Sept 2023 | Presentation at Pacific Rim Community Design Network bi-annual conference | Sendai, Japan

How can the public space design embrace diversity while reflecting specific local characteristics?

Compared to other cities along the Pacific Rim, Hong Kong had a rather strict COVID social distancing protocol. Furthermore, public activities have been highly controlled and virtually paused since the 2019 social movements. During the past few years, public life in the city has faced tremendous challenges, especially for underprivileged residents who live in substandard compact housing conditions. Public space becomes a necessary urban resource instead of a luxury for leisure activities.

This poster presentation reports on an ongoing series of placemaking events that began in 2022, organised by the non-profit agency Very Hong Kong (VHK) to re-initiate community life through public space. It involves over 60 individual groups and community organisations in three districts across the city, connecting them through capacity-building workshops to design projects in response to local needs. The results are showcased at the end of each phase as a public space event – the “Space+ community festival”- and a celebration of local cultural life with festive activities for the neighbourhood’s residents.  

The School of Architecture at the Chinese University of Hong Kong collaborated with VHK to design and transform local public space during the three editions of Space+ festivals through tactical urbanism strategies from mobile furniture to temporary play spaces. The spatial design focuses on the public life constituted by the diverse local people and culture. Through observing the community workshops and further field studies, particular social groups and their needs are identified in each district to formulate the design brief, asking how common placemaking strategies can be specific to reflect the local character that could contribute to building a sense of community ownership.

The first edition of the program was held in the winter of 2022 in Tin Shui Wai with a theme for kids and families, and the second edition is currently in progress towards a public space festival in August 2023 in the Yau Tsim Mong district in Kowloon. This poster presentation would be an interim report to share experiences and challenges during the first two editions and to invite discussions and comments for the last phase to be held in winter 2023.

Keywords:

Public Space, Placemaking, Local Culture, Target User, Participation