BELOWGROUND HONG KONG

Located in Central, Hong Kong, LANDMARK is one of the city’s most prominent mixed-use commercial complexes, home to globally recognized luxury brands and acclaimed restaurants. BELOWGROUND, situated beneath it, was launched in 2020 as a creative platform free from conventional constraints. This project represents the first phase of a larger plan to reorganize the space into a shared area for pop-ups and events, alongside a sequence of concept stores by diverse brands, with the intention of eventually expanding across the wider area.

The design is anchored in BELOWGROUND’s original identity—as a community where multiple cultural spheres such as music, fashion, food, and art intersect. The primary reference for this project is Hong Kong’s MTR system. Each station is characterized by distinct mosaic tile color schemes, composed with universal materials such as terrazzo, natural stone, and stainless steel. The underground environment, where a wide range of people constantly move through, felt emblematic of Hong Kong and resonant with the nature of this site. By reinterpreting these materials through a refined and elevated lens, the aim was to create a space that feels both embedded in the everyday and distinctly special.

The spatial composition is defined by a gradient palette of white, gray, and silver. To allow the items displayed here to stand out, the environment is intentionally treated as a neutral, achromatic backdrop. At the central core, which functions as a shared area, movable stainless-steel walls are installed, with rails, lighting, and other infrastructure integrated into a grid ceiling. The movable walls themselves are designed to accommodate shelves, hangers, and other attachments as needed, enabling flexibility for pop-ups and various events while maintaining an underlying order.

Within the space are a gallery, café, and FM BELOWGROUND—a venue that has hosted regular DJ events since before the renovation. As with each tenant space and the main entrance, natural stone is used for framing, unifying the overall detailing and creating spatial coherence. In contrast, FM BELOWGROUND incorporates green stone with embedded system speakers, establishing it as a symbolic focal point within the floor.

Rather than relying solely on expensive materials to elevate quality, the project refines familiar materials through careful detailing. This approach resonates with the sensibility of street culture that BELOWGROUND values. The result is a new underground space that functions as a hub for both luxury and progressive cultural expression.