INFASTRUCTURE:
TIN SHUI WAI
天水 围城
ARCH2058 Modern Architecture
ASSIGNMENT 3: GUIDEBOOK
| Fall 2021
Infastructure: Life in Tin Shui Wai Wong Yan Shun, Carson (3035721392) Man Suen, Jessica (3035666968) Yian Jiao, Ian (3035842017)
INFASTRUCTURE
Hong Kong embodies the drastic transformation of Asian architecture within the 20th century, where one may identify a clear shift towards modernism from its vernacular heritages. Tin Shui Wai, a mere 4.3 square kilometers of land located between Tuen Mun and Yuen Long in new territories, is transformed from a fish pond into a satellite land settling three-hundred-thousand residents. This guide explores the impacts of infrastructure in shaping the form and function of the Tin Shui Wai region today.
1 PING SHAN TIN SHUI
WAI PUBLIC LIBRARY
Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library opened in 2013. It is located near MTR station and serves the residents in Tin Shui Wai and Yuen Long. With a floor area of 6,100 square meters and an outdoor reading environment, the library is the second largest in Hong Kong. According to a document issued by the Hong Kong Legislative Council in 2007(Hong Kong Public Libraries, 2014), the library is popular among residents in the district, there are over 2200 visits per hour and 12000 visits per day during the peak hours. The environmental protection design was awarded the Annual Award by the Hong Kong Institute of Architects Annual Domestic Architecture Award in 2011.
2 PING SHAN TIN HERITAGE TRAIL
The Ping Shan historical trail sits at the south of Tin Shui Wai estates, which can be reached directly from exit A of the Tin Shui Wai MTR station. The historical trail contains mainly architectures from the indegenous Tang clan, serving various functions for clan activities. Architecture featured within the trail exists as monuments for China’s contemporary transformations towards modernity. For instance, the architecture contains both vernacular and modern formal qualities. Most architectures were renovated towards the mid-to-late 20th century, where the restoration aimed to maintain the original features of the architecture.
3 TIN SHUI WAI PUBLIC HOUSING Towards the beginning of the 1980s, the colonial government of Hong Kong decided to establish a government housing complex on reclaimed land in Tin Shui Wai to ease the urgency of living spaces. Within an area of 4.3 square kilometres, the plan was to create an asylum for 300,000 residents unable to afford housing. Consequently, the planning for Tin Shui Wai housing complexes aimed to maximize efficiency, and soon emerged as one of the most densely populated areas in Hong Kong. The government housing exists as a complex of transportation, shopping and dwelling, together with open public spaces such as courtyards and playgrounds.
4 TIN SHUI WAI PARK Tin Shui Wai Park is located alongside the Tin Shui Wai Sports Ground. It is one of the largest parks in Yuen Long district. The park is surrounded by buildings, including private and public residential buildings, sports centre and swimming pool. It was part of the private residence, Fortune Kingswood, development project and opened to the public in 1997. There are water features, fountains and artificial lakes in the park to create the effect of “sky” and “water” to match the name “Tin Shui Wai”. Model car play area, outdoor gateball courts, maze, skateboard grounds are the characteristics of this park, which allows people to enjoy the holiday with family and friends (Leisure and Cultural Service Department, 2014).
5 HONG KONG WETLAND PARK Before Wetland Park’s existence that we know of today in the north of Tin Shui Wai, a mere bridge away that separates it from the border of ShenZhen, the whole surrounding area was a rich wetland that was shared by wildlife and fish farmers. Only a mere ¼ of the nature reserve is still evident of what it once looked like 30 years ago, the area more known for the failed new town development than a thriving area of natural wonder in the metropolitan city.
