In the early 1980s, Hong Kong’s HSBC Main Building became the most expensive building ever constructed. Designed by Norman Foster, it turned the skyscraper inside out and upside down.

It was more than just an engineering marvel, it was also shaped by feng shui, public space, and the political uncertainty of Hong Kong’s looming 1997 handover.

For Foster, winning the 1979 competition to design HSBC was the turning point that launched him onto the global stage.

Join us as we explore the radical design and cultural context that came together to create one of the most influential skyscrapers of the late 20th century.