27-centimetre-long knife were found in a bathtub in Room 05 on level 106.[27][28][29]

Transport (daily)

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All-day:
Mass Transit Railway (MTR): Airport Express Tung Chung line MTR Kowloon station / Tuen Ma line MTR Austin station / China Railway High-speed High-speed rail MTR Hong Kong West Kowloon station

Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB): 8, 11, 95, 203E, 215X, 260X, 269B, 280X, 281A, 296D, 904, 905, 914, 960, 961, 968, 978, W2

City Bus (CTB): 50, 904, 905, 914, 930, 930X, 952, 962X, 969, 970, 970X, 971, 973, A10, A11, A12, A22, E11 (E11A), E23 (E23A)

(Routes in red refers to "jointly operated"!)

Public light bus (minibus): 26, 74, 74S, 77M, CX1

Overnight:
City Bus (CTB): N50, N930, N952, N962, N969, NA11, NA12

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ https://www.ctbuh.org/resource/height#tab-measuring-tall-building-height
  2. ^ "International Commerce Centre".
  3. ^ "International Commerce Center". Leslie E. Robertson Associates. Archived from the original on 14 December 2004. Retrieved 5 May 2011.
  4. ^ Stephens, Suzanne (16 May 2012). "International Commerce Centre". Architectural Record.
  5. ^ "International Commerce Centre – the Skyscraper Center".
  6. ^ "International Commerce Center, Hong Kong". skyscraperpage.com. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  7. ^ "One & Two ifc | International Finance Centre, Hong Kong".
  8. ^ "ICC Light and Music Show (Hong Kong) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go".
  9. ^ "Hirohito Totsune lights up the ICC". 19 April 2013.
  10. ^ "TOKYO SKYTREE® (Japan) | Case Study | lighting | Electric Works | Business | Panasonic Global".
  11. ^ "Hong Kong Tourist Attractions | sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck".
  12. ^ "Sky Terrace 428 | THE PEAK HONG KONG". www.thepeak.com.hk. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  13. ^ "開放時間 | 香港必去最熱旅遊景點 | 天際100 香港觀景台". sky100.com.hk (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  14. ^ "The 10 tallest buildings in the world ever to be demolished". Livabl. 22 June 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  15. ^ https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/guangzhou/overview/about
  16. ^ "Heavenly Jin - Refined Fusion Dining | Lujiazui Highend Restaurant | View Restaurant Shanghai | Highest Restaurant". www.jhotel-shanghai.com. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  17. ^ Cripps, Karla (25 February 2022). "Guinness names Shanghai eatery as world's highest restaurant in a building". CNN. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  18. ^ "5-Star Luxury Hotel in Kowloon, Hong Kong | The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong". Marriott Bonvoy. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  19. ^ West, Angela Sara (9 April 2018). "Sally Storey, Lighting up the Luxury World". Upscale Living. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  20. ^ "Best Char Siu in Hong Kong - The MICHELIN Guide". MICHELIN Guide. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  21. ^ "Ritz Carlton Hong Kong Club Lounge – Indulge In Excellent Service, Fantastic Views, & Amazing Food". Eat and Travel With Us. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  22. ^ "The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong: Presidential Suite - A sneak peek". Business Insider. 10 December 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2018.
  23. ^ staff, Asia Times (8 August 2017). "Woman jumps to death from 102nd floor of ICC in Kowloon". Asia Times. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  24. ^ "Ritz-Carlton murder suspect possibly killed after failed chocolate business". koreatimes. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  25. ^ "Guest murders family in Ritz-Carlton: S Korean slashes throats of his wife and son". The Standard. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  26. ^ "South Korean man accused of murdering wife and son dies in suspected suicide in Hong Kong jail". The Straits Times. 16 April 2018. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  27. ^ "Hearing begins for 'spurned ex' after yoga trainer found stabbed to death in TST hotel". The Standard. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  28. ^ "Ex-boyfriend who allegedly murdered female yoga instructor on 106th floor of Ritz Carlton TST remanded till 17th Oct". Dimsum Daily. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  29. ^ "Celebrity yoga instructor, 23, found murdered in Hong Kong Ritz Carlton as ex-boyfriend arrested". Yahoo News. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
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