A TRANSPORT HISTORY JESSICA SUEN, MAN
Tin Shui Wai was a walled village with a large area of fish pond. The residents relied on fishing for living1. In late 1970, CK Asset Holdings Limited acquired the land assets of Tin Shui Wai and planned to develop it as a new town. The company reached an agreement with the Hong Kong government in 1982. The government announced acquisition of all the land in Tin Shui Wai and they would develop the new town. They tried to fill the fish ponds to construct buildings and infrastructures, to create a residential town. Development of transportation was lacking in that area 30 years ago. As construction of the first public housing estate started in 1990, the bus routes have expanded to connect this new place to the town2. Tin Shui public housing estate located in the middle part of Tin Shui Wai, it 1 2
is the second completed estate. There is a Public Transport Interchange with bus terminus, mini bus stops and taxi stops that allows people to move further to the inner space of Tin Shui Wai. Locwood Court Kingswood Villas is one of the private housing estates under CK Asset Holdings Limited, located near Tin Shui estate. The company would like to form that area as a central part of Tin Shui Wai, thus building a private park with various facilities between 1992 and 1998, and that is Tin Shui Wai Park 3. In 1999, Tai Lam Tunnel officially opened to traffic, the residents can ride on various transportation with shorter traveling time compared to previous. Tin Shui Wai MTR station opened to traffic in 2003, which facilitated movement of people, provided another choice of transport for them. Light Rail is a common transportation in the western New Territories district. It connected Tuen Mun, Tin Shui Wai and Yuen Long. In the early stage of development of western New 3
Territories4, the government reserved space for constructing Light Rail to serve the people who live in Tuen Mun. As more infrastructure was constructed, the Light Rail route expanded to Tin Shui Wai and Yuen Long5. Light Rail only served the southern part of Tin Shui Wai in 1995. Wetland Park and more housing estates built gradually, Light Rail expanded to the northern part for the residents to use in the district. It became a major way for the residents to go through the district in daily life. People can get access to different infrastructures within a short traveling distance. From the history of the transportation infrastructure development in Tin Shui Wai, the government was in charge of the construction project after acquisition of Tin Shui Wai6. It shows that whoever has power in the society can decide what to build in a place.
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Transportation Infrastructure and people Movement How does the infrastructure affect people? Simpson7 stated that design of public transportation depends on several factors: accessibility of passengers, minimization of noise and visual disruption or intrusion, and technological availability of operation. Accessibility of passengers means that the transportation should be placed near the infrastructure within 500 meter walking distance. In Tin Shui Wai, Light Rail is a common transportation with good accessibility. Each Light Rail station is near housing estates or shopping malls. In this case, the location of infrastructure may set hidden movement boundaries for people. By looking at the history, initially the transportations was designed and constructed based on the building’s site. Movement of people based on where they can use the place that is not easy to get lost in. In this point of view, The infrastructure sets movement boundaries, 7
and that can predict the movement of people. Culture On the other hand, infrastructures are creating a way of living for a group of people 8. Tin Shui Wai is a residential town, there are small shopping malls with restaurants, supermarkets and clinics near each estate. Those shopping malls are just like a package with similar shops inside and each mall serves a few estates. They are for fulfilling the basic needs of the residents without other luxury stores. Also, all the infrastructure built near the housing, footbridges and cycling tracks are everywhere, they connected with different estates and formed an accessible network. Residents can reach those buildings easily. In this case, those infrastructures are defining how they live. For example, people go to the library by Light Rail. Light Rail became part of the living culture of the residents who are living in western New Territories. The infrastructure is shaping the culture of one group of people. 8
The space influence the transportation Infrastructure Tin Shui Wai Park Tin Shui Wai Park was part of the planning of CK Asset Holdings Limited. The first stage of the construction area was built for the Locwood Court Kingswood Villas residents. The second stage of construction was built by the government. It was a private park, and opened to the public in 19979. City centre is the commercial, cultural and often the historical, and geographic heart of a place10. This park is the first and the largest one in Tin Shui Wai, it is located in the middle part of the district and near the Light Rail. It was constructed with the first housing estate in 1992. It has a big open area along the fountain, playground for children, artificial lake, and other basic facilities like basketball court. This park is a leisure space that allows people to have different activ9 10
