Horta Fu Yat Him
PORTFOLIO Vision | Making | Narrative | Practice 2021 Edition HKIA, ARB Registered Architect M.Arch (Dist.) , The University of Hong Kong B.S.Sc. (Architectural Studies), Chinese University of Hong Kong IG: hortayhfu -1-
1.0 Vision 2017-2019 Master of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong In the postmodern discourse, architects' ability to be socially responsible was always questioned. The 20th century modern movement has gone large beyond just form and space making, but also programming of the citizens' life in industrial society. Being realised in the postwar reconstruction, the adaptivity and response to the modernist utopian concept had been challenged. In my Master study at HKU, I was guided to develop visions in the capacity of architectural making. How particular spatial arrangement could redefine user behaviour were explored and debated.
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Idea Model, the activities of worker within the cluster
1.1 Maker TimeUrban Production Village
Precedent Study: Duval Factory ,Le Corbusier 1947 Model Scale 1:150
Remodeling Production Ecology of Traditional industry *Project selected for public review and degree show Reappropriate the labour intensive industry through remodeling the production ecology The project is inspired by the precedent study Duval Factory designed by Le Corbusier in 1947. It was a textitle factory designed with Modulor proportion system, which have taken labour working condition into significant consideration. However, in the age of global competition and automation, the importance of human labour has been endangered. It resulted in crisis of job instability and insecurity for the blue-collar workers world wide. Suggested by econmist Guy Standing, the phenomenon has plunged more people into the dangerous social class ‘Precariat’ , which may result in social instability. Therefore, the more urgent question to ask today is how to reposition human labour in the production ecology prior to simply asking how to improve working condition. The project examine the role of architecture in helping to reappropriate the labour intensive manufacturing industry in Hong Kong. Instead of a nostalgic way of simply bring back the old industry, the project questioned the production ecology used to be and attempted to remodel it to a competitive one with the new factory architecture type. Thereby, the blue-collar workers can better sustain in the competitive age of Industry 4.0. -3-
FRAGMENTATION OF PRODUCTION LINE watchcases and strap manufacturer movement blank assembler international brand proxy HK Brand headquater Handmade watches studio regular watch exhibition
BRAND MARKETING DESIGN PARTS SUPPLY ASSEMBLY
Phenonmenon of Hong Kong OEM Watch Making Industry -4-
LABOUR INPUT
Considering the architectural type of the old factory building in Hong Kong, it actually trigger the phenomenon of the low value gained in Hong Kong production. Different small holdings along the production line are hidden around the generic blocks in the city, it could hardly establish communication and trust between the production line and potential customer. A cluster of the parts making is needed to facilitate the sector’s agglomeration.
Global Position of Hong Kong Watch Making Industry
PROFIT SHARING
Utilitarian model of factory building for OEM assemblage When questioning how expensive a consumer product like a watch can be, labouring cost usually occupy only a small portion over the marketing cost and profit. In Hong Kong, the old labour intensive industry in the 1980s are mainly OEM/ ODM model, the general factory are small holdings and they were rather assisting international luxury brand to handle part of the assemble job which could only share a little portion of profit. Definitely, the model was problematic in such an expensive city. There is an imbalance between input and gainings of the workers.
Encountering Core Level +10.062
Assemble Factories/ Design office Level +6.037
Automated Plant Level +6.037
Workshop for customization Level +3.500
Community Square/ Shop Level +0
Exhibition/ Conference Centre Level -4.025
Canteen
Level -4.025
From Generic Block to Urban Production Village My initial design intent is to unpack the hidden parts assemble company in the typical giant industrial block into a more visible one. The early attempt is use a thin tall tower type to achieve one company- one floor model, yet the verticality of design does not really help to much on communication between firms. Therefore, I decide to organize the production chains on the same level which I call a village cluster. Factories of different parts making are placed at the same level, but the units are teared apart from a single building into a scattered plan. On the one hand it functionally allows every units to increase the frontage parameter that give more access to natural light as worker prefer. More importantly, it increases the visibility of an unknown firm to the whole industrial cluster. Linking up by the circulation bridge and the wall building which programed for machinery productions and back of house, the encounter space offers more potential cooperation and agglomeration between the small parts-making holding. By such operation, the ground level can be emptied as a community square where people can freely walk in and customize making their watch through the shop. Hence, a network of watch making, from design, production to sale can be happened within the same cluster. A fully Hong Kong made and branded watch become possible which transform the old OEM model. -5-
A factory of time Transperancy To the worker, the compound would naturally become time transparent where workers can notice the moments happening inside the compound. Who start to work, when everyone are getting down for lunch and tea break, and the moment who is going off to works by the external staircases. The changes and transparency of activities itself has become an alarm in reminding people the concept of time stability in the industrial past. The Expression of the cluster needed to be vibrance as the site is surrounded by the major highways. In order to distingulish the character of a production village from the generic industrial block, multiple color schemes are applied to each production towers to generate a vibrancy which will not break the overall tectonic system of the cluster. Meanwhile, 500mm depth sunshading is applied to the production towers which majorly used by human labour. It not only functionally mitigate the direct light and noise, but also create a dynamic change in perception of fins depth when viewing from motion at the highway. -6-
1.2 A Better Way to PLA Civil-Military Technological integration hub *Project graded with Distinction* Central Hong Kong is the historical and ongoing business engine of the dynamic city. As of March 2017, prime office rents topped US$264 per sq. ft, far in excess of competing markets. The project site is the current People’s Liberation Army (PLA) administration tower and adjoining barracks, it is among the most valuable development plots in the city with 28400 S.M. site area, given their Central presence, harbor views and large floorplates. Nevertheless, over the past twenty years, applications of rezoning the plot to commercial uses have been rejected. It is believed the station of PLA in this most expensive land is not purly for defensive purpose like a typical barrack, but also to represent its Centrality of power. As mentioned by Deng Xiaoping in 1980s, PLA Garrison in Hong Kong is to reinforce the soverignity, where Hong Kong is part of China. As a result, any development to this site should consider the political significance. This project, however, proffers whether, in the spirit of Hong Kong today, perhaps their civic and undeniable market value, can overcome that. By researching on PLA Hong Kong branch and current National Policies, it is noted that Civil-Military Integration is highly promoted by Xi Jinping, this has included but not limit to technological integration. On the other hand, Hong Kong has attempt to transform to a techonlogical port in recent decades since the role of Asia Pacific financial centre is declinging,. Yet, the transformation was slow as the Government policies addressing cannot catch the latest needs of innovation industry. Therefore, turning the PLA Barracks to a Civil Military Technological Integration Hub is not only reinforcing PLA role in Hong Kong, but also defining the future Central Value, which is a premissable and a better way to the site, PLA and Hong Kong. Positioning the Key Relationships As a Civil Military Technological Integration Hub, the key of the design is to identify the relationship of the working members, who and how are going to interact, and how new idea can be generated. Therefore, research is conducted to hypothsize how PLA contribute and benefit from the integration. On the other hand, young Start-up with ambitious vision, should be introduce to the site in order to facilitate a constructive creation environment.
