Henderson Land Secures Kim Jones as First Tenant for Central Yards Flagship Project
Thestandard · 4 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Henderson Land Development has secured British fashion designer Kim Jones, the former menswear director at Dior, as the first retail tenant for its landmark Central Yards waterfront development in Central. The project, set to open in phases starting 2027, will feature Kim Jones' first global flagship store occupying a duplex space of approximately 4,000 square feet with open terraces overlooking Victoria Harbour. Henderson Land chairman Martin Lee Ka-shing welcomed the collaboration, calling Jones "a visionary bridging street culture and high fashion" whose presence represents confidence in Hong Kong's status as a global creative capital. The co-chairman, Lee Ka-chiu, revealed that the project's signature horizontal design—a 400-meter structure connecting Central with the Victoria Harbour waterfront—stems from his childhood curiosity about whether buildings could be constructed sideways rather than always upward.
Key Points
- Kim Jones OBE, former Dior menswear director, will open his eponymous brand's first global flagship at Central Yards in 2027, spanning approximately 4,000 square feet across two levels with open terraces
- Phase One of Central Yards will offer approximately 300,000 square feet of retail space housing around 100 brands, with total project retail reaching approximately 850,000 square feet across 250 shops
- The 400-meter horizontal building will link Central with Victoria Harbour, featuring the largest sky garden in Hong Kong at 160,000 square feet and the city's only private Broadway-calibre theatre
- Lee Ka-chiu's wife Cathy Chui Lee noted that Jones is deeply passionate about Hong Kong, walking over 20,000 steps daily to explore the city and immersing himself in local culture and cuisine
- Phase One office space of approximately 310,000 square feet has already achieved over 70% leasing, representing approximately 223,000 square feet
Why It Matters
The arrival of a globally recognized designer like Kim Jones as the inaugural tenant signals international confidence in Hong Kong's retail and cultural sector at a critical juncture. The Central Yards project, with its revolutionary horizontal architecture redefining the city's skyline, positions Hong Kong to attract further high-profile brands and creative enterprises, potentially transforming the Central waterfront into a world-class cultural and commercial destination that rivals global retail hubs .
The arrival of a globally recognized designer like Kim Jones as the inaugural tenant signals international confidence in Hong Kong's retail and cultural sector at a critical juncture. The Central Yards project, with its revolutionary horizontal architecture redefining the city's skyline, positions Hong Kong to attract further high-profile brands and creative enterprises, potentially transforming the Central waterfront into a world-class cultural and commercial destination that rivals global retail hubs .