Bank of China Tower
location: Central, Hong Kong

To me, the Bank of China Tower remains an inspirational piece of architecture. Having been born in Hong Kong but raised abroad, depictions of my birthplace through various media in my childhood often included this building. Spectacular and symbolic of the Hong Kong skyline, the Bank of China Tower embodies the very traditional oriental visual element: the bamboo-like motif, which suggests upward growth and prosperity; whilst pioneering in the contemporary, being the first building outside the United States to break the 1000' mark, as well as the first major building in Hong Kong to bypass consultation with Feng Shui masters. For many years, the Bank of China Tower was a goliath amidst the mass of smaller towers. Even though it is now placed at third, the tower continues to be the classic symbol of Hong Kong's collection of impressive skyscrapers.