Swire Properties
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Property development, ownership, and management |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong , Hong Kong |
Area served | Hong Kong, mainland China |
Key people | Guy Bradley (Chairman), Tim Blackburn (Chief Executive) |
| Products | Mixed-use commercial properties, residential apartments, hotels |
Number of employees | 4500 |
| Parent | Swire Pacific Limited |
Swire Properties Limited () is a property development, ownership, and management company based in Hong Kong, specializing in mixed-use commercial properties across Hong Kong and mainland China. Established in 1972, it is publicly traded on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and has a workforce of approximately 4,500 employees through its subsidiaries. The company operates as a subsidiary of the publicly listed Swire Pacific Limited, which is a member of the Swire Group.
Business scope
Swire Properties concentrates its efforts on three primary sectors:
- property investment – focusing on the development, leasing, and management of commercial, retail, and residential properties intended as long-term assets
- property trading – primarily engaged in the development and sale of high-end residential apartments
- hotel investment and management (under the brand Swire Hotels)
Senior leadership
- Chairman: Guy Bradley (appointed August 2021)
- Chief Executive: Tim Blackburn (appointed August 2021)
Former chairmen
- James Hughes-Hallett (1999–2005)
- Keith Kerr (2005–2009)
- Christopher Pratt (2009–2014)
- John Slosar (2014–2018)
- Merlin Swire (2018–2021)
Former chief executives
- Keith Kerr (1998–2005)
- Martin Cubbon (2009–2014)
- Guy Bradley (2015–2021)
Founding
Swire Properties was founded in Hong Kong in 1972, with ownership shared between B&S Industries Limited and The Taikoo Dockyard and Engineering Company (which was renamed Swire Pacific Limited in 1974). Its inaugural major development was Taikoo Shing, constructed on the site of the former dockyard. The first residential building, Tung Ting Mansion, was launched for sale in January 1976.
In 1977, the Taikoo Sugar Refinery Compound was transformed into Taikoo Trading Estate, now known as Taikoo Place.
That same year, Swire Properties briefly became listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with its shares also available on the London Stock Exchange.
Expansion into the US
Swire Properties ventured into the United States market in 1976 by acquiring stakes in Berkeley Hambro Inc, a developer based in Tampa. Two years later, it partnered with Florida Cheezem Development Corporation Limited to develop a 33.6-acre site on Claughton Island in Miami, which was subsequently renamed Brickell Key.
Pacific Place, Festival Walk and Citygate development
During 1985-1986, Swire Properties purchased the former Victoria Barracks located in Admiralty along with adjacent land parcels. This area was redeveloped into Pacific Place, a mixed-use complex featuring a shopping center, office towers, serviced apartments, and three luxury hotels. The project reached completion in 1991 with an office tower extension finalized by 2004. Nearby, the StarCrest residential development was completed in 1999, contributing to the rejuvenation of Wan Chai's Star Street district.
Festival Walk opened in 1998 offering seven floors of retail outlets, an office tower, and a transportation hub. In 2011, Swire sold its entire stake in Festival Walk to Singapore-based Mapletree for HK$18.8 billion—marking the largest property deal ever recorded in Hong Kong.
In 1999, Swire completed Citygate located in Tung Chung, Lantau, along with two residential developments—Tung Chung Crescent and Seaview Crescent—providing nearly 3,700 units combined. The Citygate shopping center was rebranded as Citygate Outlets in 2006, becoming Hong Kong’s pioneering outlet mall.
Mainland Expansion
Swire Properties made its entry into mainland China in 2007 through the acquisition of the Beijing Sanlitun project, a low-rise mixed-use development combining retail space with a 99-room hotel. The southern portion of Sanlitun Village was inaugurated in 2008, followed by the northern section in 2010, finalizing the complex now recognized as Taikoo Li Sanlitun.
Additional expansions on the mainland include the launches of Taikoo Hui Guangzhou and INDIGO Beijing in 2011, Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu in 2015, and HKRI Taikoo Hui Shanghai in 2017.
Stock Market Listing
In 2010, Swire Properties intended to conduct an IPO to become independent from Swire Pacific but delayed the plan due to unfavorable market conditions. The company eventually achieved a successful listing by introduction on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Main Board in 2012, trading under stock code 1972 from 18 January onward.
