Review on planning and design of public open space for aging population in Hong Kong : a case study in Wan Chai District

Abstract

It has been observed that many older people after retirement would like to visit various green open spaces in the city to exercise, social and doing different leisure activities (Lam, et. al., 2004; Wong, 2009). However, although there are 40% of land area in Hong Kong are recognized as Country Parks and well managed by the government, with the rapid urban development with enormous high-rise buildings has turned Hong Kong in a “concrete forest”, only few decent open spaces can be found in the metropolitan area. With the continuous growing aging population, there is a need for us to review whether the important urban open spaces can meet the needs of changing population.

The goal of the dissertation aims at find out the existing problems in planning and design of public open space and find out the needs of the elderly, so that better public open space can be provided to suit the elderly’s expectation. The analysis is therefore divided into two parts by reviewing on the planning and management of public open space framework and the outcome of provision and distribution of open spaces, as well as finding out the use pattern and expectation from the elderly on public open space.

Based on the findings of this project, recommendations are provided for the planning and management authority to improve the existing public open spaces in order to suit the needs and expectations of the elderly. It includes a better cooperation between different departments to carry out a more comprehensive open space strategy and better design of open spaces on external linkages and internal landscape and facilities provision.