ities. There is a big shopping mall near the park. With a large area for people to gather, and built in a convenient place, this iconic place became the centre of Tin Shui Wai. In Modernist urban planning, such as the plan of Paris Voisin by Le Corbusier, the function of a park is to reduce urban congestion of a high density city and form a sense of neighborhood among the tall buildings11. By looking at the map, Tin Shui Wai Park has a modernist design that is surrounded by different tall residential buildings. It serves not only as a connection between those housing estates, but also provides a place for a range of casual intersections like say hello to the passerby which creates liveliness and memories. The design and location made the park an important space. The residents from other housing estates have a need to arrive at this park as there are facilities and shops nearby. Therefore, developing infrastructure like buses and Light Rail is necessary. Space facilitates transportation infrastructure construction which helps 11
people move quickly to meet their needs. Transportation influence the social development Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library Ping Shan is located in the southern part of Tin Shui Wai. The library is near the MTR station, Light Rail station and bus stop, with a public swimming pool beside. The building’s outstanding design attracted people from other places. When it comes to libraries in Hong Kong, the images of the interior environment in elderly care homes may pop up in your mind. The white walls without windows, white tube lights on the false ceiling, old and dirty gray metal bookshelves, dark gray carpet, and some animal decorations with creepy smiles in the children zone are the characteristics of library interior design in Hong Kong. Why is the library in Ping Shan so attractive? The library changed the original style of design, it is the first public library in Hong Kong with an outdoor reading space. There are many outdoor spaces, with wick-
er coffee tables and chairs, readers can take books to read outdoors without borrowing them. Gardens are on the 1st and 3rd floors, with a green terrace on the 6th floor with lawns, creating a relaxing atmosphere. The atriums are in different floors, the glass curtain walls used to allow sunlight pass through the atrium and into the lower floors12. The design is better than the original style as there is more sunlight and space for people to read. According to research from Prus and Sikora, 13, transportation infrastructure influences development of a place by stimulating social development and economics. The library is located between Tin Shui Wai and Yuen Long, near MTR station and Light Rail station with a large flow of people. As the railways provide an opportunity for people to get access to the Tin Shui Wai area even if they are not the residents. The government decided to build the library there to serve the residents in both districts as the only li12 13
portation may stimulate social development. Transportation affects construction of a place based on the needs of the users and the infrastructure shortage of the existing site. To conclude, from the transport infrastructure history of Tin Shui Wai, the one who has power decided the placement of transportations based on location of other infrastructure that influences movement of people. Also, they shaped the way of living and affected social development.
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1. Glendinning, Miller, “Mass Housing Modern Architecture and State Power - a Global History,” (London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2021), 81. 2. Halliday, Sonia, ”City Centre,” (Kibworth Beauchamp: Matador, 2013), 68. 3. Hase, Peter, Settlement, Life, and Politics: Understanding the Traditional New Territories. (Kowloon, Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong Press, 2020), 26. 4. Hong Kong Government, “Hong Kong: The Facts,”, 2015, https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/transport.pdf. 5. Hong Kong Public Libraries, “Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Public Library,” 2014, https://www.hkpl.gov.hk/en/locations/yuen-long/library/ping-shan-tin-shui-wai.html 6. Jason, Sivan, “Cultural Conflict in Hong Kong: Angles on a Coherent Imaginary,” (PALGRAVE MACMILLAN, 2019), 192. 7. Leisure and Cultural Service Department, “Introduction to Tin Shui Wai Park,” 2014, https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/ en/parks/tswp/intro.html 8. 9. Lisa, Larsson, “ Narrating the City Mediated Representations of Architecture, Urban Forms and Social Life,”( Bristol: Intellect Books, 2018), 156 10. Low, Shlomo, “Rethinking Urban Parks: Public Space and Cultural Diversity,” (Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 2005), 243 11. Peiser, Roberds, “New Towns for the Twenty-First Century a Guide to Planned Communities Worldwide,”
(Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2021, 103) 12. Prus, Pits & Sikora, Mill , “The impact of Transport Infrastructure on the sustainable development of the region—case study,” Agriculture, 11(4), 279, 2021: 98, https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11040279 13. Simpson, Barry, “City Centre Planning and Public Transport: Case Studies from Britain, West Germany and France.” ( S.l.: ROUTLEDGE, 2019, 78)
