Central Plans compared

A proposal by 'harbour activists', the other by the government, and the actual outline zoning plan the government's proposal is drawn from. (which means we should be comparing the first and last plan really). Its not the level of detail, but the quality of spaces described in the two plans, and the continuity of the existing city grain that that is making the difference. personally I still think the plot sizes need to be regressed back to the level of old city blocks as they progress towards the waterfront but I guess that will be too much in the developer driven market of Hong Kong.

I guess the OZP is just 'lazy' planning by the government - why spend time working out the spaces when you can draw 5 big rectangles and go home; they get paid just the same and thats what most of them care about. This is an interesting excercise for students of planning. Interesting to note they apparently contain the same amount of built area (GFA) too.

CE/DHKHD/WWF plan


Government Plan ( note the two storey 'groundscraper' between Statue square and calzip roofed Star Ferry has been given the same colour as the other buildings)


Current OZP


Thank god they are reviewing the government plans in July, otherwise we would have had settled for a 'C+' plan (i'm being generous). Surely we deserve nothing less than an 'A'?