Holdings in Hong Kong
Swire Properties’ portfolio within Hong Kong encompasses office and retail properties, serviced apartments, hotels, as well as upscale residential projects.
Commercial Developments
The firm owns more than 15.9 million sq ft (1.47 million m2) of gross floor area across Hong Kong.[1] Prominent holdings include Taikoo Place, Cityplaza, Pacific Place, and Citygate Outlets.
Taikoo Place
Taikoo Place serves as a dispersed office district comprising eight interconnected Grade-A office towers with a combined area exceeding 5 million sq ft (464,000 m2). Cultural activities and performances are regularly hosted at its Tong Chong Street plaza. The ArtisTree venue, spanning 7,000 sq ft, emphasizes performing arts and premieres original productions in Asia. In 2014, Swire introduced Blueprint, a co-working space designed to cultivate entrepreneurship within Hong Kong.[2]
Office towers within Taikoo Place
- Devon House (1993)
- Dorset House (1994)
- PCCW Tower (1994)
- Lincoln House (1998)
- Oxford House (1999)
- Cambridge House (2003)
- One Island East (2008)
- Berkshire House (2014)
- One Taikoo Place (2018)
- Two Taikoo Place (2022)
Cityplaza
Cityplaza features the largest shopping mall on Hong Kong Island by gross floor area alongside three Grade-A office towers totaling approximately 3.27 million sq ft (304,000 m2). EAST hotel, operated by Swire Hotels with 345 rooms, opened here in 2010. The complex is located directly above Tai Koo MTR station.
Pacific Place
Located in Admiralty, Pacific Place is a mixed-use development consisting of a shopping mall, three office towers, serviced apartments, and four hotels. The retail component offers more than 711,000 sq ft (66,000 m2) of space housing around 140 shops and dining establishments. It provides direct access to Admiralty MTR station.
Citygate
Situated in Tung Chung near Hong Kong International Airport, Citygate comprises Citygate Outlets with six floors mainly dedicated to clothing and sportswear retailers. The site also includes ONE Citygate, a nine-storey office building with roughly 161,000 sq ft (15,000 m2) of gross floor area, and the Novotel Citygate Hong Kong hotel featuring 440 rooms.
Residential Developments
Notable residential properties developed by Swire Properties
| Hong Kong Island | Kowloon | New Territories | Outlying Islands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westland Gardens (1975) | Beacon Heights (1987) | Greenfields (1998) | Tung Chung Crescent (1999) |
| Rocky Bank (1981) | Village Gardens (1987) | Belair Monte (1998) | Seaview Crescent (2002) |
| Westlands Court (1985) | Sunningdale (1997) | Ocean Shores (2003) | WHITESANDS (2015) |
| Taikoo Shing (1987) | Dunbar Place (2013) | ||
| Harbour Heights (1988) | |||
| The Albany (1989) | |||
| Lei King Wan (1989) | |||
| Parkvale (1989) | |||
| Pacific Place Apartments (1990) | |||
| Robinson Place (1994) | |||
| Island Place (1996) | |||
| The Floridian (1997) | |||
| Fairwinds (1998) | |||
| StarCrest (1999) | |||
| Les Saisons (2001) | |||
| The Orchards (2003) | |||
| 3 Coombe Road (2003) | |||
| Island Lodge (2009) | |||
| Opus Hong Kong (2012) | |||
| AZURA (2012) | |||
| ARGENTA (2013) | |||
| Mount Parker Residences (2013) | |||
| AREZZO (2015) | |||
| Taikoo Place Apartments (2015) | |||
| EIGHT STAR STREET (2022) |
Mainland China Portfolio
Swire Properties manages a portfolio exceeding 9.4 million sq ft (870,000 m2) across five integrated developments located in Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Shanghai.
Zhang Yuan, Shanghai
Known historically as the “Best Garden in Shanghai,” Zhang Yuan has been transformed into a mixed-use complex situated in the heart of West Nanjing Road. This site preserves the largest and most intact Shikumen courtyard in Shanghai, with origins dating back to 1882. Covering around 60,000 m2 of gross floor area, the development combines retail spaces, office buildings, residential apartments, a hotel, an art museum, and a performing arts venue. Additionally, an underground network spanning over 70,000 m2 links three metro lines at Nanjing Road West Station.