AN ORGANIC COMMUNITY AND TRAITS OF MODERNITY
Yian Jiao, Ian
In 1916, the Zhao clan from the Canton religion of mainland China requested the British colonial government for the reclamation of a wetland near the Ping Shan region in New territories. The wetland is named Hat Tsuen Wan; later reclaimed to be Tin Shui Wai. The proposal was granted by the British colonial government due to a sole fact hindering their advancement towards the new territories in Hong Kong: local familial clans, specifically the Tang (鄧) clan1. The restraining of the Tang clan is urgently important to British colonial rule within the new territories as the clan is deeply rooted within the political, cultural and economical fields of the region. The Tang clan is considered indegenous to the Ping Shan and now1
adays Tin Shui Wai region as their ancestry in Hong Kong can be traced back to more than thirty generations.2 Consequently, the habitats of the Tang clan likewise reflect the indegenous culture of Hong Kong. Within this tour, one focuses on two architectures from the Tang clan located in the Ping Shan Historical trail (exit A of Tin Shui Wai station) for two distinct functions, and hence investigate inherent traits that influenced the architectural phenomenon around the Tin Shui Wai region. The Kun Ting study hall (觀廷書室) is an embodiment of the indegenious education culture. Established by the elder of the Tang clan, the study hall (shown figure 1) is a collective space that serves an education and ancestral worship function. The architecture acquires three modular bays and four rooms used for studying spaces. The central hall ( 崇德堂) is used as an ancestral hall for the main family of the Tang clan. From the decorations of the hall one may identify a series of exquisite vernacular decorations. The 2
decorations serve as a functional purpose towards the function of the ancestral hall, which exhibits the collectivity of the Tang clan and the wealth of the family. In other words, the study hall as an architecture resembles the lifestyle and habits of living of the indegenous Tin Shui Wai population. The Ching Shu Hin (清暑軒) is an independent retreat architecture that is located right next to the Kun Ting study hall. In contrast to the full-vernacular architecture of the study hall, the Ching Shu Hin took a hybridization approach in the formal qualities of the architecture. Established in 1874, the architecture was built while persistent interactions between China and European merchants brought western construction techniques into the Canton region. With this context, the formal qualities of the Ching Shu Hin is to establish a connotation towards both the material wealth but also cultural dignity of the Tang owner. That is, the form of the architecture must resemble a specific taste or class that is
different from conventional architectures within the Canton region.3 Shown in figure 2, the retreat exhibits both vernacular and colonialist expressions of building form that is deeply rooted within the social context of China during the late 19th century, where an approach to westernization is praised. This is particularly depicted through the arched gates (shown right on figure 2) and the existence of a bathroom. Furthermore, due to the unconventional form of the architecture leading to difficulty in establishing the structure using vernacular construction techniques, the Ching Shu Hin is built by architects from the west (西洋建築師) 4 that is recruited from the Mainland. Hence, the ‘built by architects’5 nature of the retreat fundamentally challenges the “architecture without architects” definition of vernacular architecture raised by Bernard Rudolfsky, which in theory underpins the fact that the retreat is already a modern architecture. 3 4 5
All in all, halls of the Tang clan exhibit a strong sense of collectivity which highlights the concept of an organic community. This echoes Ferdinand Tonnies’ theory of community and society6, which directly exhibits the image of grouped habitats before the 19th century prior to the age of mechanical industrialisation. Furthermore, the Ching Shu Hin retreat depicts traits of modernity through its hybridization of vernacular Chinese and European architectural form. This organic community emerging as a vernacular phenomenon of New territories and specifically Tin Shui Wai region will exhibit a direct juxtaposition towards the later “satellite society” established by the British colonial government. From community to society The population density of Tin Shui Wai, as in 2019 remains at 69767 people per square kilometer7. With almost 70 people in each 6 7
square meter, the urgency in extending the land vertically catalysed the government housing structure with a maximization of space efficiency. At the south-northern part of Tin Shui Wai lies government housing with a higher density8, mainly consisting of the Harmony I 9housing type (shown figure 3) that is later used throughout Hong Kong as a typical government housing model. Harmony I consists of four strips of single-loaded corridors, each with four units of 20 square meters in dimension. The model achieves the government’s goal of maximizing efficiency, but also led to a loss of spiritual heritage that the locals have practised for generations. The condensation of living space weakened the social bonding between youths and social institutions, 10enforcing a significant relationship between youth gang subculture and triad societies. 11Karl Wilhelm Friedrich 8 9 10 11
