In his new book, MALL City: Hong Kong’s Dreamworlds of Consumption, Stefan Al analyzes Hong Kong as the world’s laboratory of vertical urbanism. The city continues to build ever-higher-density mega-complexes of residential and office towers standing on a podium shopping mall, often integrated with railway infrastructure. These podium-tower developments are cities in and of themselves, accommodating up to tens of thousands of people who live, work and play within a single structure. Stretching up to 26 stories and incorporating stunning vertical atria with dynamic “expresscalators,” these complexes have become one of Hong Kong’s basic units of urban development, like the skyscraper is of New York City. Highly efficient urban forms, they also set in stone a culture of consumerism.

All book talks are free and open to the public. The gallery opens at 6:00 PM. 

The Skyscraper Museum offers 1.5 Learning Units for AIA Members for this program.

All guests must RSVP to programs@skyscraper.org to assure admittance to the event. Please be aware that reservation priority is given to members of The Skyscraper Museum.