PUBLIC SPACE AS SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Villages in the New Territories reflect their own cultural characteristics, and provide suitable housing for low-income people. The quality of public spaces such as streets, alleys, squares, and open spaces helps to define the quality of social interactions and community life.

For this project, the central spaces of Ha Tsuen Village were conceived as a community hub and as a central point within a radial network of pedestrian connections to the surrounding plots. This network extends from Ha Tsuen to Tin Shui Wai, to strengthen the connection between Ha Tsuen and the surrounding land and also to offer alternative public spaces to the monofunctional character of Tin Shui Wai.

The detailed design of the community hub and sports center, explores how urban design can bring more vitality to Ha Tsuen. The village upgrade strategy could bring additional vitality to the future Hung Shui Kiu New Development Area, and avoid the village becoming an enclave.