Schlegel in his understanding of the organic community described it as “The mutual relationship between all essential members of the human society and corporations within it… human associations do not hinder or perturb one another, but support and cooperate like members and organs of the human body.”12 Hence, one may approach the emergence of triads and young gang association as a shift of spiritual and cultural sustenance, a new form of organic community within the mechanical, Harmony-I-styled living environment. As aforementioned, the structural composition of the government housing hinders the availability of mutual interactions between individuals and the overall sense of community. However, this does not suggest that the government in the plannings of Tin Shui Wai did not include considerations and attempts towards encouraging a certain level of communal interactions. In fact, the planning and construction of Tin Shui Wai government housing exist as communal, grocery and estate com12
plexes (shown figure 4). Yet the planning of the shopping, dwelling and communal complexes was confronted with various issues when implemented real-life. One of the major issues emerges to be the overpricing of the community wet-markets due to its privatization. Reports depict that habitants of the housing complexes rather travel another 20 minutes to Yuen Long to purchase groceries at a much lower cost. 13Hence, this phenomenon may be seen as one of the disadvantages of a ‘mechanical’ implementation of a habitat, the discomfort experienced by its users. Attempts to pursue formal qualities of architecture are likewise evident in the establishment of the public spaces within the government housing complexes14 in Tin Shui Wai. As the inclusion of public spaces become a major part of the planning process of Tin Shui Wai government dwelling complexes, one may examine a higher level of emphasis on the formal qualities of the public spaces 13 14
provided compared to the sole modularity of the living space. For instance, an open courtyard under the Tin Tsz Estate in southern Tin Shui Wai (shown figure 5) exists in the form of a glass, steel, brick and concrete complex. The colors of these components do not exhibit a uniformed color palette. However, one may identify the harmony the courtyard radiates through the composition of geometry: almost a pastiche of Kandinsky, generating a sense of rationalism within the radical shapes and geometry, hence providing a unique form within the endless duplication of the housing complexes. As another example, the Tin Shui Wai phase four shopping center (shown figure 6) acquires a façade constructed solely with glass and steel reinforcements. With the design of the semi-dome like structure facing south, sunlight easily penetrates the façade and enters the atrium of the shopping center in the day, providing a natural lighting to the atrium. This transformation of private, condensed dwellings to public space, one may also describe
as enclosed to open space, echoes with Paul Scheerbart’s theory of glass architecture15 that marks one of the key features of modernity. Conclusively, one may approach the history of buildings in Tin Shui Wai as a shift from an organic community into a mechanical society. Reflecting on the architectures, the formal elements transform from fully vernacular to a hybrid of vernacular and modern, towards the government housing complexes and shopping centers being fully modern architectures. One may also depict how social context and architecture are two inter-influencing bodies, which both help to shape the architecture in Tin Shui Wai today.
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1. “香港有魚塘 – 淡水魚養殖業的香港歷史軌跡” [Hong Kong’s got Fish Ponds: Traits of freshwater Fishing In Hong Kong’s History], The Lord Wilson Heritage Trust 香港觀鳥會主辦, accessed December 22, 2021, https:// web.archive.org/web/20200627200234/http://www. hkbws.org.hk/fishpondoralhistory/index.php/tsw/. 2. “ 香 港 有 魚 塘 – 淡 水 魚 養 殖 業 的 香 港 歷 史 軌 跡 , ” The Lord Wilson Heritage Trust 香港觀鳥會主辦. 3. CCHU9075, Temples and Ancestral Halls in Hong Kong, 2021, digital drawing. 4. CCHU9075, Temples and Ancestral Halls in Hong Kong, 2021, digital drawing. 5. Bernard Rudofsky, Architecture without Architects: A Short Introduction to Non-pedigreed Architecture, reprint ed. (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1987), 22. 6. Niall Bond, Understanding Ferdinand Tönnies’ Community and Society: Social Theory and Political Philosophy between Enlighted [sic] Liberal Individualism and Transfigured Community (Zürich [Switzerland]: Lit, 2013), 132. 7. HK SAR government Planning Department, Tin Shui Wai and Hung Shui Kiu, report no. 24 (n.p.: Planning Department, 2016), 6. 8. HK SAR government Planning Department, Tin Shui, 6. 9. Housing Authority Department, STANDARD BLOCK HARMONY 1 ( OPTION 1 ) TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN, architectural plan drawing (a3 size), accessed December 22, 2021, https://www.housingauthority.gov. hk/common/pdf/global-elements/estate-locator/ standard-block-typical-floor-plans/02-Harmony1.pdf.
