FO TAN: FROM INDUSTRIAL ZONE TO INNOVATION HUB

Tan Handan Liu Guoyin Liao Wenjia

Fo Tan is an industrial area near Sha Tin, planned by the government to attract industry and employment to the New Towns in the 1970s. Compared with other industrial zone in new towns, Fo Tan’s industrial buildings have a variety of uses. In addition to industry-related activities, the area houses cultural and art industries, catering and wholesales, which enhances its potential to be developed as an iconic entrepreneurial town and innovation hub.

This project explores a development strategy for an entrepreneurial town in Fo Tan, in four steps:

01: Integrate site industrial structure and propose policy proposals to promote the development of entrepreneurship;

02: Re-plan the transportation system to meet the needs of different users after the site transformation;

03: Strategically renovate industrial buildings to rematch the changing needs of the current and future stakeholders;

04: Increase and enhance the walkability and amenities that support collaboration.

An analysis of the existing building uses and ownership structures show that the Fo Tan industrial area is already transforming towards a mix of industrial, catering and cultural related activities.

The project illustrated here proposes to further transform the industrial buildings, and a network of indoor and outdoor public spaces, into an open framework that invites entrepreneurial activities and visitors.

After analyzing the existing industrial building structure and the possibility of transformation, scenarios for the transformation of industrial buildings into an entrepreneurial environment were tested.

Adapting the existing freight-oriented road structure, the road network could be transformed so it would no longer create a barrier for pedestrians. Improvement of the pedestrian network extending into the buildings would enhance the connection between different visitor and resident areas, promoting visitors to spend more time in the area and promoting exchange between local users.

To enhance the function mix, the project envisions including a technology educational institute, creating an exchange mechanism that includes training, production and sales, further attracting people from across Hong Kong to visit and support the area.

The strategy suggests that top-down government support is needed for training and housing programmes. By providing secure housing and work spaces at affordable rates, the area can nurture talent and innovative companies and projects deemed to have strategic value for Hong Kong’s future economic and cultural developement.

The central business and public events area contain office and co-working spaces, and commercial and art galleries, which can serve art entrepreneurs and office workers in the future. The community area will complement the domestic functions of the surrounding housing for entrepreneur, by providing shared facilities that help foster a welcoming and collaborative community.