Hong Kong's new global landmark takes centre stage

As you move through Central, weaving along its elevated walkways, Hong Kong’s economic success is written in steel and glass. A procession of late-20th-century office towers rise in disciplined ranks, rewarding an upward glance but rarely inviting a pause.

Now there is reason to linger. Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, The Henderson replaces an outdated parking structure with a world-class commercial and cultural hub, integrating sustainability, business innovation and artistic engagement into Central’s evolving urban landscape. It is also the first tower in Hong Kong to be crowned World’s Best Property at the International Property Awards 2025.

Drawing on the emblematic form of the bauhinia bud, the 36-storey tower’s curved glazing and fluid lines offer a counterpoint to its rectilinear neighbours. “We’re surrounded by great projects of the last century,” says Kevin Ng, senior deputy general manager of project management at Henderson Land Development Company. “So we asked, ‘How can we bring a tower that represents the 21st century?’”

The building is no mere skyline statement, as proven by its residents: global auction houses, investment firms and luxury brands have all chosen to make it their base. Accolades have also kept pace: The Henderson is the only super Grade A commercial development in Hong Kong with 10 top-tier accreditations across multiple sustainability and smart technology standards.

Redrawing Central’s skyline

These honours reflect a design built on sustainability, innovation and foresight. The tower has more than 4,000 double-laminated, curved glass panels that temper glare, reduce solar gain and withstand the city’s typhoons. “Our first 60 full-size mock-ups failed,” says Ng. “But we refused to compromise on aesthetic, efficiency and safety, so we kept searching until we found the right fabricant and technique.”

Windows open via an app, solar-responsive ventilators minimise energy waste, and a tenant engagement programme extends the sustainability ethos via services like bike rentals.

If The Henderson’s environmental credentials provide the foundations, its cultural ambitions add the character. With a fluid design language, courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects, the tower was conceived as a place where the boundaries between work, art and nature dissolve. Inside, that vision takes shape. The lobby is anchored by In Bloom, a chandelier from Lasvit with 188 individually crafted glass pieces that offer a layered interpretation of the bauhinia form. Nearby, Petroc Sesti’s kinetic sculpture Anatomy of Time plays with light and motion. Take an elevator to the third floor and you’re greeted by a huge Balloon Swan by Jeff Koons – the only red version on display in Asia. These are intentional markers: you have arrived somewhere that takes creativity seriously.

Step outside and that same thinking unfolds in the Art Garden. Planted with nectar-rich species to support biodiversity, it doubles as an open-air gallery, folding commissioned works into the daily rhythm of the city. “We volunteered to take over the public garden next door, though it wasn’t part of the lease,” says Ng. “We figured that a better setting for our building should also mean a better setting for the city – and that includes accessible, art-filled space for everyone.” At the garden’s centre, Ned Kahn’s The Breathing Tree responds to invisible currents of air, while organic works by Jenny Pickford and Philipp Frank sit within the greenery.

A place for art and business

The Art Garden is also emblematic of something larger here: The Henderson’s ambition to cultivate a place where creativity and daily life can coexist. That philosophy is borne out by its occupants. Historic British auction house Christie’s has taken four floors for its Asia Pacific headquarters. Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet has opened its AP House on the 25th floor, while investment firm The Carlyle Group has established its Asia Pacific base here. At penthouse level, the highest all-glass rooftop ballroom in Hong Kong, Cloud 39, has become venue of choice for high-profile global events.

What connects these prestigious names is a belief that an inspiring environment fosters collaboration and new ways to operate. “Apps and data give tenants the opportunity for a paradigm shift – but the choice is theirs,” says Ng. The Henderson transcends the traditional idea of a workplace. It is a global landmark where innovation, culture and community converge; a blueprint for how cities can work in harmony.
thehenderson.com.hk