Taikoo Li Sanlitun, Beijing
Taikoo Li Sanlitun represents Swire Properties’ inaugural retail project on the Chinese mainland and is positioned in Beijing’s Chaoyang District. This open-air, lane-oriented complex encompasses two retail zones alongside The Opposite House hotel, collectively amounting to roughly 1.47 million sq ft (136,000 m2) and housing more than 220 retail stores.
INDIGO, Beijing
Located in Beijing’s Chaoyang District, INDIGO is a retail-focused mixed-use development offering approximately 1.89 million sq ft (176,000 m2) of gross floor area. The project incorporates a shopping center, the Grade-A office tower ONE INDIGO, and the EAST Beijing business hotel featuring 369 rooms. Launched in 2012, it provides direct access to Beijing Subway Line 14.
Taikoo Hui Guangzhou
Taikoo Hui Guangzhou stands as Swire Properties’ largest investment within mainland China, delivering about 3.84 million sq ft (357,000 m2) in Guangzhou’s Tianhe Central Business District. This transit-oriented development comprises a retail mall, two Grade-A office towers, the Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou with serviced apartments, and a cultural center.
Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu
Previously known as The Daci Temple project, Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu is a retail-led mixed-use scheme positioned near Chunxi Road in Chengdu’s Jinjiang District. Spanning over 2.86 million sq ft (265,000 m2), it features an open-plan shopping mall, The Temple House boutique hotel with 100 guest rooms and 42 serviced apartments, alongside Pinnacle One Grade-A office tower. The development benefits from its location close to Metro Lines 2 and 3 and the historic Daci Temple.
HKRI Taikoo Hui, Shanghai
Located on Nanjing West Road within Shanghai's Jing'an District, HKRI Taikoo Hui is a substantial mixed-use development primarily centered around retail. The project encompasses a shopping mall, a pair of office towers, and three hotels or serviced apartments, covering roughly 3.46 million square feet (321,000 m2). This complex commenced operations in 2017.
Taikoo Li Qiantan, Shanghai
In February 2018, Swire Properties partnered equally with Shanghai Newbund Company to establish a joint venture aimed at creating a retail destination in the Qiantan International Business Zone of Pudong New District. Spanning about 1.33 million square feet (124,000 m2), this development features an open-air lane concept that fuses natural elements with contemporary architectural design. Known as Taikoo Li Qiantan, its phased openings were planned to begin in late 2020.
United States portfolio
Since its foundation in Miami in 1979, Swire Properties Inc. has become a prominent international developer specializing in urban office spaces, hotels, and condominium projects throughout South Florida.
Brickell Key Development
Swire Properties has committed approximately US$1 billion to the development of Brickell Key, an island community master-planned in Miami. This project includes two office towers, retail outlets, eight condominium buildings, and the Mandarin Oriental hotel.
Brickell City Centre
Situated in Miami’s Brickell financial district, Brickell City Centre is a large-scale mixed-use development. Phase I comprises a retail complex, EAST Miami hotel and serviced apartments, two office towers, and two residential buildings. Phase II envisions an 80-story tower integrating retail, office, hotel, and residential functions. Combined, both phases total around 6.35 million square feet (590,000 m2) of gross floor area.
At its inception in 2012, it stood as Miami’s largest private-sector construction project. Phase I officially opened in November 2016, with further phases planned and construction of a new tower anticipated to start in 2023.
Singapore portfolio
In December 2012, Swire Properties expanded its investment portfolio by acquiring eight residential units at Hampton Court located at 2 Draycott Park in Singapore.
Swire Hotels
see Swire Hotels
Swire Properties’ Hotel Portfolio
| Hong Kong | Mainland China | United States |
|---|---|---|
| The Upper House | The Opposite House (Beijing) | EAST Miami |
| EAST Hong Kong | EAST Beijing | Mandarin Oriental Miami |
| The Headland Hotel | The Temple House (Chengdu) | |
| Island Shangri-La Hong Kong | The Middle House (Shanghai) | |
| JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong | Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou | |
| Conrad Hong Kong | The Sukhothai Shanghai | |
| The Silveri Hong Kong - M Gallery | ||
| Novotel Hong Kong Citygate |
External links
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