The Representation of Power Through Space

Abstract

The Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Building stands as the headquarter of the most powerful bank in Hong Kong. Designed by the renowned architect Sir Norman Foster and celebrated as an icon of High-tech architecture, it holds a significant position among the city's landmarks. In addition to its significance, the HSBC Building has also been involved in numerous major events in Hong Kong, particularly those related to financial and political power. Given the prominent background of HSBC Building, what urban and architectural elements signify financial and political power? How does the perception of power within the building evolve over its forty-year history? This research investigates the two questions by examining HSBC Building's interaction with financial and political power across the urban, architectural exterior, and architectural interior scales. This thesis argues that power, though abstract and multifaceted, manifests in tangible forms within HSBC Building. Significant displays of power are evident in the building's urban setting, architectural style, construction, and spatial arrangement. However, recent architectural alterations and gestures suggest a shift in power dynamics. This change reveals the role of architecture as a tool for showcasing, providing, and retracting power.