The impacts of public open space in private developments (POSPD) to social interaction and community building

Abstract

Over time, the territory has been shaped and transformed into an intense succession of streets and tall buildings, a high-density urban form where the population moves efficiently through the ubiquitous public transport network. In the residential projects integrated with the railway system, residents return home by passing through shops from the railway station without walking outdoor. Convenience has been brought to users, and commercial interests are also promoted. Under the limited territorial resources, economic benefits are prioritized in planning consideration, leaving the public spaces a marginal position. Functions normally taken place in the open air are moving to interior spaces such as shopping malls. To improve the living quality when facing the high density of the city, the government implemented the policy of “public spaces of private ownership” in 1980s according to the term “privately owned public space” originated in New York since the sixties. The policy was born to promote the integration of public spaces in new developments by the private sector in exchange for a built surface bonus. While the “quality” in general sense refers to aesthetic and spatial aspect, the social functions of the Public Open Space in Private Development (“POSPD”) should not be neglected. Particularly, the under-usage and the lacking consciousness of public rights to these spaces are the prominent issues currently. This study investigates how physical built environment relates to the social functions of the POSPDs in terms of social interaction and community building by looking into two case studies of Chi Lok Fa Yuen and Chelsea Heights POSPDs in Tuen Mun.