Heritage and legacy are two words that resound in the new development by Nan Fung Textiles, a forerunner in the Hong Kong textile industry for more than 60 years. Nan Fung Textiles will be transforming its former textile factories at Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan—Mills 4, 5 and 6—into a hub for innovation, culture and learning.
Dubbed The Mills, the development pays homage to its past while focusing on the future. It is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2018.
The three former mills (4, 5 and 6) will be woven together via walkways and common areas into a single coherent complex—a city within a city. The three main components of this ‘city’ are: The Mills Fabrica, a business incubator and springboard for ‘techstyle’ start-ups and strategic partners; The Mills Shopfloor, an experiential retail landmark? and the MILL? Foundation, a non-profit arts and cultural institution that explores both textile arts and ‘techstyle’ innovation.
The main entrance to The Mills is through the Town Hall on the ground floor, with its welcoming sunlit atrium. The expansive landscaped roof gardens offer recreational public spaces that are valuable in a city such as Hong Kong.
The Mills will retain more than 80 percent of its existing building structure, albeit with steel structural strengthening. The old timber doors, metal gates and equipment will be incorporated into the interior design, preserving the building’s 50-plus years of history and lending their own distinctive charm to this cutting-edge development.
Part of the challenge in preserving the existing structure lies in the extensive concrete repair works due to spalling caused by wear and tear. The roof gardens also increased the loading requirements for The Mills, which requires reconstruction of the roof floor. The consultant teams used Building Information Modelling to ensure that the design is clash-free for the M&E services, which helps to speed up installations and minimise abortive works.
The Mills aims to obtain the LEED Gold Rating, by saving up to 30 percent in energy consumption, with its energy conservation and water usage efforts. As part of its sustainable design, skylights are located throughout the development to allow for more natural light, while reducing dependence on artificial electrical lighting. ?ertical architectural fins and verandas help mitigate solar heat gains and glare.
The creative ‘apps-based function’ BMS system will be adopted at the Mills, allowing the Estates Management Office to monitor and control the system freely at any time and location, as well as catering to various tenants’ needs.
The Mills is a showcase of the tapestry of colour and creativity that Nan Fung Textiles has brought to Hong Kong and will continue to reinvest in the city and its people.
PROJECT DATA
Project Name: Nan Fung Textiles Mills 4, 5 and 6 (The Mills)
Location: 23-47 Pak Tin Par Street, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong
Expected Completion: Q2 2018
Site Area:
Mills 4 and 5: 3,698 square metre
Mill 6: 3,111 square metres
Total: 6,809 square metres
Gross Floor Area:
Mills 4 and 5: 15,654 square metres
Mill 6: 8,383 square metres
Total: 24,037 square metres
Building Height:
Mill 4: 10.81 metres
Mill 5: 30.43 metres
Mill 6: 13.35 metres
Client/Owner: Nan Fung Development Ltd
Architecture Firm: Thomas Chow Architects Ltd
Main Contractor: Paul Y. Builders Ltd
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: Aurecon Hong Kong Ltd
Civil & Structural Engineer: AECOM Asia Co, Ltd.
Images: Nan Fung Development Ltd
