PARIS — Hong Kong’s Henderson Land Development took its show on the road, unveiling its ambitious Central Yards project with a gala dinner inside Paris’ cavernous Grand Palais Immersif.
The developer introduced its landmark shopping and culture project in dramatic style with a sweeping light show coordinated to dinner courses prepared by Michelin-starred chef David Toutain, an opening performance from opera singer Colette Lam accompanied by Les Accordés quartet, and a mid-meal solo from cellist Gaspar Claus.
Screens around the room walked guests through the mixed-use development on Hong Kong’s New Central Harborfront, which the company said will set a new benchmark in urban design, shopping and culture.
The Paris party follows the project’s big Hong Kong reveal on Nov. 19.
At 1.6 million square feet, the 63 billion Hong Kong dollar, or $8.1 billion, development is the district’s largest in decades and will transform the remaining open space in the district. The center will open in two phases, with the first slated for 2027 and full completion targeted for 2032.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime project,” said director of operations Tom Andrews. “It’s unlike anything we’ve seen before. It’s a district that promotes commerce, culture, creativity and lifestyle.”
A rendering of the shopping area in the planned development.
Courtesy of Henderson Land
At its core is “The Bridge,” a 1,300-foot horizontal structure that stretches across the site — an undulating “groundscrape” that will form a new low-lying skyline along Victoria Harbor. The architectural concept is framed to position the district as a bridge between neighborhoods, as well as part of a wider effort to reestablish Hong Kong as a cultural capital and global connector.
Central Yards also reflects Henderson’s long-term strategy to expand its flagship holdings in the city’s core business district.
The government sought out a developer to transform Central beyond its traditional financial identity, with Henderson selected to explore cultural, artistic, fashion and retail elements for the site. Executives said they are rethinking the shopping experience and reinventing the theater model to give Central new cultural cachet, even as it remains Hong Kong’s business equivalent to Wall Street or Canary Wharf.
Cultural programming will be important to that repositioning. Henderson executives said they are in discussions to bring long-running global productions — think Broadway shows or a touring version of the Moulin Rouge — to Hong Kong in an effort to cement the city as a strong draw for international and Mainland Chinese tourists.
A 1,100-seat theatre will be built for these large-scale performances.
A rendering of the theater that set to host international shows.
Courtesy of Henderson Land
The team is also working with creative communities in Paris, Tokyo and Seoul to reframe Chinese cultural storytelling and introduce fashion-driven experiences aimed at younger Asian audiences. While commercial viability remains important, executives said the goal is to inject new energy into the district to reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a regional destination.
The development will include more than 700,000 square feet of premium office space.
More than 70 percent of phase one office space has been leased, primarily to multinational financial institutions and innovation-focused enterprises. Quantitative trading firm Jane Street has already been confirmed as the anchor tenant.
The company said such early sign-ons reflect Hong Kong’s rebound as a business center despite broader macroeconomic uncertainty.
A rendering of the development.
Courtesy of Henderson Land
Beyond commercial space, Central Yards will feature a 160,000-square-foot sky garden and 300,000 square feet of open space. Phase one will include more than 300,000 square feet of retail, emphasizing street-level connectivity and indoor-outdoor flow. Several luxury brands have signed on, executives said, and a dozen outdoor event sites will support year-round cultural programming, pop-ups and markets.
Henderson collaborated with a global roster of designers, including Hong Kong’s Lead8, London-based AL_A, the Netherlands’ UNStudio, California’s Peter Walker and Partners and lighting specialists Speirs Major on the project.
Following the Paris presentation, Henderson Land will take the project to Tokyo with a gala dinner in January.
