Playtimes HK Magazine Winter Issue 2019 | Page 71

lifestyle Y ou may have already heard about K11 Musea; the exciting new complex located at the historical dockside of TST, but do you know exactly what it is? We went to find out more and, boy, are we glad we did. K11 MUSEA has just about everything you could imagine for a day out with the family. Designed to enrich the lives of those who enter the creative, cultural and innovative space, there are numerous immersive experiences of art, culture, nature and commerce to behold. It has an urban rooftop farm, a world-class art collection of over 40 pieces, play areas for children, plenty of options for dining and countless shopping opportunities. You could actually spend days there! Sustainability is at the heart of the K11 endeavour, according to Ellie Tang, an accredited professional in the WELL building standard (the International WELL Building Institute is leading a global movement to transform buildings and communities in order to help people thrive) and Head of Sustainability for the development company behind the creation of K11. Sustainability has been integrated into K11’s building design, operation, tenant and customer engagement, as well as public education. This underlines a strong commitment to “advancing human health and wellness in buildings and communities” and it really comes to life in the grand project that is the K11 MUSEA, a cultural- retail destination designed to inspire through the power of creativity, culture and innovation. The complex even features over 50,000 square feet of green walls. Part of the K11 Nature Discovery Park, the gorgeous rooftop farm grows local edibles and flowers and is host to workshops on how to grow your own, how to eat seasonably and has a large gathering table for ‘farm to face’ beauty product-making events among other private dining parties. Inside the gathering space is a stunning display of aeroponic lettuce, a water-conserving way to grow lettuce. The outdoor garden was planted specifically to attract bees and butterflies and shows off some of Hong Kong’s biodiversity. Guided tours of the Nature Discovery Park are available for a fee. Entry is $60 without a tour. The nature tours, organised in association with the Jane Goodall Institute HK, are a great way for families to learn about eco-friendly habits and see over 180 species both inside K11 and at the outdoor rooftop garden. At the end of the tour, at the rooftop garden, you will walk past an outdoor aquarium, enjoy the backdrop of the harbor, have a look at the gathering room and see two interesting nature-inspired works of art Workshops and events here have the aim of promoting UN sustainability goals. The venue is also available for private parties, luncheons, afternoon tea, cocktail receptions and dinners. Urban farming workshops will start in January 2020. Soon to come is the city ’s first ever LEGOLAND® Discovery Center. Winter 2019 69