RE-MADE (IN) HONG KONG

Abstract

In the future scenario 5 years from now, the Hong Kong government decided to help gentrify the whole Hong Kong cities, so decided to demolish all the public housing in Hong Kong and relocate the underprivileged people to “Hong Kong Land” in Mainland China. Tin Shui Wai New Town will be developed once again trying to get rid of the negative image with the gentrification approach of the government to private housing estates. The Right to the City is questioned. Who own the city? Who has the right to the city? In the process of demolition of Tin Shui Wai, protestors occupy the deconstruction site and start their own version of redevelopment. People should be protected to live in their original living place. People should have the right to make decision on their living environment. This project touches on a lot of important aspects happening in Hong Kong, including urban renewal, resident’s right to the land, resettlement, self-building, etc. What is the people’s approach to redevelopment? How to empower the people? A people’s version of redevelopment will be the centre of the project. This is a housing project, by researching the transformation of housing typology in Hong Kong and co-housing projects in Europe. A new typology, Co-(Shop)housing is developed. By combining the characteristics of the South-east Asian Shophouse typology and that of the cohousing neighborhood typology, a new housing typology which fits the culture with the introduction of community decision making in the building and maintainence process is being introduced.