Urban challenges in Hong Kong: Future directions for design

Abstract

The high-density urban environment of Hong Kong is characterised by mixed land uses, population and housing diversity, an efficient mass transit system and cheap public transport, and easy access to most facilities, all typical of a compact city-state. It should be an ideal base for consolidating other desirable New Urbanism concepts such as more open spaces, better housing options, pedestrian friendly neighbourhoods or a cultural identity. However, shortage of buildable land in the urban areas, traffic congestion and environmental degradation have raised new challenges. Achieving physical planning goals has to be integrated with the urgent need to control pollution and waste, improve air quality, and seek a better balance with the ecosystem within and outside Hong Kong. This paper focuses on an energy-optimising model for Hong Kong, as a means of exploring strategies to improve the living environment. A conventional approach to urban design is unlikely to provide a satisfactory outcome. An emerging option for Hong Kong is to rebuild a part of the neighbourhood higher, so as to consolidate the mixed land use patterns in super rise buildings and generate land for community uses and open spaces. Broad design directions to achieve this are identified.