10. T. W. Lo, “Triadization of Youth Gangs in Hong Kong,” British Journal of Criminology 52, no. 3 (December 2, 2011): 2, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azr091. 11. Lo, “Triadization of Youth,” 2. 12. Niall Bond, Understanding Ferdinand Tönnies’ Community and Society: Social Theory and Political Philosophy between Enlighted [sic] Liberal Individualism and Transfigured Community (Zürich [Switzerland]: Lit, 2013), 177. 13. Mi, “天水围于香港的意义” [The significance of Tin Shui Wai to Hong Kong], Zhi Hu Yan Xuan, 2018, 2. 14. HK SAR government Planning Department, Tin Shui, 6. 15. Christine Burgin, Glass! Love!! Perpetual Motion!!! a Paul Scheerbart Reader (n.p.: University Of Chicago Pres, 2014), 32.
WETLAND REBUILT Yan Shun Carson, Wong
Past In the early takeover of the New Territories, the British Hong Kong government used outsiders to influence their political and economical presence in the area once known as Ha Tsuen Wan during 1916. Selling a total of 490.5 hectares of land at a low price to the Tuk Luen Company, they stopped the shipping and oyster farming businesses of the local Dung Family, using poldering methods to drain out the water for dry land use.1 Building a 150m long water access, it was later divided into 6 different water gates along the route to control the water flow, allowing the water to circulate almost if it surrounded the area, taking the name of 天水围, meaning surrounding sky and water in Chinese translation.(Fig 1) Immigrants from the mainland who were 1
experienced farmers came down south during the Japanese invasion to the area and helped the farming industry grow rice for the war effort. Oyster shell powder was poured into the saltwater farms to reduce the acidity of the soil, making it more amenable for crop cultivation. A great change happened in the 50s as the southern farms began to farm fish as it was easier to take care of and had higher profit rates, it was also more suited to wetland areas also with the salt content being so high. Land uses were all converted for fish farming and farmers who lost their land went to the city for work. Modern In the 1977 report to redevelop Tin Shui Wai, Tin Wah Road became the important marker between the north and south of the area as the prior was to be kept for a “Reserve Zone” and the latter as a “Development Zone”. (Fig 2) However pleasing this was to sound in preserving nature, over a hundred hectares of fish farms were being sealed up for pavements in
1986, leaving the 60 hectares of land in the North-east for ecological purposes.2Branded as Asia’s first Wetland themed park, it was opened up in 2006 by the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department to allow visitors to explore the wetlands through exhibitions, botanical gardens and bird houses to see the wildlife in motion. Being the first ecological park and infrastructure, its importance was rewarded with HKIA’s President’s Prize in 2000 and Building of the Year in 2005.3 Walking from the light rail station 10 minutes away, a traveler like yourself would be met with the entrance of Wetland Park through the void of two massive ramps of green , a transparent glass lined artium that acts as a window to the wetland beyond, a very impressive visual experience in a typical Bauhaus style.4The architect, Raymond Fung’s intention of the building is to switch the roles between humans 2 3 4
and birds, by placing humans inside the main building like a cage, the birds outside can instead fly freely. Selected as a Millenium project, ASD has placed a great importance on its design, sustainability and public relations.5 Other than having a dramatic presence, the main building of 100,000 square meters hosts two story rooms that educate the visitors on Hong Kong’s wetland and wildlife. The building underneath the green hills also saves energy through the design of having low solar energy gain, making it operate at a higher energy efficiency than buildings of comparable size. Going to the galleyway of the first floor, the panoramic view of the wetlands is displayed gracefully beyond the horizon of your sight. Geothermal cooling systems are also introduced to cool the AC through underground pipes in making energy more efficient and heat waste contained beneath the ground. This system also serves as an aesthetic architectural design choice to eliminate the 5
need for a cooling tower, making it possible to have the large sloping form and not having pipes run along the glass facade. Having many features that are rare to find in Hong Kong’s other museums, the visitor building became very successful for the Phase I of its development and was a leap through in utilising more energy efficient technologies. Weaving your way through the exhibitions, a large body of water reflects the building like a mirror. Raymond says his design was to mimic the beauty of nature when the birds fly near water, forming beautiful scenes that man cannot create. Exposed concrete beams are seen on the exterior building columns and facades, in order to minimise paint waste in the goal of lowering carbon footprint. Some of the composition of these walls have also been mixed in with recycled concrete from demolished buildings. Taking the two different paths on the left, one in wooden planks and the other in pavement
