Conserving changing cultural landscape : balancing change & continuity through rural revitalization in Lai Chi Wo Village

Abstract

Hong Kong is blessed with a mix of different types of cultural landscape influenced by both Eastern and Western values. Nevertheless, the lack of recognition and conservation expertise on cultural landscape had witnessed the loss of many cultural landscapes over the past few decades. Compared to other cultural/built heritage, the conservation of cultural landscape appears to be more complex and challenging for each cultural landscape is highly distinctive in terms of its community culture, the dynamic between nature and people, etc. and subjected to constant evolution. To conserve cultural landscape is to responsibly accommodate change in a sustainable, non-damaging manner. Sustainable LCW is a pilot revitalization project that was conducted from 2013 to 2017, with the goal to rejuvenate the deserted cultural landscape of LCW and explored the possibility of rural sustainability development. How will such a revitalization project shapes the cultural landscape in terms of its cultural significance and sustainability? This thesis attempts to look into these issues and give an evaluative overview.