T H E P E O P L E - G OV E R N E D T R A N S F O R M E R THE RETURN OF SPATIAL AUTONOMY TO THE PUBLIC SPACE LINGERER
TSUI SZE MAN, EUNICE
T H E P E O P L E - G OV E R N E D T R A N S F O R M E R THE RETURN OF SPATIAL AUTONOMY TO THE PUBLIC SPACE LINGERER
TSUI SZE MAN, EUNICE
Outside Chater House, 20160412. Sunday, Drizzle.
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S 1.1
Thesis Statement
2
1.2
Hypothesis
3
1.3
Definitions
5
1.4
Work Schedule
6
Research 2.1
Data Collection - FDWs
10
2.1.1
Timeline of FDWs’ occupying activities
12
2.1.2
Distribution of FDW gathering spots, Central
14
2.1.3
Field Studies - Central streets
17
2.1.4
Field Studies - World Wide House | Commercial Practices
26
2.1.5
Perspective of FDW
34
2.2
Data Collection - public space & the city
36
2.2.1
Time | Activity
38
2.2.2
Regulations in public space
43
2.2.3
Public space in land use
44
2.3
Text influences
48
2.4
Precedents - architectural
50
2.4.1
Plaza
52
2.4.2
Transformable space
54
2.4.3
Temporary architecture
56
2.4.4
Half-house
58
2.4.5
Deployable structure
60
2.4.6
“Community design”
62
2.5
Precedents - non-architectural
64
3.1
Conceptual Design
Design 72
3.1.1
Transformers | filling the city gaps
72
3.1.2
Architecture in manual
76
3.1.3
Dismountable structures
78
3.1.4
Retractable infrastructure
80
3.2
Final Design
87
3.2.1
Adaptation methodology
90
3.2.2
Site specific demonstration
102
3.2.3
Components
110
3.2.4
Model photos
120
4.0
Credits
137
5.0
Bibliography
138 1
1.1 T H E S I S S TAT E M E N T
THE PEOPLE-GOVERNED TRANSFORMER THE RETURN OF SPATIAL AUTONOMY TO THE PUBLIC SPACE LINGERER
The thesis is an adaptable public space strategy to reform how we use the cityscape, aiming to return the autonomy and authority of spatial usage to the disadvantaged public space lingerers, in this thesis the Filipino Domestic Workers (FDWs) in Hong Kong.
further enable and extend the existing public space. The temporary but recurring nature of FDW activities suggests the design to be temporarily operating but permanent on site. Similar to an umbrella, the Transformers add value to public space by possessing lightness, retractability, providing shelter from sun and rain and an atmospheric space, as well as functionally equipped with light and audio.
The FDWs are skilled in constructing a spot for enjoying their weekly day off. Every Sunday they gather or buy materials they can obtain, and shift their living into the public. Their flexible use of space is a culture of living that we should respect. The extent that they can alter space now is restrictive technically and limiting further possibilities and the uplift of atmospheric quality. We as architects should enable the FDWs further in their autonomous use of public space through design, through designing our cityscape with their needs in mind.
Through different methods of adaptation, we are providing our acknowledgement to their freedom of using the city: To build for them, is a recognition to them. Keywords: adaptation, public space, occupying the city, transformable, Filipino Domestic Workers
The Transformer is a methodology for public space adaptation: with a designed system of construction, adjustments are made site specifically. They create new anchors in the community by attaching itself to existing structure that already are Filipino occupied to 2
1.2 H Y P OT H E S I S
The imagination of what can actually happen in the city is endless: the society is an organism that is made functional by millions of individuals, and we can never expect everything. The requirement of flexibility always exist, and this is a question of the balance between how much we provide through design and how much people can operate by own desire.
My thesis is a therefore proposition to hyperdense public space autonomy. Take density as an opportunity, transform our public space, and make it a manifestation of people’s power over our living landscape.
In a lot of cases in Hong Kong, public spaces are highly regulated: we have numerous park regulations to comply with, stores that occupy street space are seen as street blockage as well. On the other hand, some groups managed to tackle the regulations and transformed the streetscape for their own use, such as hawkers and foreign domestic workers. Socalled “residual spaces” are transformed into public activity areas. These activities are a hint to us that public space should be designed with audience and flexibility in mind in order to welcome all kinds of social interactions we can or cannot imagine.
3
4 Drizzle. Outside Central MTR Station, 20160412. Sunday,
1.3 DEFINITIONS
“public space”
“Public space is not just recreational space that entertains people, not open space that emphasizes minium built structure. Public space is, ideally, space that does not have a prerequisite of entry, space that catalyzes ‘public life’ through interaction between people, through the supporting of social exchange, entertainment, community organizing and commercial activities.”
“public space lingerer”
“Public space lingerers are people who spend long time lingering in public spaces.
“spatial autonomy”
“Spatial autonomy is the liberty to use a space comfortably according to own wills.”
“FDW”
“Filipino Domestic Workers (FDWs) are Filipinos that leave their hometown to serve at an employer’s home in a foreign country as housekeepers or baby/elderly sitters. They are usually female.”
“adaptation”
“Adaptation is the act of making suitable to local requirements or conditions, to adjust or modify fittingly.”
5
1.4 WO R K S C H E D U L E
Research direction clarified Data collection: Field study on street Precedent collection: “community design�
Sept 2015
Data analysis: Field study on street Data analysis: landuse and public space Precedent collection: architecture
Oct 2015
Data collection: Field study at World Wide House Data analysis: Field study at World Wide House Data analysis: landuse and public space Conceptual design
Nov 2015
Precedent collection: architecture Conceptual design
Dec 2015
Precedent collection: component flexibility Conceptual design
Jan 2016
Data collection: Field study at churches Conceptual design
Feb 2016
Precedent collection: mechanics in the umbrella Conceptual design Final design
Mar 2016
Final design
Apr 2016
6
2.0 W O R K S PA N
Outside Central MTR Station, 20160412. Sunday, Drizzle.
RESEARCH
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9
2.1 D ATA C O L L E C T I O N - F D W S #0: RESEARCH ON FILIPINO DOMESTIC WORKERS’ SUNDAYS
* SCAN THE ABOVE QR CODE TO REACH CENTRAL, SUNDAY, 17 APRIL, 2016 (VIDEO @ YOUTUBE) LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdJrOpv5xVI
Research Scope The street has always been an important ground for public activities to happen. The phenomenon of Filipino Domestic Workers (FDWs) occupying Central streets during Sundays is especially remarkable in Hong Kong.
Detailed scope of research: - Development timeline of FDW occupying Central public spaces - Lingering location in Central - Adaptation catagorization at specific lingering locations - Adaptation methods in detail at specific lingering locations - The FDW’s perspective
Due to the variety of cityscape in Central, the FDWs are self-taught to use different street conditions with different adaptation methods and different uses. The entire community grew larger as the population of the FDWs grew within Hong Kong, eventually spreading outside of Central. This set of study is aimed at understanding the originating of the lingerers, the habits and patterns that are developed across the years, and the methods they invented to adapt to different situations. Repeated field visits were carried out within the span of 2015 to 2016 for observing their habits of occupying the public spaces in Central.
10
HSBC Plaza, 20160920. Sunday, Sunny.
11
2.1.1 D ATA C O L L E C T I O N - F D W S #1: TIMELINE OF FDWs’ OCCUPYING ACTIVITIES
The community of FDWs was given the chance to form due to a policy suggested by Hong Kong Land 30 years ago to open up Chater Road for sole pedestrian usage during weekends. Although originally intended to foster commercial activities owned by the developer, FDW occupied the pedestrian street instead to spend their day offs. They were, of course, unwelcomed by the shops and often driven away by security guards, but after years they managed to attain a balanced situation where they can enjoy in freedom at places that are under less control. As the population builds, Pinoy supply stores started to foster as well in World Wide House adjacent to Chater Road.
10 years after the enforcement of the policy, the Hong Kong Land proposed to dismiss the part-time pedestrian street at Chater Road, but in vain due to the complaints from FDW associations, local Filipino communities and hawkers that benefited from the crowd’s presence. Till now, we can always strongly sense the Filipino community that is rooted in Central every Sunday, but nearly vanishes during all other times. Such a community if able to foster because of their strong ability to adapt with tactics that win over the control of government and managing bodies.
12
Timeline: Autonomous Process of Foreign Domestic Workers in Central
1982
1992
PLACE
Tactic improvisers Filipino domestic workers, hawkers
Strategy Imposers Developers, Government
3rd Parties Filipino stores, tourists
Hong Kong Land proposed transforming Chater Road to a Part-time Pedestrian Pathway during weekends for its commercial profit
Filipino domestic workers started to gather at Pedestrian pathway
Hong Kong Land did not gain commercial profit from pedestrian pathway
Smaller business at World Wide Plaza became the major place of consumption by the Filipino domestic workers
Hong Kong Land proposed to dismiss the Part-time Pedestrian Pathway at Chater Road
Complaints from Filipino domestic worker associations, local Filipino communities and hawkers
Luxury stores fence off their facades to prevent Filipino domestic workers from gathering nearby Security guards always alerted to drive away gathering domestic workers Police drove away hawkers
Present
Chater Road Part-time Pedestrian Pathway continues to operate during Sundays
Transformation of Sunday’s Central into a Filipino communal and cultural space
Compromise of commercial bodies and government
SPACE Analysis with The Practice of Everyday Life, Michel de Certeau
World Wide House develops into an economic agglomeration of Filipino stores Filipino gathering situation becomes a tourist wonder
2.1.2 D ATA C O L L E C T I O N - F D W S #2: DISTRIBUTION OF FDW GATHERING SPOTS, CENTRAL
The community of FDWs (shaded in green) is overlayed onto the map of Central on the opposite page, with the major landmarks of Central marked. Areas that are occupied include a wide range of typologies: elevated pedestrian walkways, podium, mall lobby, vehicular street, subway, covered plaza, garden, park... This also indirectly show the places that are under less control of power from the government and capitalist commodities. Knowing the types of space occupied gives us an implication of public spaces that are more preferred by them. 6 spots of unique spatial characteristics are chosen for further studies: 01 - Central Market “Green Oasis� 02 - Heng Seng Bank pedestrian bridge 03 - World Wide House underbridge area 04 - HSBC covered plaza 05 - Chater Garden 06 - Chater Road temporary pedestrian street 14
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2.1.3 D ATA C O L L E C T I O N - F D W S #3A: FIELD STUDY @ CENTRAL PEDESTRIAN STREETS - SPATIAL CATAGORIZATION
Adaptation methods and activities that occur are affected by environment factors such as spatial configuration, facility provision, crowd density, light and shadow, temperature condition, circulation flow, commercial activities and individual preferences. These factors and types of adaptation methods are categorized on the next page as a neutral observation and a way to derive the complicated relationship between them. As a result from different acting forces, a large plaza may not necessarily contain more people than a narrow footbridge (Case 02 vs Case 05), or a designated relaxation space may be less utilized than the empty grounds (Case 01).
and shady walkway at Central Market (Case 01) versus the spacious and bright Chater Garden surrounded by greenery, the common characteristic of these places are that they are avoiding expensive commercial activities which does not pose a welcoming attitude to them due to their lower spending ability. Places that allow them to stay all day long are neutral spaces without a particular function other than circulation. The group size of an activity is mainly affected by the size of space offered to the users. Interestingly, for larger space at Case 04, 05 and 06, active activities such as group dancing and singing only occur at the Chater Road Pedestrian Street (Case 06) due to its location that attracts more audience. Chater Garden, on the other hand, contains surprisingly few FDW users, which is non-proportional to its size, mainly due to the lack of shelter from the above and sides.
On the street where no relaxation facilities are provided, the workers bring along their own and construct their territory, freely manipulating their given site to make themselves comfortable. While materials may vary, such as paper boxes and picnic cloth, they are all in a portable scale and able to transform to suit uses. In occasions of a larger scale such as a stage performace, formal adaptation tools have to be used, while a small group gathering only needs a few pieces of paper box and stools to territorize a chatting environment. While spatial quality of different spots may vary widely, such as the narrow 17
SOCIALLY SOCIALLY ACTIVE ACTIVE
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SOCIALLY ACTIVE
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REETREET REET G STG ST G ST PPINPPIN PPIN OANTIONATION SHOSHO SHO ELAXELAATIXEL X R R R A
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CITYCITY CITY TRALTRALTRAL CENCEN CEN
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E E E SPACSPACSPAC OVEROVEROVER LEFTLEFT LEFT
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18 SITUATION SITUATION SITUATION 2: 2: TERRITORIZATION TERRITORIZATION 2: TERRITORIZATION
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INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUAL
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A ZA A PLAPZLA PLAZ PEN OPOEN OPEN
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19 SITUATION STAGE SETTING SITUATION 3:3:VERNACULAR STAGE SETTING SITUATION 3:VERNACULAR VERNACULAR STAGE SETTING k k walwal alk sidesideidew
2.1.3 D ATA C O L L E C T I O N - F D W S #3B: FIELD STUDY @ CENTRAL PEDESTRIAN STREETS - HABITS & PRACTICES
For casual, non-organizational activities, materials the FDWs use are mainly selfobtainable, portable and multi-functional. With the self-taught sense of building they construct a space that suits them best with only the materials they obtain from home or are able to buy on street. Therefore, the outcome often reflects the most basic need of a comfortable space for day-long lingering. Techniques adopted by them are also a demonstration of the easiest and handiest way of assembling materials. Nylon rope becomes a very popular binding material as it is easy to obtain, extremely strong and cheap. Daily tools such as clamps and hooks are good for hanging shelters or personal belongings. 3 adaptation phenomenon of different scales are sampled and studied in detail to understand activity patterns in the next pages. 20
Case 01 “Room units� are formed between a railing and an MTR exit. With a piece of water resistant cloth, an umbrella and a paper box they construct the flooring and ceiling of their own little unit of privacy on the roadside. Users often exit by climbing through the railings to not disturb their neighbors.
Case 02 People territorize space under a large shelter offered by a sky bridge. Starting from a dispersed random pattern, they divide the ground with paper boxes according to their expected user group size, until the entire sheltered space is filled up. At this point when all the groups get connected, conversation starts to occur between each small groups, and territory transforms as users come and go.
Case 03 A natural stage setting is obtained by utilizing the surrounding objects and a widened road due to a drop off. Audiences gather in a circular form, and more involved audiences tend to sit at the front.
2.1.3 D ATA C O L L E C T I O N - F D W S @ CHURCH VS STREET
This field study is carried out to observe how the FDWs’ worshipping activity can adapt to the street condition. Normally held within a church building, the Sunday Mass is especially important to the religious nation. Occasionally, a Sunday Mass will be brought to the Chater Road Temporary Pedestrian Street to involve a different audience of FDWs and other pedestrians in order to preach to them.
#3C: FIELD STUDY - WORSHIPPING PRACTICES
Worshipping on the Chater Road is a completely different story. The venue is set up using normal stage equipments, shelter booths usually for funfairs, and chairs placed right under the sun. Audience will have to prepare their own sheltering device - the umbrella, in order to stay comfortable through out the ceremony. As the seatings are fully filled up, audience start gathering at the sides of the seats.
The tight hourly worship schedule at the St. Joseph’s Cathedral, the busiest church in Central, creates a huge crowd every hour before the next Mass at its carpark, where worshippers sing, chat, share Filipino snacks, and even cook. The church offers equipments such as the organ, a large screen for lyrics and scripture and a stand for the choir.
This is again, another proof of the FDWs’ ability to adapt to disadvantaged environments. Although sometimes disturbed by the neighboring activities, the Sunday Mass remains solemn and respectful during its process.
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S T .
J O S E P H ’ S
C A T H E D R A L
choir
The Eucharist: drinking the wine
The Eucharist: distributing the bread
Scripture reading
Donation
Bible/hymn books
ST. JOSEPH’S CATHEDRAL
C H U R C H
C H A T E R
P I L G R I M S
R O A D
Scripture reading The Eucharist: drinking the wine
choir
CHATER ROAD
C H U R C H
P I L G R I M S
2.1.4 D ATA C O L L E C T I O N - F D W S #4: FIELD STUDY @ WORLD WIDE HOUSE - COMMERCIAL PRACTICES
At the centre of the FDW community stands the fortress of their autonomous community the World Wide House (WWH). Containing all kinds of Pinoy supplies and services, we can be certain that the community will not sustain if the mall does not exist, and vice versa. While it serves very few customers during the weekdays, it always transform into an extremely congested commercial space during weekends, Being hidden behind the most ordinary curtain wall facade, this heart of the community stands under conceal at the golden junction of Central, neighbored by luxury shops and prestigious business towers.
sale to individual owners in 1978, resulting in the mall’s incapability of controlling its tenants. Along with the uprise of the FDW community during 1980s, WWH is benefitted commercially as more Pinoy shops start running their business inside. Eventually the entire mall is conquered by Filipino supplies and services, and the agglomeration of them, in return, strengthened the anchor of the FDW community in Central. The physical presence of parcel packaging is especially notable around WWH as cargo delivery services from Hong Kong to Philippines start to gather within the mall. Being less able to spend at chain stores, this mall becomes the fortress of commodity entertainment, supply replenishment and functional services to the FDWs.
The WWH mall is originally developed and owned by Cheung Kong, including the 28-storey office units above. Cheung Kong lost control of it since its floor-by-floor 26
“ The Autonomous Fortress � World Wide House Mall
A result of the developer losing control of its tenants by selling respective floors of a mall to different buyers... WWH is a fortress that anchors the foreign domestic workers.
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The World Wide House mall at the golden area of Central. From the plans we can see that the mall is a product of the 80s, drastically different from the contemporary malls usually with a much larger atrium and shop area.
The shop types situated in the WWH are largely dominated by Pinoy related business, and is a clear reflection of the demand of the Filipino community in Central. Currency exchange business, Pinoy supermarkets, cooked food stalls and cargo delivery service occupy a large proportion of shop units, followed by other demanded supplies such as telecom service, fashion and jewellery shops. Since the cargo delivery services agglomerate on the third floor, a special phenomenon that occurs is that the cargo lift becomes heaviliy utilized by the customers to transport their own parcels upwards from the street. Unlike contemporary malls that are served with lobby lifts, the cargo lift instead becomes a popular choice for mall users.
adaptation. Although circulation space is already narrow in the mall, it is inevitable for these shops to extend outwards in order to properly function, hence sacrificing a fluid circulation flow. The insufficiency of space size becomes a limiting factor here and leads to the current congested situation in the mall during Sundays. In all typologies that are studied, the common practice of their operation is that they need to keep their core functioning part within the shop area, such as the food serving and cashier, delivery service counter, exchange officer and wall-height display racks. The remaining part that is extendable are to support the main functioning of the business: the chairs for eating, parcel placement, customer queue lines and small snack racks and boxes. These are the fluid components of the shop that do not occupy a fixed area, but are instead flexible in space, which accounts for the important reason of different occupier being able to mutually function in such a limited space.
Being a mall with 34 years of history, the WWH adopts an “atrium� mall design layout with the shop area divided into small but large number of portions that can get to just 8 sqm or even smaller. This becomes a direct cause of the tenants extending their functional area out into the circulation corridor. In the next page, four typologies of shops are chosen as the subject of analysis on their ways of 30
2.1.5 D ATA C O L L E C T I O N - F D W S #5: PERSPECTIVE OF FDW
The following page is a record of a conversation between myself and a former FDW working at my dwelling. After 20 years of working in Hong Kong, she has finally retired in the year of 2008, able to financially support her daughter and son to finish their tertiary education at Philippines, buy a van for his husband to start a business, and refurbish their house. From her point of view, she does not prefer the environment of Central as it is too crowded during Sundays, and the provided relaxation spots cannot accommodate that many people. However, she sometimes will still accept invitation from friends to spend time in Central, and regards this collective activity as a way of enjoying leisure time without any work, and to forget and divert themselves from the personal problems they are facing. Most importantly, Central provides a free public space that they can financially afford, and a meeting point of their nationality in this foreign city of Hong Kong. 34
E
Why did you decide to come to Hong Kong to work as a domestic helper?
K
The workers who go overseas usually come from the province. They have farms of their family that are not productive. To meet their financial needs they will sacrifice to work overseas. Some are just ambitious to get rich. In my case, my husband is a machine operator at a factory and his earnings was not enough to send my two children to school. I was jobless and it is difficult for a married woman to find a job, so I decided to go to work at Hong Kong.
E
How do your living condition differ before you leave and after you are back?
K
I was living in a private housing acquired with a very low cost. Water is always leaking during rainy days. Our house was damaged during a flood a year ago. Now I have the money and I am repairing and renovating it to add one more floor on top of it.
E
Do you think it is common among the workers to have a wish to improve their housing condition as they gain income?
K
Yes, I think so. Some of them have already made house improvements. A lot of low cost housing are replaced by newly built homes now. I draw my house often when I had free time back in Hong Kong. But there are actually a lot of poor people that are not taken care of by the government. These people are forced to stay on the streets. They cover themselves with scrap, or even just an umbrella they can survive with. There are even cemeteries built for the rich people that hire the poor to manage them, and those people will just be living inside.
E
I can see you have a lot of gatherings with people! How do you spend you leisure time in a day at your hometown?
K
I live with my husband and sometimes my grandsons visit as well. Gatherings are usually among my friends I met at church. Most of the time I stay at home and look after of my grandsons, and I always go to church on Sunday. I also go to Zumba class at 6am for thrice a week.
E
So how about the friends you had in Hong Kong? How did you meet them?
K
I did not have any friends or relatives I already know in Hong Kong when I first came. I meet my friends when I bring the child you to play at parks or to kindergarten. I have 4 long-term friends that we meet each other during day off at the church. We go swimming and even to the beach sometimes as well. I have some casual friends I met occasionally at neighborhoods as well. My closest friend is my employer actually.
E
I can see that Filipinos in Hong Kong are usually very friendly among each other? What is the reason behind?
K
I guess it is to do with nationality. We like to greet each other when we know that we are both Filipinos.
E
What do you think about those Filipinos who spend their day off on the street?
K
I join them when a friend asks me to accompany them, but it was very seldom. I personally do not like to see myself sitting there doing nothing so I prefer to stay home. A lot of them are just killing time and enjoying themselves by doing nothing after 6 days of work. Some are gaining extra income by selling things. I have heard a lot of stories of each individual, mostly family problems and financial problems and employers not being understanding to them. So instead of being troubled by those problems, they gather there to forget and divert by immersing into other business.
E
Do you think that there are some qualities of the gatherings in Central that resembles the life in Philippines?
K
Yes I think it does. Similar activities happen in Philippines as well. We love singing and dancing, and sports as well, but there isn’t a place that can contain so many people. Central to us is a meeting place if we want to be among the crowd. Being there makes me feel less of a stranger in a Chinese society.
E
With what words would you describe Filipinos?
K
Filipinos are friendly, hospitable, hardworking and generous. They are god fearing, brave and strong. They are beautiful, and they hide their difficulties in their beauty.
K
Is it still crowded at Statue square and Chater Garden?
E
Yes it is.
K
It is bad. If one day you become the governor of Hong Kong, make the trip to Lama Island free for all Filipinos. Free things are the greatest attraction to us.
E
Why do you think it is “bad” in Central?
K
We do not want to spend too much on holidays, that’s why we rather stay in Central. I love to stay with friend, but not in Central. It is making the garden and road too crowded and makes it less of a place to enjoy. But maybe that is only because of my own preference of not staying in crowded places.
Conversation between the former FDW, Kit Caong, dated 17 Oct 2015.
2.2 D ATA C O L L E C T I O N - P U B L I C S PA C E & T H E C I T Y #0: UTILIZATION OF STREET SPACE
Research Scope
This aim of this set of study is to reveal the potential of street space in providing public space. Having the highest density of built structure in the world, it is difficult to dedicate sufficient large open areas with proximity to most people for the use of public’s relaxation. To solve this problem, Hong Kong should be aware of the potential of temporary pedestrian streets in providing public space, generated from the ever-changing activity rate in the city and the recurring nature of the weekday-weekend cycle. Detailed scope of research: - Time/Activity relationship in a day - Community initiated events on street - Regulations in public space - Public space in land use 36
37
2.2.1 D ATA C O L L E C T I O N - P U B L I C S PA C E & T H E C I T Y #1: TIME - ACTIVITY
If we map the activity intensity against time during a weekday and a weekend, we can see the obvious difference in needs and activities across the time period. The mapping of a weekday and weekend on the opposite page is done based on the approximate percentage of activity happening in Central, with the ratio of white area to the shades of grey indicating the total amount of activity happening within the area of Central at a certain hour. The city is oscillating in function restlessly. Living in the densely built environment of Hong Kong, we are given the potential to explore how space can transform along with the mutating activities to maximize usage and what will possibly result from this invention. 38
39
40
Community organized event at 15 spots of Hong Kong, Public broadcast of soccer match: Hong Kong vs. China, 17 Nov 2015, during the research period. The photo on the opposite page is captured at Hill Road, Sai Wan, showing the audience filling up the downward sloping under bridge area and the adjacent sidewalks. Due to the large scale of the crowd, most of the audience are, in fact, unable to see the projection screen, but instead watched the online broadcast on their mobile phones while cheering together for the Hong Kong team. The photo on the left is taken at the Quarry Bay Market, entrance staircase. The steps and the adjacent bridge created a surrounding audience area with the screen at the focus of the crowd. The smaller venue attracted a smaller crowd, enabling the broadcast to be visible to everybody. The success of these community organized events relied on the changing activity intensity at the sites, promotion offered by the media, and the necessary equipment for a broadcast. 41
Order
WHY REGULATIONS?
EFFECTS OF REGULATIONS PARK
PEDESTRIAN STR.
HAWKING
HAWKING
Convenience in management Flexibility = Workload Creativity = Risk
ENTRY OF PETS LYING ON BENCH STEP ON GRASS FLY A KITE PLAYING MUSIC
Negative effects NOT management’s concern
OTHER ACTIVITIES PERMITTED IF
SKATE BOARDING
NO COMPLAINTS
BALL GAMES ...
TRUE FREEDOM?
Deep-rooted negative impression of streets “marginalized leftover public space” “space not suitable for stay” “maybe even sitting requires a permission”
The only permitted activity is spending intensified marginalization of social groups of low spending capability
Submission to power parks and designated pedestrian pathways are signifiers of the authority to the people: “Stay only at where I allow!”
42
2.2.2 D ATA C O L L E C T I O N - P U B L I C S PA C E & T H E C I T Y #2: REGULATIONS IN PUBLIC SPACE
While the FDW phenomenon found its way to survive in Central, our public space is in fact often in control of regulations. Due to the management bodies’ high preference towards convenience and minimization of workload, rules are, seeing from the view point of the users, often over-applied onto recreational spaces. We are certainly familiar with the “No” signs at every entrance of our parks in Hong Kong, which directly lead to the narrow range of activities in parks.
Although cutting down the commercial opportunities for hawker business owners and individuals, the range of activities seen in, for example, Chater Road and Sai Yeung Choi Street South temporary pedestrian street are already demonstrating a much wider scope. Even so, the impression towards pedestrian streets are still affected by the deep rooted thought of being “leftover”, “vehicular” and “not for stay”. We cannot deny that it is also a method of control by the government to designate where the citizens should stay, for the ease of management and boosting the economy. It is not difficult to find yourself surrounded by a capitalist overwhelmed environment. Although open to everybody’s use, these streets are still mentally deterring to people who do not wish and do not have the ability to spend.
However, if we turn to look at pedestrian street policies, regulations are much more lenient that only hawkers are not allowed to make their business. Pedestrian streets and temporary pedestrian streets are the policies we enforce now to provide a better circulation and public space. All other kinds of legal activities are allowed on a pedestrian street as long as no complaints are received. 43
2.2.3 D ATA C O L L E C T I O N - P U B L I C S PA C E & T H E C I T Y #3: PUBLIC SPACE IN LAND USE
While the Chater Road and the WWH can be seen as public spaces that are created from the bottom-up, land use planning can be seen as an opportunity given to us top-down. From the previous chapters discussing about the FDW phenomenon and the regulated public space, pedestrian street seems to offer a chance to derive an effective and flexible ground for public life.
In the figure-ground analysis next page, a part of Central including its older urban fabric and the WWH is sampled and analysed to study its public space on map. In this area of Central that contains large amount of hawkers and domestic worker activities, 65% of land is accessible to the public in a form of paths and pockets. 1/3 of it consists of commercial spaces such as shops and building lobbies, and the remaining portion of 2/3 of it is composed of sidewalks, vehicle roads and vacant spaces. Amongst all the streets, narrow alleys that are not for vehicular usage and have building facades relatively inactive and not opened to chain retail stores become occupied by hawkers.
The land use composition of Central is investigated into in order to find out the space in the city that is devoted to nonprivate uses and roads. In this wide area of Central-Admiralty (shown opposite), almost 50% of land is dedicated to pedestrian areas, sidewalks and vehicular road, while the rest are occupied by built structure. We are still feeling suffocated and cannot find comfortable space to spend time in the city because these 50% of unbuilt land is not in a welcoming condition for lingering or they are too remote from the people, especially when Central office clerks are living in an extremely fast tempo and very often are not willing to spend time to reach places that are a bit distant to them.
Analysis of every dimension has a similar conclusion of sufficient road space that is alterable if we are eager to create a more welcoming public space for all the imaginative activities that can possibly happen within the city.
44
2.3 TEXT INFLUENCES
“The Empty Space”, Peter Brook How should an empty space be designed to stage an event? British director Peter Brook has written “The Empty Space” to examine his points of view on theatre. Although the writing is directed towards theatre play, how a play is staged on a proper theatre can be comparable to how our daily lives are staged within the public. His belief that theatre should be personally and socially relevant inspired him to write the final essay of his book, “The Immediate Theatre”. He claims that the immediate theatre is the most ideal form of a theatre, a combination of “the rough theatre” which is based on the expose of the most filthy, truthful and natural of human emotions, and “the holy theatre” which is concerned with spiritual values that are almost detached from our daily experience. The result should be a real, easily related but enlightening experience to its audience. The design of a public space should also align with these principles. With an inspiring spatial experience, one should be able to explore and invent the uses of the city, and be freed from the accustomed way of living. The city will hence become the backdrop of an act staged by us. We are the performers, but as well the observers of the city. 48
“The Practice of Everyday Life”, Michel de Certeau At the core of “The Practice of Every Day Life” is the distinction between tactics and strategies. Although consumers are full participants in the creation of meaning it is nevertheless a highly unequal relationship. He defines strategy “as a calculus of force relationships when a subject of will and power (a proprietor, an enterprise, a city, a scientific institution) can be isolated from an environment.”... a place where it can “capitalize on its advantages, prepare its expansions, and secure independence with respect to circumstances.” In contrast he describes the tactical in more labile, and poetic terms that suggest a distinctive style ” in which the weak are seeking to turn the tables on the strong. Tactics must depend on “clever tricks, knowing how to get away with things, the hunter’s cunning, maneuvers, polymorphic simulations, joyful discoveries , poetic as well as warlike they go back to the immemorial ... “intelligence displayed in the tricks and imitations of plants and fishes. From the depths of the ocean to the streets of the modern megalopolises, there is a continuity and permanence of these tactics”.
The activity of FDWs in Central is a manifestation of the constant battle between the strategy and the tactics, and as time passes, instead of insisting on a hostile relationship, the governing body chose to adapt to those tactics players, transforming a “place”, originally dedicated to another purpose and symbolic meaning, into a “space” for their own use. This is a process of acculturation, a traverse injection of culture into the financial heart of Hong Kong. To maintain the culture of the FDWs, we should not be imposing an entirely new set of strategies, but a kind that aligns to their practice.
49
2.4 PRECEDENTS - ARCHITECTURAL
Research Scope
The research on architectural precedents in the scope of this thesis is an attempt to answer the following question: “What is flexibility?” To achieve the thesis’ objective to provide an adaptable and flexible public space, the following methods are studied and analyzed:
welcoming a certain crowd, given a certain pre-requisite of entry, flexibility is inevitably reduced. Does that mean an unconditioned space provides the greatest flexibility? To functions that require a specific space or a specific equipment, the unconditioned space becomes a restrictive condition for them.
1. The public plaza 2. Transformable space 3. Temporary architecture 4. Deployable structure 5. “Community design”
There is no universally absolute way to provide flexibility, but instead, flexibility is dependent on the existence of certain conditions as well. The following precedents will be exploring these conditions in relation to flexibility.
Borrowing a quote from Junkspace(2001), Rem Koolhaas, “conditioned space inevitably becomes conditional space”. When a space is conditioned with a certain purpose, 50
51
2.4.1 PRECEDENTS - ARCHITECTURAL #1: PLAZA
The study of the plaza is an exploration of the effectiveness of empty space in providing public space.
successful public space in the city. Emptiness can offer the widest range of choice of activities because there is the option to bring in any necessary facilities, but it is as well an unwelcoming gesture towards people who are not willing to or not able to bring in their own street furniture.
The Schouwburgplein is an example of a public space designed with its audience in mind. Being surrounded by a cinema and concert hall, this plaza naturally becomes the stage of the city. The architects equipped this space with iconic masts that act as spot lights during the night, operable by the users with a coin system.
The large area required by a plaza is impossible to be incorporated into the planning of Hong Kong, as most of the land is occupied by built structures already, and its density will not allow a spacious plaza with proximity to the majority to interfere the current development plans.
If the space is simply provided without any operable facilities that benefit the public directly, this plaza might not end up being a 52
CONCERT HALL
MASTS COIN-OPERATED LIGHTING SYSTEM
FROM CARPARK
10
CINEMA 48m 55
140m
10:55:39 10:55:40 10:55:41 10:55:42 10:55:43
SURROUNDING “WALL”
DIGITAL CLOCK
GAS VENT 39
CA R
FROM CARPARK
RK PA
34m
58m
92m
0
10
20
40
100m
SCHOUWBURGPLEIN (THEATRE PLAZA) ROTTERDAM AREA: 16,616 m2 (42.6% of 38,989 m2)
N
2.4.2 PRECEDENTS - ARCHITECTURAL #2: TRANSFORMABLE SPACE
The space being transformable itself offers another opportunity of flexibility to be provided. The adjacent projects by OMA are two solutions of architecture:
2. The Prada Transformer, temporary pavilion in collaboration with a luxurious fashion brand, works like a dice. It “rolls� passive by the help of cranes, flipping it to different angles, so that each of the four walls can become the floor of the pavilion, to suit different uses of the client.
1. The Dee & Charles Wyly Theatre is designed to have its backstage stacked above the fly tower, freeing up the ground level of the stage for an interchangeable audience seating, of, when it is completely lifted up into the ceiling, a free floor that can serve as an exhibition venue.
Under these circumstances, the ability to transform is a positive value contributing to a flexible space. Depending on the method of motion, whether a design should be transformable or not should be determined by its cost as well. 54
2.4.3 PRECEDENTS - ARCHITECTURAL #3: TEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE
Temporary architecture is a relatively common solution to providing flexibility. These are usually, low-cost architecture, if the structure will only be used for once, and light-weighted when transportation and storage is a concern.
Temporary architecture possess the advantage of mobility, that it can shifted to a completely different site and be reassembled again. However, given the recurring nature of the FDWs, the flexibility to be provided need not to be assembled and dissembled every weekend, but a permanently existing structure that operates only on weekends, or serve as a different function during weekdays.
The adjacent project, 後巷桃花源 by Taiwan architect Hsieh Ying Chun, is a short-term architecture exhibition program that involves a client to build for. With a light-weight system connected by designed joints, the architect extended the house owner’s space into a collection of platforms that protrudes into the alley. 56
2.4.4 PRECEDENTS - ARCHITECTURAL #4: “HALF-HOUSE”
The Chilean solution to social housing is another interesting way to allow a certain level of flexibility to its residents. The Elemental project, led by architect Alejandro Aravena, used half of the budget for a complete housing unit to build only the most-valued half of the building. The resulting gap formed between housing units becomes a space that allows the user to decide their own extension. This policy enabled the residents to design flexibly according to their own needs and financial ability.
To realize the scheme, workshop were held to educate the essentials and stimulate the imagination of each resident for building their own half-house. A set of housing modules (bottom left) provided to the residents of Chile, can be transformed completely (bottom right) into self-designed houses in just a year. We can say that the FDWs are already doing their “half-house”: they bring along materials and adapt to the existing streetscape, but the extent of change that can be done is far less and temporary when compared to a residential precedent. 58
PLAN G/F
PLAN 1/F
PLAN 2/F
2.4.5 PRECEDENTS - ARCHITECTURAL #5: DEPLOYABLE STRUCTURE
Deployable structures are frequently set as a research or design topic in a variety of architecture schools. Motion driven by hinges is the basic principle for all of them, but the wide range of materials we can observe indicated unlimited design possibilities. These structures, once locked into its position, can be as strong as a normal truss structure. 60
2.4.6 PRECEDENTS - ARCHITECTURAL #6: “COMMUNITY DESIGN”
“Community Design” is a term not describing the physical design of a community, the design of how the community bond together by a certain campaign or management scheme. The adjacent page shows the “Community Design” projects completed by the Japanese landscape architect, Ryo Yamazaki.
from the local district as “performers” of the events. The Arima Park and Maruya Gardens were both facing the same problem of the lack of public interest. By introducing the management committee, and in the case of Maruya Gardens, a renovation of the mall, these places are reactivated into popular public spaces.
The campaign at the Arima Park (top) and the Maruya Gardens (bottom) are derived similarly from his experience of “Community Design” projects: with the help of his firm, a management committee consists of different stakeholders is established, and these people will be responsible for the events to be held at the venues, or to recruit volunteers
Though appearing as a self-governed body, we can frequently see FDW missionary or business organized events happening on Chater Road. This is already an indicator of the potential of applying the methods of “Community Design” to foster an even stronger bond amongst them, or even between them and the local Hongkongers. 62
Cast
Cast
Cast
Programs operated by Non-ProďŹ t Organization & Community Activity Groups
Cast
Cast
Cast
Cast
Programs operated by Non-Profit Organizations & Community Activity Groups
Cast Cast
730,000 visitors per year
Cast Park management
Arimafuji Park Operating and Planning Committee + Coordinator
Cast
Cast Cast Cast
Cast
Cast
Cast
(2009)
2.5 PRECEDENTS - NON-ARCHITECTURAL
* SCAN THE ABOVE QR CODE TO SEE THE UMBRELLA IN MOTION (VIDEO @ YOUTUBE) LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxcmHWVtfRM
Research Scope
The research on architectural precedents further directed the need of researching the precedents outside the scope of architecture. Under the requirement of flexibility and adaptability, the strategy to be designed for an autonomous space for the FDWs in the city requires, as well, the potential of being mobile or dismountable from its designated place.
different scale of engineering, a method to create space from a daily portable device. The lightness and functioning of the umbrella is achieved by the engineering of its metal arms and hinges to enable motion. Folds of the metal sheet at different points allow the interlocking of components and strengthens the structure at essential areas. A plastic arm is usually used as the endmost arm as it is the least stressed component. The connection at the umbrella tip is achieved with a plastic ring that holds the arm in place, wrapped around with a metal wire that connects all the retractable arms.
The architectural precedents offer insights and solutions in a relatively larger scale. The deployable structures offer the knowledge of methods of joining their components and the resultant forms at both the retracted and expandable modes. The umbrella, on the other hand, offers a proof at an entirely 64
Visiting the umbrella repairing master.
To obtain a better understanding of the construction of the umbrella, a visit to the umbrella repairing master was carried out on 29 March 2016. Mr. Yau, the owner of the umbrella selling and repairing shop, happily shared his knowledge on the mechanism of umbrella operation, introduced his special tools for umbrella making and repairing, as well as the operation of his shop. Instead of obtaining new components for repairing his customer’s
umbrellas, he recycles the components from the old umbrellas he has collected throughout the decades, well categorized in his stock, and choose the suitable component for the umbrella to be repaired. He selflessly offered a number of broken umbrellas upon my request, so that I was able to test out the possibility of incorporating umbrella components in the design.
Device reinvented from deconstructed brokened umbrellas.
The device is constructed with umbrella arms connected by a self-fabricated ring that was designed with reference to the tip of an umbrella. With the existing holes, the arms can be successfully joint with each other, but the dimension and profile of the arms need further engineering to achieve a better control of the expanded form and the extent of retraction of the device.
C O M PAC T U M B R E L L A
FULL-SIZED UMBRELLA
DESIGN
70
71
3.1.1 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN #1: TRANSFORMERS
As a result of all the research work done, the initial idea was to transform the public space along Des Veoux Road in Central into operable spaces. The criteria of a flexible space is that it allows adaptation. To do so, one can say an existing empty street can already perform. However, this method has its limits, that it is always constrained by its given spatial condition. This created an intention to explore the possibility of an operable space which plays as the transformer that returns the autonomy of the cityscape to the people.
- FILLING THE CITY GAPS
will allow an even richer ranger of inventive happenings on the street. This section of the street will become another temporary pedestrian street: during the weekdays the space serves the working community, while in the weekends they expand into the street and becomes part of it that invites creative occupying. A separate management team that also involves the Filipino associations will be in charge of function arrangements and the culturing of the space to make it an enjoyable social space from the software aspect.
They will be urban devices attached to the city, filling in the city gaps. Their use are ambiguous: not restricted to a function, but provokes or favors certain functions while welcoming all other inventive uses. They will be imaginative spaces, maybe unfamiliar and alien, but derived from man’s habits and activities, so that the space becomes a question for us to answer with freedom. Combination of these devices
The design, however, is over-ambitious and at a scale too large for the intention. To further the approach, the design should be more focused at the activity of the people instead of having unfocused intentions at different sites along the road. 72
73
OPERABLE IN-FILL
FIT-IN MODES
EXPANDED MODES
Cantilever poster wall
Free space maximization
Balcony mode
Traverse stage
Enclosed venue
Auditorium
74
OPERABLE IN-FILL
Enclosed exhibition
Linear platform
Screen mode
Deep stage
Backdrop mode
Poster wall
75
3.1.2 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN #2: ARCHITECTURE IN MANUAL
Another way to provide flexibility and adaptation is to allow users to design their desirable space within a set of building modules. One strand of thought originated from Yona Friedman’s idea of the “Flatwriter”, which suggests the provision of housing through a matrix of requirements, later criticized as an arbitrary approach. The other is building from neutral blocks that has no indication of any particular function, but to let the user explore the possibility generated from the different ways of assembly.
that can be assembled into different street furniture. This approach, however, is assuming that these components and furniture will completely replace the existing methods of adaptation applied by the FDWs, generating a different scene of living on the street, which upon rethought, is impossible. A conclusion drawn from this experiment is that the culture of spatial adaptation should be treated with respect. The strategy should not be replacing the existing routine, but to add value and provide what is not achievable without an architect’s intervention.
The bottom image on the opposite is an attempt to design a neutral component 76
DEMONSTRATION MANUAL POSSIBILITIES OF COMPONENT ASSEMBLING INTO USABLE FORMS
TYPE 1
RULE A
TYPE 2
TYPE 3
TYPE 4
TYPE 1 RULE B
TYPE 2
77
3.1.3 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN #3: DISMOUNTABLE STRUCTURES
This strategy is a collection of structures, constructed with the same system, being inserted into specific potential spaces in the city. All the structure shown on the right are directed towards worshipping, anchoring on the fact that churches are scarce in the Central district and the possibility of mobile worshipping spaces. This idea aroused the question of the design of the components in order to render the possibility of the strategy. 78
U N D E R P A S S
C H A P E L S
A L L E Y
C H A P E L S
C H U R C H
A L L E Y
U N D E R P A S S
A L L E Y
C H A P E L S
C H U R C H
U N D E R P A S S
C H U R C H
79 B R I D G E
F E L L O W S H I P
S P A C E S
3.1.4 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN #4: RETRACTABLE INFRASTRUCTURE
The strategy consists of a collective reform of infrastructural elements within Central, each given a second function through its ability to transform, other than its basic function. The choice of sites is particular to the current and potential activities that occur and are redesigned site specifically. These whimsical structures intentionally intervene with bridges, tunnels, MTR exits, alleys to transform these mono-functional elements into places that provokes imagination of use, enables activities that requires particular atmosphere, equipment or landscape that could not be achieved on its original state. To achieve the purpose, transformability is the very important element of design of the follies, so that such intervention creates different spatial conditions to favor different scenarios.
Douglas Street. Each of these are directed at a specific second-function: a quick chapel/large covered event venue, an outdoor cargo centre and a pawn theatre. These interventions are under the assumption of the installation of a retractable roof designed with a similar construction system. Upon evaluation, these approaches are strategies too permanent as a solution to spatial autonomy. The function of the built structures are not significant to the city during the weekdays, making the proposal too specific to a particular group of people at a particular time frame instead of an adaptable strategy for multiple sites. The models on the next few pages show the initial idea of a retractable roof.
The three scenarios are situated at the former Star Ferry Pire underpass, the under bridge area opposite the World Wide House and 80
C I R CU LAT I O N PAT H
C IRC ULATION PAT H QUIC K C HAPEL / FREE AREA
S H E LT E R E D V E N UE
RESTIN G PAVILION
R E T R A C T : Q U I C K
G AT H E R IN G AR E A
C H A P E L
E X P A N D :
E M B EDDE D F LOO R PAT T ER N
S H E L T E R E D
V E N U E
C USTOMER PAC KAGIN G STATION S
C AR G O BUS IN E S S AR E A
E XIS T IN G PACK AG IN G IN G AR E A
R E T R A C T : L A N D S C A P E
P A V I L I O N
E X P A N D :
PICNIC AREA
P I C NI C A R EA
C A R G O
P A C K I N G
C E N T R E
B A K E RY
A DV E RT I S E M E N T
BUILDING ENTRANCE FA ST F O O D
PAW N / T V
ALLEY AU D I ENC E A R E A / WA I T I NG Z O N E
ALLEY
L U X U RY S HO P
BANK
MTR EXIT
R E T R A C T : M T R
MTR EXIT
E X I T
E X P A N D :
81
S P A C E
E X P L O R E R
82
83
84
85
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3.2 FINAL DESIGN
* SCAN THE ABOVE QR CODE TO SEE THE TRANSFORMER IN MOTION (VIDEO @ YOUTUBE) LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU2YdctyMNI
The final design is an outcome of repeated self-questioning and experimenting, as shown in the previous section. The Transformer is a methodology for public space adaptation: with a designed system of construction, adjustments are made site specifically. They create new anchors in the community by attaching itself to existing structure that already are Filipino occupied to further enable and extend the existing public space. The temporary but recurring nature of FDW activities suggests the design to be temporarily operating but permanent on site. Similar to an umbrella, the Transformers add value to public space by possessing lightness, retractability, providing shelter from sun and rain and an atmospheric space, as well as functionally equipped with light and audio. Through different methods of adaptation, we are providing our acknowledgement to their freedom of using the city: To build for them, is a recognition to them. 87
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3.2.1 FINAL DESIGN ADAPTATION METHODOLOGY
Being designed as a construction system that allows alteration of its components to adapt to different spatial conditions, five principles are set out as the basic requirements of any mutations of the Transformer, that is to possess:
4. Atmospheric space: The uplift of spatial quality is one of the design goals of the Transformer to fit their use of event and gathering spaces for the public. The design of the Transformers, must therefore be aesthetically admirable and should involve the architects as design consultants.
1. Lightness and Strength: being attached to an existing built structure, the Transformer should be light but strong enough to not affect the structure of the existing and selfsupporting at the same time.
5. Equipmental function: lighting and audio devices add value to the structure and raise its potential of performing as an event space or performance space. These equipment will replace the necessary equipment that organizers normally needs to provide, and create the opportunity of smaller scale or individually organized events to happen under a better condition.
2. Retractability: retractability is an especially important requirement when the Transformer shifts itself between the above-air of the vehicle way and the side walk. Its retractable state allows it to dock in a smaller size. 3. Shelter from sun and rain: With no doubt, this is the basic function a shelter should attain. 90
LIGHTNESS & STRENGTH
R E T R AC TA B I L I T Y
S H E LT E R F RO M S U N & R A I N
AT M O S P H E R I C S PAC E
E Q U I P M E N TA L F U N C T I O N
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DESIGN OUTPUT
LOC AL CRAFTSMEN
ARCHITECT
MISSION FOR FDW
OPINION EXCHANGE
LOC ATION ADVICE / REQUEST
TECHINC AL KNOWLEDGE
CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE
DESIGN CONSULT
DESIGN BRIEF
DES IG N TA C T IC S
INSTALLATION
MAN A COM GEMENT M IT TEE
導管
DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS
FDW VOLUNTEERS
ARTIST ORGANIZATIONS
DEVELOPER
LOC AL VOLUNTEERS
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3.2.1 FINAL DESIGN ADAPTATION METHODOLOGY
The scheme will be managed by the missionary organizations for migrant workers in collaboration with local craftsmen and architects. The missionary will be involved in preliminary process, such as site negotiation, opinion collection and cultural advice, as well as setting up the post-installation event management committee that involves different participants, such as local and Filipino volunteers, performance groups and district organizations. The architects’ position is to coordinate tightly with the local craftsmen in terms of opinion exchange and technical knowledge, and reinterpret their information into inspirations; and with the missionary organizations to seek location advices and cultural knowledge. They are responsible for generating various design outputs while solving the technical problems of installation, which is within the knowledge of their professional role. 93
3.2.1 FINAL DESIGN ADAPTATION METHODOLOGY
On top of the sections in green on the opposite page, which altogether forms the community of FDWs in Central, another layer of scenarios created by the Transformers applied according to different strategies are introduced to form new anchors within the existing community.
Scenario B: Being attached on top of an MTR exit, the Transformer expands outwards into the street to form a stage shelter. Scenario C: The Transformer is designed in a dome-like construction to serve a particular gathering spot along the road - the theatre / queuing area in front of a crowded pawn in Central.
On the next page are four design strategies that serves as suggestions to how the Transformers can adapt to particular sites, directed towards or not limited to a certain function.
Scenario D: The linearly arranged structures are slanted in a way to act as both a shelter from sun and rain and a pollution barrier from vehicle exhaust gas abundant on a main road.
Scenario A: Transformer units being hung in a linear arrangement on a suspension frame, which is attached to the underside of a footbridge. When the temporary pedestrian street is opened to the public, this space will either serve as a large covered event space or a general gathering space for the FDWs. 94
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SCENARIO A ATTACHMENT STRUCTURE: Under bridge FUNCTION: Linear Sheltered Avenue
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SCENARIO B ATTACHMENT STRUCTURE: Metro Exit FUNCTION: Performance Stage
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SCENARIO C ATTACHMENT STRUCTURE: Building Exterior Wall FUNCTION: Queuing Shelter / Theatre
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SCENARIO D ATTACHMENT STRUCTURE: Under bridge, Roadside FUNCTION: Shelter / Barrier
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S I T E S P E C I F I C D E M O N S T R AT I O N
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3.2.2 FINAL DESIGN SITE SPECIFIC DEMONSTRATION
The site chosen to demonstrate the methodology is at the end of the Chater Road pedestrian street under the connection bridge that links the Alexandra House and the Chater House, which is part of the Central elevated network. The structure is designed to be transformed with ease by the people: Normally parked above the sidewalk in retracted state when vehicles run on the road, and slid outwards above the center of the road and expanded by pulling the structure outwards by man-force. This particular site is chosen for its possibility in demonstrating the interchange between functions of a vehicle road/pedestrian street, as well as the diversity of activities that can potentially and currently be accommodated due to its spaciousness and the cultivated spatial occupying habits of FDWs. 102
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Site Plan - showing the expanded and retracted mode of the Transformer modules. 104
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Section - showing the expanded and retracted mode of the Transformer modules.
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COMPONENTS
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3.2.3 FINAL DESIGN COMPONENTS
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The transformer is hung from the frame attached to the bridge and allowed to move by an arching rail, rope and wheel system so that the holding rings will be able to slide along and afterwards anchored to the plinths on the ground like a boat to the pier. When released, the structure will collapse due to spring force from the rail and elastic threads.
The design of the ring is important to this structure as it holds the arms, roof fabric and threads together. The upper ring is larger to let some sunlight penetrate through, while the lower ring is an LED lighting element and is attached with a speaker to provide audio output. Arms are designed to be light but strong at points of stress: the hinge where the two arms intersect. 111
These components above are what constitute the transformer. To allow it to adapt to different sites, alterations can be made to, for example, the length and curvature of arms, the size and material of rings, the point of connection of arms‌ as long as the length of the straight components and diameter of the pair of rings remain the same among themselves, the structure will always be able to retract.
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M AT E R I A L S P E C I F I C AT I O N
COMPONENT
M AT E R I A L
W E I G H T ( k g / m 2)
TOTA L W E I G H T ( k g )
F A B R I C S H E LT E R
N Y L O N TA F F E TA
0.065
4.30
CONNECTION RING
ALUMINIUM BENTED SHEET (1.6mmTH)
4.48
8.94
C O N N E C T I O N B O LT
P L A S T I C P O LY M E R C O M P O S I T E
1.16
0.016
CONNECTION WIRE
METAL WIRE (2.5mmØ)
7.84
0.089
ARM
ALUMINIUM FRAME (1.6mmTH), PLASTIC
4.48, 1.16
54.83
THREAD
ELASTIC ROPE (COLOUR THREAD WRAPPED)
3.67
8.82
LED LIGHTING STRIP
2 0 M M ( W ) 4 0 0 0 K ( N AT U R A L W H I T E )
2.7
0.044
SPEAKER
-
-
~15
TOTA L W E I G H T F O R ONE UNIT (kg) 92
An attempt to approximate the total weight of the structure through the calculation of material weight data. 114
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The above and previous images show an attempt to construct the Transformer partially in a 1:2 modelling scale. Actual experience showed that the joints where the arms and the ring are connected are the stress points that require strengthening. 116
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M O D E L P H OTO S
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4.0 CREDITS
Credits to my thesis advisor: Patrick HWANG
Credits to the following contributors to my final presentation and research process: Kit CAONG
Interviewee
Luka NG
Presentation Panel
Man SIU
Presentation Model
Michael TSUI
Presentation Model, Video Shooting
Mr. YAO
Interviewee
Helen YEW
Presentation Model, Video Shooting
Yu Ching YIM
Presentation Panel
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5.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Photo Credit: Melody CHAN
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2015 - 2016 M2 THESIS 146