HK stifles innovative design in buildings, says architect

南華早報 | 2009-02-11
CITY3| CITY| By Olga Wong

HK stifles innovative design in buildings, says architect
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Rigid rules prevent use of creative green features

One of the city's top architects is calling for more flexibility in design, blaming rigid rules for the lack of innovative buildings with green features.

Kyran Sze, managing director of architectural firm Aedas, said the government should set up an expert panel to review designs that deviate from the building code but still offer people a better living environment. Mr Sze said features such as balconies and sky gardens on many buildings looked the same.

Aedas, a Hong Kong company which is now the second-largest architecture firm globally, has produced creative designs for Abu Dhabi and Dubai but says such creativity rarely applies to projects in Hong Kong. "It is not about the creativity of local architects. Some architects have come up with innovative designs overseas. The fact is we are constrained by the building rules," Mr Sze said, calling for a review.

The most annoying rules, according to Mr Sze, are those that apply to balconies and sky gardens. Balconies must not exceed 5 square metres and the height of a sky garden should not be less than 4.5 metres. Most sky gardens in Hong Kong comprise a few plants placed on an empty floor designated as a meeting point in case of a fire. These floors are deeper than others to allow more air flow.

"We don't know the rationale behind these figures," Mr Sze said, doubting the figures were derived from thorough studies.

"Building designs could have been more aesthetic and spacial by doubling or tripling the height of sky gardens. A higher sky garden provides more of a cooling effect," he said. "But few officials are willing to approve designs that deviate from the building code and they take the numbers in the code as being standard."

Large overhangs to protect flats and pedestrians from the sun are another green feature hardly found in Hong Kong because the rules say any structure added to offer shade can extend by only 1.5 metres.

"The government is afraid developers will 'steal' floor areas under the overhang for commercial use," he said. "So instead of giving flexibility to building designs based on their architectural merit, the government plays by the book."

Floor areas dedicated to green features are not included in the gross floor area, meaning developers do not have to pay the government for these areas.

In Shanghai, an architectural panel has been formed to approve building plans that deviate from rules.

"Architects are allowed to discuss their plans with the experts and show that their designs are for the inhabitants' well-being," Mr Sze said. He hoped the same mechanism would be introduced in Hong Kong to allow more discussion between architects and the government. The government has pledged to launch a consultation on the policy governing a building's green features this year.

The Hong Kong Institute of Architects and lawmaker Patrick Lau Sau-shing, who represents the architectural sector, are urging the government to extend the review to cover some of the rigid regulations.

Aedas' ideas to enhance green features can be seen in a Dubai development to be completed next year which includes a swimming pool, small gardens and observation decks inside the sky gardens. It wants to do the same in Hong Kong.

"The same design can be applied in Hong Kong if the government is willing to change," Mr Sze said.

A Development Bureau spokeswoman said any proposals from the public would be considered.

How HK could copy Big Apple's green lung

How HK could copy Big Apple's green lung
Bold plan suggests linking island's existing parks
Olga Wong
Updated on Feb 10, 2009
In a bold plan for Hong Kong's central business district, the local architect who designed the new government headquarters has called for the city's parks to be linked together to form a large green network comparable to New York's Central Park.

Calling on the government to draw up a new metro plan to guide the city's design, veteran architect Rocco Yim Sen-kee, whose "The Door" design was selected for the new government headquarters at Tamar in Central, said: "People hope to have more parks. But instead of asking for more, why don't we look for a large one with quality?"

Mr Yim's aggressive plan would link up three urban parks - Victoria Park, Hong Kong Park and the Zoological and Botanical Gardens - with the future Central promenade and the great lawn at the new government headquarters to form a green network spanning more than 30 hectares in the city's core business area.

He proposed connecting the individual parks with wide, landscaped decks and boulevards covered with trees, forming an extensive green lung for the bustling central business district and improving air quality.

In his preliminary plan, a green deck could be built from Victoria Park to the promenade in Causeway Bay, which the government already plans to connect to the new Central waterfront. Mr Yim's design for the new government headquarters would see its great lawn linked to the Central waterfront.

The other link would require more government effort. Apart from connecting the government headquarters with Hong Kong Park by filling the missing links from the great lawn to Admiralty Centre and government hill, the chief executive would have to give up a small part of Government House for a link from government hill to the botanical gardens.

"People can simply walk directly from government hill to the botanical gardens if our chief executive would lend us a small part of his Government House," Mr Yim said. "The linkage would only occupy his staff quarters."

Asked if the plan could be too aggressive and difficult to implement, Mr Yim said it did not involve private land but would need further surveying to turn it into reality.

"All we need is determination," he said, adding that he would advocate the idea to the government and cite Tamar as an example of how it could be done.

"We don't have a large park like Central Park in New York and Hyde Park in London. But we can sew the existing green patches together, turning it into a unique feature of our city," he said.

Hong Kong has 1,450 urban parks and resting areas but its largest park - Victoria Park - covers only 19 hectares, compared with Central Park's 341 hectares and Hyde Park's 142 hectares.

Mr Yim said the local parks were not well designed and the city's green ratio was below average.

"Green space design is just one of the many aspects of a city's urban design, we need an updated metro plan to guide our development approach," he said.

"Do we want higher buildings? Do we want more greenery in urban areas or just country parks in rural areas? To what extent should we preserve heritage buildings?"

He said the existing metro plan was formulated in the 1990s and had not kept up with changing social aspirations - which now preferred a more balanced development approach.

