XOX International Awarded Design Lead for Kai Tek 1331: Shaping the Future of Cultural Infrastructure in Hong Kong

The Future of Kai Tek 1331.

We are pleased to announce that XOX International Holdings Limited has officially been awarded the design consultancy contract for the Kai Tak Youth Station Project, now known as Kai Tek 1331. This milestone marks a major step forward in the development of Hong Kong’s cultural and creative industries and affirms our role not only as master designer but also as a long-term partner in shaping the city’s post-pandemic urban landscape.

The official notification of award was issued on June 18, 2025, following a competitive selection process. XOX International was selected as the designated design service provider for this key project, which aims to convert the former COVID-19 hospital compound at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal into a future-oriented hub for culture, innovation, and youth development.

Backed by China Tourism Group, this initiative reflects a shared commitment to reimagining how cities can support cultural infrastructure and civic participation. XOX will not only lead the master design but will also be involved in the operational strategy and long-term vision of the site over the next five to ten years. This represents a critical opportunity to combine design excellence with operational intelligence, ensuring the sustainability and impact of the project well beyond its initial completion.

A Vision for Kai Tek 1331: Adaptive Reuse, Youth Culture, and Civic Activation

The design concept of Kai Tek 1331 is rooted in three core principles: adaptive reuse, modular cultural infrastructure, and civic urbanism for the next generation. Our approach transforms the existing facilities into a hybrid, high-performance cultural campus, while maintaining the integrity of the existing structures and embracing the potential of incremental development.

Key features of the proposed design include:

• Flexible creative studios and production labs supporting art, design, media, and performance

• Public and civic event spaces for youth-led cultural programming

• Research and institutional collaboration zones that support cultural R&D

• Productive green courtyards integrating urban farming and wellness

• Modular and scalable extensions to support evolving uses and partnerships

Rather than treating design as a standalone deliverable, XOX embeds operational logic, program planning, and long-term governance frameworks into the masterplan. We believe that architecture must serve as a platform for collaboration, not only among designers and builders, but also among users, institutions, and investors. This integrated approach positions Kai Tek 1331 as a living prototype for future civic infrastructure in Hong Kong.

A Strategic Partnership with China Tourism Group

We are proud to be working alongside China Tourism Group, whose investment and leadership make this vision possible. This partnership reflects a mutual belief in the value of cultural infrastructure as a strategic asset—one that can contribute to economic diversification, international engagement, and community vitality. Through this collaboration, XOX looks forward to exploring more projects at the intersection of culture, tourism, and urban development, both in Hong Kong and across the Greater Bay Area.

As we move forward with the Kai Tek 1331 project, we are excited to engage with a wider network of creative professionals, youth leaders, institutional partners, and city-makers. Program Urbanism X, under which this project is developed, will continue to serve as a platform for turning urban ideas into actionable, high-impact developments. This is just the beginning of a much larger journey to reimagine what Hong Kong’s future urban and cultural infrastructure can be.