PREFACE

As Hong Kong evolves as part of the economic and urban development of the Greater Bay Area, the strategic potential of the New Territories is evident. These areas, located in between Shenzhen and Hong Kong’s historic urban core, are earmarked to facilitate several ‘development corridors’ in the government’s long-term vision for regional integration. The New Territories contain a range of New Towns of different generations, thus forming a living laboratory of town planning models that offer valuable lessons to planning professionals worldwide. Several ‘new new towns’ are projected to be built in the coming decades, as large new development areas will contribute to Hong Kong’s desired urban growth.

This context gives rise to two important questions. Firstly, which planning models, principles and underlying objectives should be used to shape vibrant and healthy neighbourhoods, against the backdrop of decreasing natural resources and climate change? This question may seem to apply mostly to the new urban developments, as they will create entirely new environments, economic and social structures for future communities. Yet the question should also apply to existing new towns, as their ageing populations and building stocks call for urgent upgrading and rejuvenation. As the aspirations of Hong Kong’s society have evolved together with its economic and social development, existing urban districts, their planning and management need to be reevaluated in relation to people’s quality of life.

This leads to the second important question in relation to Hong Kong’s projected economic and urban development: how can smart strategies for urban regeneration, sensitive to existing urban tapestries, contribute to the improved economic, environmental and social performance of existing urban districts?

This publication attempts to address both questions, through a series of projects and essays developed in the context of the Master of Science in Urban Design programme at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Produced through group work and individual thesis research, the studies explore a range of challenges and opportunities within the current and future polycentric urban structure of Hong Kong’s New Territories. Through theoretical research and speculative proposals, the work investigates how urban design strategies can promote the vibrancy of new towns, to support entrepreneurialism, collaboration and social mobility. A series of essays explores how public spaces and placemaking processes can play a crucial role in the upgrading of neighbourhoods and community life, and how a comprehensive and human-centric planning approach can incorporate principles of liveability and ecology.

The work presented here has greatly benefited from guidance by studio co-tutors Darren Snow (2019-20) and Casey Wang (2020-21), and from Hendrik Tieben as director of the MSUD programme. This publication has been made possible by the generous support from AECOM, with thanks to LenRen Lee for his critical feedback on the work. Special thanks go to Sifan Cheng and Haowen Wang for the design and editing of this book, and to all students who have contributed their invaluable achievements.

Jeroen van Ameijde, Hong Kong, May 2022

Introduction

Rethinking Hong Kong’s New Towns

Jeroen van Ameijde, Cheng Sifan

Town Upgrades

New Town Intensification: Upgrading In-Between Spaces

Li Hejuan, Wang Yuxuan

Rethinking the Modular City

Li Yibing, Lin Shuiyang

Fo Tan: from Industrial Zone to Innovation Hub

Tan Handan, Liu Guoyin, Liao Wenjia

The Dynamic City: A Three-Dimensional Function Mix

Li Hejuan, Wang Yuxuan

Planning the Mixed City

Zhang Qian, Liu Xiaoya

Integrating Better Cycling and Personal Mobility Options

Yao Hongru, Zhou Yucheng

The Role of Public Space in Healthy Communities

Wan Weiqi, Wang Ruosu

Public Space as Social Infrastructure

Jiang Kaiyuan, Yue Junyu

Rethinking the Small House Policy

Leung Kit Ying, Chloe

Potential Future Typologies of Small Houses

Zhang Zhixing, Zuo Xuan

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NEW TOWN 5.0

A Synergistic Mixed New Town

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6

Zhang Qian, Liu Xiaoya, Cheng Sifan, Wang Yuxin Zheng Yixin, Zhang Yueting

A Gateway City at Shenzhen Bay

A Resilient Coastal New Town

He Yifan, Song Qihang