Chair professor of geography at the University of Hong Kong Jim Chi-yung said the idea of creating linear parks has been widely adopted overseas, including in Taiwan, Japan and Singapore.

"In Sapporo, urban parks are connected skilfully with natural greenways planted with abundant trees," he said. "It is like entering a small forest."

A Planning Department spokeswoman said it had reviewed the metro plan in 2003 and had proposed providing attractive and convenient pedestrian links between the waterfront and major parks. That thinking would be incorporated into district planning work.

Tomorrow

A look at widespread concern that Hong Kong's rigid building rules are discouraging the design of innovative, green buildings.

Food art part 2

Pizza/Pasta Hut are getting close to my wish with its latest invention. Hot dogs around a pizza, not bad. Next it is a burger, and then I want to see mini calazones around a pizza, or little piles of spag bol.

popular vote

Discovery Bay management have decided to increase ferry fare and abolish the over night ferry service (subject to TD approval). This decision is based on returns of a survey they sent out in October. From the survey, There was a 13% 'valid' responses, and 55% of these responses (774) picked the option that would reduce the price increase, but abolish the ferry service from midnight. which means:

- 7% of the popular vote picked the option, is this representative? Especially in the light of the conflict which arose from the briefing session between resident reps and the Management?

- There was 280 'respondents who did not choose any option', which likely to mean that they submitted written response of a fairly widely held opinion that none of the options were satisfactory. Note this 280 is higher that the votes for the second most popular option picked (257), and they all 'selected' a unlisted option unprompted, which is to voice their disapproval. Surely this should be a big warning sign for the management to take notice?

- I have already met 3 rented households who say they will not be renewing their lease. They are well paid expats with high spending power, and regularly spend their money down in the plaza restaurants and pubs. In fact this type make up the majority of the customers down there.

- DB will lose these resident type and retain cost conscience residences - who do not frequent the plaza establishments because of cost. They also are the type who don't run around recruiting their other friends to move into DB. You wouldn't believe the word of mouth power of the expat community.

- I believe this is short sighted, bad strategic business choice the management are making here, not to mention the badly managed commmunications employed throughout the process.

- Anyone looking to buy in DB?

HK Arts managers essential: Clore Leadership Symposium @ HK!

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts is organising the Clore Leadership Symposium with the renowned Clore Leadership Programme from the UK and with the support of the Home Affairs Bureau. The Clore Symposium aims at developing future cultural leaders, enhancing training in arts and culture, strengthening cultural exchange and cooperation. Acknowledged UK leaders from the arts and cultural sectors will gather in Hong Kong for the first time. Local speakers will be invited to join the discussions. This is a unique networking opportunity for local arts managers and the government to create interactive dialogues with Clore leaders and decision-makers in current debates in cultural leadership.

13-16 October. Very unfortunately I will be in London during this. Everyone else should go!

when is food not food

Not content in creating this 點點 Frankenstein:

They have decided the monster need a zimmer frame, presumably to help it 扭 / walk.


I design: mini rolled up pizza's / calzones to replace the 'cheesy bites' to complete the self referential aspect of the 'dish'. Or human fingers. Either way it's a good contender for the Turner prize - its certainly not food as we know it anyway.

pictures stolen form Open Rice and some lady's website

Government joining hands with HKJC to conserve and revitalise Central Police Station

This just came in the inbox:

"The Government announced yesterday that it has accepted The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s proposal to conserve and revitalise the Central Police Station ("CPS") Compound in a press conference jointly hosted by the Secretary for Development and the Chairman of the Club. The project was endorsed by the Executive Council taking into account the results of the Club's six-month public engagement between October 2007 and April 2008 and the recommendations in the Conservation Management Plan on the CPS Compound commissioned by the Club.

We are very glad that the Government will partner with the Club to conserve and revitalise this highly important heritage site. It showcases the importance of partnership between the government and not-for-profit organisations in realising the revitalisation plan of heritage sites and buildings in Hong Kong.

The press release issued by the Government as well as the Conservation Management Plan can be viewed at www.centralpolicestation.org.hk.

Please continue to visit our website for latest news and updates of the project.

Yours sincerely,

William Y Yiu
Executive Director, Charities
The Hong Kong Jockey Club

政府昨日宣佈正式接納了由香港賽馬會保育及活化中區警署建築群的計劃，發展局局長與馬會主席在聯合主持的新聞發佈會上表示，行政會議經考慮香港賽馬會在去年十月至今年四月進行為期六個月的公眾參與工作的結果，以及由馬會委託進行的中區警署建築群保育建議方案，於今日通過這個伙伴合作項目。

馬會非常高興政府決定以合作模式，與馬會攜手實現這個計劃，讓各界看到政府與非牟利機構一起推動古物古蹟保育活化的共同決心。

由政府發放之新聞稿以及保育建議方案的內容，可於計劃網站www.centralpolicestation.org.hk 瀏覽。

歡迎繼續透過網站了解計劃詳情及查看最新消息。

香港賽馬會
慈善事務執行總監
饒恩培 "

Expect more screaming from cry babies living behind the compound? I'll happily swap, sqft for sqft, with any of them, i live on DB and my flat wouldn't have anything covering my view for a long time, but to have a arts center at my doorstep. wow. Actually i think any cry babies should be recorded in a registar and should forfiet any increase in their property prices when the thing ever gets implemented.