Patches on the urban fabric : the urban cultural landscape of textile-based business clustering in Sham Shui Po

Abstract

Business clustering is one of the significance cultural landscapes in Hong Kong. It emerged from geographical reasons, social development needs and other district-based characteristics, eventually bringing economic advantages for businesses. The arrangement of the clustering of shops also establishes close bonding within the community, the interaction among shops and way of dealing with customers arose are undeniably notable. In recent decades, the loss of historically and socially significant business clustering, including fabric stalls clustered on the Wing On Street and the wedding-card printing trades on Lee Tung Street, contributes to the rise of concern towards the protection for business clustering during redevelopment. This research takes one of the surviving business clustering, the textile-based business clustering in Sham Shui Po that has been developing since 1920s, as a case study. By looking into the values of the business clustering in relation to the historical context through interviews with shop owners and cultural mapping of the data collected, its significance proves the urge for conservation in response to the threats it is currently facing. The limitation and shortcomings of the existing conservation framework with regards of such cultural landscape is also analyzed, incorporating with the SWOT analysis of the site, recommendation for a more comprehensive assessment for retaining the spirit of place of the business clustering is proposed to provide an evaluative and forward-looking conclusion. It is hoped that this study can lay a strong basis for government to develop strategies for conserving and managing significant business clustering for holistic conservation.