can lead you to Phase II of the park, where a closer look at nature is possible. (Figure 3) Walking along these bending paths brings you to different sections of the park such as botanical gardens, mangrove walks, and butterfly gardens. A total of 5 birdhouses of different sizes and views are also a beauty to behold as you see the hundreds of different species of birds living out their lives on the wetland. Flocks can fly in together while some choose to fly alone, it must be a bird watcher’s best spot to enjoy their hobbies along with their ultra long telescope lense cameras. Having been there myself, I can say it really is a good walk in the park for the low cost of $15 as much wildlife and scenery can be enjoyed through the ease of transportation to TSW. The Park is a very approachable place for many city goers to come and spend time in half a wetland environment and see nature while comfortably walking in man made roads and paths that they are so used to. Wetland Park’s accessibility takes away
a lot of the barriers to going out for a walk in nature as food, air conditioning, shade and toilets are all available on site, allowing people of all ages to enjoy themselves out in fresh air. Providing the disabled, elderly and young children a place to roam around freely in a safe manner as it is almost like an amusement park but with a nature theme and serves an educational purpose. (Figure 4) Future A plan for elderly was proposed by the government to build 1,000 flats and services next to Wetland Park, also known as sector 115 in 2012. The government also wanted the other side sector 112 to be built as a training facility to create job opportunities for residents of TSW, in order to wash away the identity known as a depressive town center. Plans of hotels, elderly homes, physiotherapy center and clinics were also included in this ambitious plan, however the foundation building process on wetland was grossed highly out of profit margins. All land and projects
were put to a halt in 2008 and transferred ownership to private developers in 2013.6 To some a surprise and some an expected turn of events, a series of high end luxury housing were introduced to the sites outside Wetland Park. This is a big departure from the economically deprived living that used to be the label if you lived in TSW, instead this was a property that only the wealthy could afford. Having a direct view to the beautiful wetlands, these new housings were also named Wetlands Seasons Park, a clear indication of why the property has its unique characteristics that make it more valuable than anything else next to it. (Figure 5) Legislative council also has plans update the 20 year old building into better fitting the needs of today’s educational purposes.7 Through updating exhibition layouts, greenspaces, VR interactive games, 6 7
and a new playing area, would it be possible to freshen up the design to appeal to children and adults of this generation? Conclusion In the total transformation of a wetland area into fish farms, public housing and now even luxury apartment housing, was it all worth the eradication of nature many would ask in today’s world of environmentally conscious ethics. To humans, obviously it has helped provide numerous homes and a new community for the city of Hong Kong. However, does modern architecture imply that the old ways must be demolished for good to come in the new? Just as Le Corbusier cannot stand the look of New York during his travels, calling it “devoid of harmony”, 8were the city planners of TSW not dissatisfied by the “inefficiency” land use of fish farms? While it is always a conflict of what places need to be allocated for development and 8
what parts to keep, it is often only in hindsight that we can judge whether or not it proved to be a successful venture. As a nature loving architecture student, from my perspective, Tin Shui Wai was always deemed to be as developed as Hong Kong as a city needed to deal with the low supply of housing. The campaign of trying to stop the land being developed with signatures back in 2017 9would be greatly perceived as a joke compared to the government’s new proposal to build an island city center not far from it.Only that TSW may have earned a reputation for an unpleasant area of development due to the various problems that have stemmed from its beginning, many transport and social issues seemingly have been resolved and was worth erasing the wet land that existed before it. Not only was the design of the Wetland Park well conceived as one of the best projects in the city, it also helped educate others the protection of the nature preserve we might 9
lose easily if developers did not find a good balance between urbanization and wetlands. The new luxury apartments were built considerately through allowing air channels still to pass through from the north and down into city center10 a feature that is greatly missing in new development projects in Kowloon or Hong Kong Island. WWF’s warning of the plans to build more wetland parks between TSW and Mai Po are also well received by the government, meaning that there are still people in power who would design responsibly and we should try and have some faith in different departments of the government. 11With the testament of time, we can see the work of researchers, environmentalists, architects, and urban planners seemingly take fruition in TSW today as life seems very relaxing and accommodating by fixing what didn’t work in the beginning. At least planners did not end up planning endless trees to combat the urban sprawl in hopes of reducing carbon emissions like cities in
Europe12, as preserving the wetlands and existing nature still makes TSW one of the coolest temperate places in our densely packed city.
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Fig 5
Notes
1. “口述歷史選段,” 口述歷史選段 – 香港有魚 塘 – 淡水魚養殖業的香港歷史軌跡, accessed December 22, 2021, https://web.archive.org/ web/20210509161119/https://www.hkbws.org. hk/fishpondoralhistory/index.php/oral_history/. 2. “Wetland Park Opens Up,” Hong Kong Government News, May 19, 2006, https://www.info.gov. hk/gia/general/200605/19/P200605180229.htm. 3. “List of Past HKIA Annual Awards 歷屆香港建築師學 會年獎一覽表,” HKIA, 2006, https://www.hkia.net/en/ pdf/annual_report_2006/Past_Annual_awards.pdf. 4. “誰把爛泥扶上壁 馮永基與香港建築故事,” 誰 把爛泥扶上壁 馮永基與香港建築故事-香港商 报, September 18, 2016, http://www.hkcd.com/ content/2016-09/18/content_1017119.html. 5. ASD, “Architectural Services Department - Exhibition,” archsd.gov.hk, December 29, 2020, https://www. archsd.gov.hk/en/exhibition/exhibition-works-for-hongkong-wetland-park-visitor-centre,-tin-shui-wai.html. 6.
黃俊鋒, “濕地限制多 天水圍長者屋難產 禁擾候 鳥造價倍增 兩地皮改建私宅,” 明報新聞網 加拿 大 海外版 Mingpaocanada.com, accessed December 22, 2021, http://www.mingpaocanada.com/ Tor/htm/News/20131209/HK-gca1_er.htm?m=0.
7.
香港特別行政區立法會 - 立法會報告及刊物, accessed December 22, 2021, https://www.legco.gov.
hk/general/chinese/library/collections_reports.html. 8. Dana Schulz. “North America’s Radiant City: Le Corbusier’s Impact on New York” 28 Feb 2015. ArchDaily. Accessed 22 Dec 2021. <https://www. archdaily.com/604056/north-america-s-radiant-cityle-corbusier-s-impact-on-new-york> ISSN 0719-8884 9.
“Protect the Wetland Park: Object Planning Application A/TSW/70,” Support HK, February 4, 2021, https://www. supporthk.org/petition/protect-the-wetland-park-object-planning-application-atsw70/?lang=en.
10. )“Wetland Seasons Park, Hong Kong.” Ramboll Group. Accessed December 22, 2021. https:// ramboll.com/projects/reh/wetland-seasons-park. 11. ) Gigi Choy, “Plan to Protect Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis Wetlands ‘Needs Improving’,” South China Morning Post, October 24, 2021, https://www.scmp.com/ news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3153439/ wwf-hong-kong-says-plan-protect-wetlands-northern. 12. Erlwein, Sabrina & Pauleit, Stephan. (2021). Trade-Offs between Urban Green Space and Densification: Balancing Outdoor Thermal Comfort, Mobility, and Housing Demand. Urban Planning. 6. 10.17645/up.v6i1.3481.
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34. Erlwein, Sabrina & Pauleit, Stephan. (2021). TradeOffs between Urban Green Space and Densification: Balancing Outdoor Thermal Comfort, Mobility, and Housing Demand. Urban Planning. 6. 10.17645/up.v6i1.3481.
The Modern Architecture Guidebook Hong Kong’s built environment represents a unique site of inquiry in the global history of the Modern Movement. The Modern Architecture guidebook series draw from an inter-disciplinary toolkit of knowledge, references, and field studies to understand the processes at work in the built environment. Each walking tour in the series begins with one of the 98 MTR stations in Hong Kong as the meeting point. First opened in 1979, this modernist infrastructure has produced a city rationalized around transportoriented development. Organized around key themes (industrialization, colonization, environment, internationalization, migration, decolonization, counterculture, and globalization), the guidebooks present a critical yet open perspective towards the implications of large-scale modernist schemes on the environment and community.
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