Investigation of public space in Mong Kok
Citation
HKIA journal: the official journal of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (香港建築師學報), no.25, 2000, pp. 64-74
Abstract
Public space in developed countries has been well discussed (Marcus, 1998, Madanipour, 1996). Big cities in Asia are undergone different stories, with the challenges from population pressure, building and facility aging and insufficiency of infrastructure (Proceedings, 1997; Manuel and Xue, 1999). Public space is an important index of living quality in city but it has been long ignored in the cities of rapid growth, for example, those cities in southeast Asia. This article uses Mong Kok, a busy commercial and old traditional district of Hong Kong, as case study to explore the issues of public space in derelict city area.
This article presents the existing picture of Mong Kok. The methods of observation and questionnaires are used in investigation. The authors suggest the strategies of improving public space in Mong Kok. The analysis, method and suggestion in this article may have universal significance in providing experience and reference for other areas of Hong Kong or other cities.
(1) Existing picture of Mong Kok
(a) Background of Mong Kok
(b) Community profile
(i) Population
(ii) Age structure
(iii) Household characteristics
(iv) Land use in Mong Kok
(v) Open space vs HKPSG & other Asian Cities
(vi) Air pollution
(c) Public space of Mong Kok
(i) Analysis of existing public space in Mong Kok
(aa) Category I
(ab) Category II
(ac) Category III
(ad) Category IV
(ae) Category V
(af) Category VI
(ii) Problems identified
(aa) Shortage of public space
(ab) Uneven distribution
(ac) Active to passive ratio
(ad) Quality of open space
(ae) Lack of image
(iii) Reasons discussion
(aa) High density and land shortage
(ab) Governmnet's Laissez-faire policies
(ac) Chinese culture
(2) Strategies and suggestions
(a) Long term strategies for future development
(i) Elevated walkway system
(ii) 'Public space' in shopping malls
(iii) Expanding the shopping and commercial area
(iv) Developing Tai Kok Tsui as transitional area between new and old
(v) Active to passive ratio
(vi) Urban Renewal Authority
(b) Immediate measures for improvement
(i) Suggestions for 'Creating' space at Mong Kok East
(ii) Suggestions for improving existing public space
(iii) Create symbol for Mong Kok in a strategic location
(iv) Make open space accessible to the general public
(c) Case study
(i) The site
(ii) Existing conditions
(iii) Suggestions
(3) Conclusion
Description
Subject
Type
Article
Format
Date
2000
Language
en,zh