Top architect Norman Foster transforms Hong Kong’s colonial-era Murray Building into five-star hotel

Structure designed in late 1960s is being turned into a five-star hotel called The Murray, which will open later this year

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The old Murray Building housed various government departments. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 9:02am, 26 Jun 2017Updated: 10:49am, 26 Jun 2017

The design of a new five-star hotel at the former Murray Building has involved world-famous architect Norman Foster and the original architect, who is now 90 years old.

Close to the Bank of China Tower, the US embassy and Hong Kong Park, the building used to house various government departments.

The Murray managing director Duncan Palmer says the hotel will be on the same level as the Four Seasons. Photo: David Wong

Duncan Palmer, managing director of The Murray, the new hotel, said it was important to engage the original architect, Ron Philips, who designed the building in the late 1960s for the colonial government.

The site and the building cost developer Wharf Holdings HK$4.4 billion in 2011. The firm then spent about HK$3.4 billion on developing the premises into the 336-room hotel, which will open later this year.

An illustration of The Murray’s suites. Photo: Handout

“I went down to [Philips’] apartment in Eastbourne [in England] to spend time with him to understand the DNA of his design thoughts,” Palmer said.

“He looked at the floor plans and made sure they translated well in terms of getting light into the bedrooms,” said Palmer, who has worked for the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and The Savoy in London. The Murray was positioned at the level of the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong.