[This is Hong Kong] 2024 Autumn Issue

Issue Highlights: While Hong Kong may not be the only place in Asia or the world facing issues of population density and housing shortages, it is undoubtedly one of the few cities where a high-density population resides within such a confined land area, leading to the rapid construction of countless buildings. However, the requirements and expectations for housing differ across generations. In the 1950s, a family of five living in a 120 sq ft resettlement flat felt fortunate; today, a new generation might choose to live alone in a subdivided flat or a "coffin home," prioritizing personal space. The meaning of housing, beyond its price and rental value, How do we measure the happiness of those living within? Does owning property mean having a home? Does having a house mean having a dwelling? Hong Kong Homes, How do homes shape the character of the city, Featured Content: REmode// From Tenement Buildings to Subdivided Flats – Living Cramped, Living Comfortably? From tenement buildings to mixed-use commercial-residential blocks and large private housing estates, from partition rooms to cage homes, cubicles, nano flats, and coffin homes – Hong Kong's diverse housing architectural designs not only showcase the changing living environments and quality of life for Hongkongers at different stages but also challenge us to live in progressively smaller and more expensive spaces. REname// Sales Brochures – The Art of Selling Property Sales brochures are perhaps some of the most practical yet imaginative advertising materials. They must detail the layout, dimensions, materials, and facilities of residential units while allowing potential buyers to envision their lives within these buildings. Comparing sales brochures from different eras also reflects the underlying desires of people in those times. REhouse// Seventy Years of Public Housing Evolution The Christmas Eve fire in 1953 at Shek Kip Mei prompted the Hong Kong government to abandon its non-interventionist policy and consider how to alleviate the social pressure and potential risks posed by a large population living in squatter areas. The resettlement buildings that followed became collective memories for the post-war baby boomers. Where did the H-shaped design originate? How did public housing designs evolve over the subsequent decades? REmark// The Diverse Experiment of Cho Yiu Estate Built on Lai King Hill, Cho Yiu Estate, completed in the 1970s and 80s, was designed by The Architectural Partnership, which had also planned Choi Hung Estate. It not only utilized the hilly terrain to construct what were then the world's tallest public housing blocks but also incorporated many experimental designs. This feature invites architects David Hui and Wong Yun-hong to analyze, through photography and original architectural plans, how Cho Yiu Estate's design projected a vision for future living. REdefine // Three Lives, Three Wishes – The Gūpó House of Nam Chung Built in 1908, Woon Chun Tong, located in a Hakka village in the border area of Nam Chung, was once a "Gūpó House" (a dwelling for unmarried women) providing autonomy and independence for village women. By the 1980s, as the Gūpós aged, the house fell into disrepair. However, a British couple passionate about the history and culture of the New Territories established a local museum, continuing the Gūpós' stories. Today, a group of young people pursuing autonomous living are practicing holistic lifestyles here, writing a new chapter for Woon Chun Tong. REgain// Eric Kot – Half a Lifetime Wandering Amongst Mid-Levels Residences In Hong Kong, where land is scarce and the population is dense, space equates to money. Old houses that manage to survive are increasingly rare, and the stories of the houses and their inhabitants are easily forgotten. From No. 1 Conduit Road to No. 7 Clive Terrace, from pre-war to modern times, from Huang Yongyu to Leslie Cheung, from daily life, friendships, to creative pursuits – although these old houses are now in the past, their stories continue to resonate in the memories of director Eric Kot. REview// From North Point Estate to So Uk Estate: Post-War Middle-Class Public Housing Design Members of the "Forum for After-War Architecture Research and Archives" (FAAR) review the design characteristics of three post-war housing estates in the 1950s – North Point Estate, Sai Wan Estate, and So Uk Estate. While their target demographic was not the lowest income group but rather "low-wage earners among white-collar workers," these estates demonstrated the diverse possibilities of public housing as collective dwellings. REsidential// Opulent Estates True "luxury residences" are not solely defined by their price tag but by how they create a certain grandeur, reflecting family prestige and the values of a particular historical period. Even as old-fashioned luxury homes have faded, they evoke the elegance and sophistication of the "old rich" and lay the foundation for the city's opulent past. Other Featured Content: REsettle// Wooden Huts / Bungalows / Temporary Housing Following the Shek Kip Mei fire, the Hong Kong government established the Resettlement Department in 1954 to formally coordinate housing for residents of squatter areas. Prior to this, in response to population growth at various stages before and after the war, the government and various charitable organizations implemented different types of housing arrangements, even if they were only "temporary" measures. REthink// Subsidized Housing in the 1960s Hong Kong's diverse designs for subsidized housing reflect the explorations and experiments of architects at the time, responding to the living habits of Hongkongers and the overall socio-economic environment. An article by local architectural historian Eric Chun-wing Lai analyzes how subsidized housing of that era considered population and family structure changes, as well as the lifestyles and habits of different social classes, to ensure social mobility. REmember// The Time of Biu Lu In Hong Kong, many once grand and prominent family mansions have been successively demolished and rebuilt. Those that have been preserved have their own unique circumstances. Biu Lu on Blue Pool Road, Happy Valley, built in the 1950s by local businessman Wong Ho-chuen, not only carries the footprints of this Chinese family's journey in Hong Kong but also holds the lingering affection of a granddaughter for her maternal grandfather. REcreate// Reimagining Old Houses French artist Martin Roumagnac, residing in Hong Kong, has journeyed from urban areas to the countryside over 14 years. Beginning with the external walls of tenement buildings, he delved into ruins, and now meticulously documents houses and people in New Territories villages. Through painting, photography, and collage, he moves between the real and the surreal, recreating how these rural huts embody an indispensable aspect of Hong Kong. ISBN:978-988-74818-4-3 Price:HK$160 Printed and Produced in: Hong Kong Publication Date: Late October Autumn Issue Exclusive Offer from the Online Store Order now and receive a free postcard: "Bungalows / Tenement Buildings, The Beauty of Windows" (one of a random selection). Windows are an indispensable feature of any house, allowing for air circulation and sunlight, and are also part of the design style. The Tai Tam Tuk Raw Water Pumping Station Staff Quarters (built in the early 20th century), photographed by Lin Hsiao-min of "Hong Kong Heritage," and a 1950s Shek Kip Mei tenement building showcase the beauty of windows in Western-style bungalows and Chinese tenement buildings, respectively. (Limited quantities available while supplies last.)