Challenge-driven design for public housing: The case of Hong Kong

Abstract

Public housing (PH) has existed in Hong Kong for six decades. Previous and current challenges that have been encountered over time function as a collective driver for design progression. However, such challenges have remained under research to be able to draw useful lessons from them. To understand how this established motif can suit the sustainability-conscious era, this study uses Hong Kong as a representative case for sub-tropical compact cities by critiquing its PH design against multiple constraints. The objective of this study is to trace the historical relationships between challenges and design progress as well as to assess current and future implications of sustainability trends on PH design. By synthesizing data from literature, policy documents, and empirical evidence, this research develops an evolution map for PH design in Hong Kong that is driven by seven major challenges. Based on this map, a conceptual framework for intersecting considerations that envisages five main future prospects toward future PH design is also established.

Urban heat island mitigation strategies: A state-of-the-art review on Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong

“…(Wang, Zhang & Skitmore, 2015). In Hong Kong, land use policies are developed in accordance with the local characteristics of this country, which are mainly comprised of rugged and hilly topography (Deng, Chan & Poon, 2016;Zhang & Jim, 2014). Currently, the built-up areas occupy approximately 22% to 25% of the territory (1,104 km 2 ) (Wang, Zhang, & Skitmore, 2015;Zhang & Jim, 2014).…”

“…In this context, there is an extreme scarcity of land for urban growth and urgent need for seeking sustainable land use for Hong Kong. Correspondingly, government launched various schemes aiming to respond the increasing housing demands, namely initiating the Public Housing in Hong Kong (Deng, Chan, & Poon, 2016), or developing several programs which are based upon the reutilization of land resources such as Rezoning Land, Land Resumption, Rock Cavern Development, Redevelopment, Reclamation and Reuse of Ex-quarry Sites . Notwithstanding these efforts, Hong Kong is considered as one of the intensely urbanized areas in the world that suffers from the strongest UHI problems (Wong & Lau, 2013).…”

Critical evaluation of ‘ageing in place’ in redeveloped public rental housing estates in Hong Kong

“…To cater to the special needs of the aged population, the government urged newly redeveloped PRH estates to adopt a universal concept – UD – in order to create a safer, flexible and more convenient living environment (Deng et al , 2016). UD is commonly defined as ‘an approach to design that incorporates products as well as building features and elements, which to the greatest extent possible, can be used by everyone’ (Rhoads, 2013: 82), in particular by seniors.…”

“…Thus, the senior housing market has primarily and heavily relied on the public sector. As early as 1973, the government had begun to plan and provide PRH to meet the basic housing needs of all citizens in Hong Kong, including a small proportion of senior citizens (Deng et al , 2016). As a result of increasing poverty levels among seniors and remarkably high rental costs, seniors have been looking for subsidised public housing.…”

My Wooden House: Unit Cost of Popular Housing in Acre state, Brazil

“…In 2003, with the great outbreak of respiratory diseases caused by the insalubrity conditions of the public houses (PH), a process to modernize the dwellings aiming to improve the sanitary and environmental conditions of the city was initiated. In the same year, the public rental housing program (PRH) was launched and the proposal is to house 3.5 million people in approximately 271 thousand PRHs by 2023 (Deng et al, 2016).…”