GO PARK Sai Sha is a remarkable sports and entertainment precinct in Ma On Shan, delivering world-class leisure facilities for the surrounding community, thanks in large part to the foresight and resolve of its developer, Sun Hung Kai Properties, and the creative genius of its designer Zaha Hadid Architects.

Already it has attracted more than 2 million visits by locals and tourists since opening in January this year, reflecting the growing demand for quality health and wellness activities in the territory.

Nestled between the mountains of the Ma On Shan Country Park and the sheltered waters of Three Fathoms Cove and beyond to the South China Sea, GO PARK adjoins a residential estate, and sets a new benchmark for urban development on several levels.

First is the way the integrated low-rise project blends seamlessly with the natural landscape, cleverly blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces, and cascades down from the mountain to the sea.

Utilising what Zaha Hadid’s design term describe as a “fabric landscape” concept, the complex’s multiple levels are connected by sinuous pathways and ramps that overlook the main piazza and provide access to the wide array of cafes, restaurants, shops and other commercial premises.

A primary ramp winds upwards through the complex to rooftop gardens with panoramic views across the park to the sea and mountains beyond. Looking down from overhead, you can see a series of green canopies that sit atop the buildings below.

Glass fibre reinforced concrete (GRC) is extensively used for the sweeping facades, with futuristic aluminium canopies enclosing the connecting escalators. Natural greenery provides a relaxed and welcoming feel for the expansive, immersive, and pet-friendly open spaces, humming with visitors at weekends.

Then there is the sheer scale and quality of the facilities on site. It’s hard to comprehend the scope of this sprawling development, covering an incredible 1.3 million square feet.

Outdoors, there are adventure playgrounds, full-size football and lacrosse pitches, international-standard tennis, basketball, padel and pickleball courts, a rock-climbing wall, s state-of-the-art golf driving range with Trackman technology and 70+ bays, cycling and running tracks, and kayaking and other water sports at GO PARK Aqua.

Indoors, there is a multipurpose stadium accommodating up to 1,500 spectators for sports events, concerts and community gatherings, a fencing school, and a swimming academy with a 25-metre indoor pool.

Finally, there is the unique development model which blends traditional residential sales (over 1,500 apartments have been sold in the first phase of the Sierra Sea estate) and commercial leases for the retail and F&B outlets, with partnerships with sports bodies and third-party sponsorships.

For example, the golf range has been developed in partnership with the Australian Golf Academy, while AXA is the principal partner of both the swimming academy and stadium at GO PARK.

For both the developer and designer, it has been a long and, at times, fraught journey.

SHKP project manager Bridgette Chui, Project Manager, says the project is one of the largest and most distinctive integrated developments in recent years for both Sun Hung Kai Properties and Hong Kong. She says it has been “meticulously planned” over 30 years, with a construction phase of 5 to 6 years.

Zaha Hadid Architects’ Hong Kong Director Simon Yu says one of the biggest challenges was the onset of COVID just months after the designs had been confirmed, resulting in disrupted logistics, increased material costs, and site access restrictions.

“Fortunately, our design teams in London and Hong Kong were already well accustomed to coordinating through digital platforms, and with the swift support of our IT department, the transition to a fully networked workflow was seamless,” he says.

Indeed, overcoming these hurdles made the project all the more satisfying. “Everyone involved in delivering the project was deeply committed to providing Sai Sha’s residents with the very best amenities. It is incredibly rewarding for us to now witness the park proving to be so popular with its local community.”

Simon Yu, Director, Zaha Hadid Architects with Bridgette Chui, Project Manager, Sun Hung Kai Properties
Executive Architect for the project was LWK + Partners, with engineering and other support from Aecom, Arup and other firms