STAGE 1: Land Provider
PLA shall alternate its influence at the site through restructuring its existing use. While headquaters is kept as sovernignty, the remaining plot should be encouraged to explore the National Policy in the most developed city of China.
STAGE 2: Technology Transfer
Non Sensible Technology shall be transferred to local technology entreprise. It can facilitate their skill and knowledge and converted to civil application.
STAGE 3: Talents Involvement
A facilitated technology development would resulted in fruitful achievements in new invention. Therefore, such invention and copyright will be helpful for PLA defensive technology development. Talents shall be invited to interchange their technology.
STAGE 4: technology purchaser
As Technology achievment in Hong Kong become advance, PLA will have a choice to consume Hong Kong inventions. It will act as a big buyer of technology. Hence, technology industry is secured to be profitable.
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32/F- 33/F Museum 31/F Conference Hall 30/F PLA- Civilian Working Hub
ral ty
MT R
Grade A Office Tower
To Ad mi
PLA Headquater Tower
Sightseeing Lift to museum
Central Atrium/ Office Lobbies Harcourt Road
Container Mall Street Frontal Shops and restaurants
5/F-15/F Guestrooms 4/F Clubhouse 3/F Restaurants 1/F-2/F Mall G/F Hotel Lobby
3/F -4/F Co-Office 1/F -2/F Mall
Lung Wo Road Entrance Lung Wo Road
Development Phasing
To Wa ter fro nt
To Cityhall
Site Clearance
Hotel Construction
Urban Spline Formation
Office Tower+ Integration Hub
Container Mall+ Landscape
Optimizing the Program Mix Positioned the relationship, the program is arranged according to the projected vision, site accessibility and view, as well as the optimization of market benefits in a most political pessmissible way. A series of massing has been adopted in studying the autonomy of private sector and the degree of involvement of PLA under plot ratio 6. Through comparison and judgement of the political feasibility and the financial potential, it finally reached a scheme in keeping PLA at a significant yet not dominating proportion, as well as balance distribution of conventional Grade A office and start-up Co-Office. A programed urban spline would form a strong and esstantial connection from Admiralty to waterfront, which will populated the loop within the site. It also linked all the program in a way allowing greater flexibility in development phasing and future alternation. -8-
Entrance Auditorium / Commual Presentation Cafe/ Coffee Break Forum/ Idea Exchange
Meeting Room/ Client Meeting Self Contained Seat/ Working with Privacy
Small Coporate/ Share public facilities
Hot seat/ Work-interaction
Variety of Office spaces for start-up The Co-office maximize the advantage of extensive floor plate at podium level. Owing to the fact that different small corporates would require different set of office configuration, the proposed layout provide rental possibility of hot-seat to small office rooms. In the creation of a active working environment, both public and private function space are evenly distributed around the floor, thereby, bringing a creative and relaxing working environment to the young talents.
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Conference Hall
Museum of Civil-Military Integration
31/F (Storey below)
32/F, 33/F (Accessed by sightseeing lift)
Civil-Military Integration at Various Scope It is predicted integration of both party would become more mature when the site are completely constructed. A integration hub at top levels would bridge PLA and Civilian with necessary conference hall and working hub. Direct commuication between two parties is realized. On the other hand, PLA is positioned to be the leading character in promoting the integration, and it will become a model of future application to comparable context. A museum promoting and recording the process will enhance the public image towards the new relationship. Through a celebrating experience of sight-seeing lift travelling, visitors are arriving at the top level of the development to experience the permenant exhibition and walking down to the main exhibition hall at lower level. Affordable Interface of site achievements As a technological hub, there should be numerous big and small inventions from young start-up every seasons. These invention are always undervalued as they have no place to promote and further developed with investor supports. Therefore, a public interface is introduced to provide affordable renting terms to the creators. Container Mall, with flexible plugin boxes-shops which can be furnished off-site, could allow shorter and cheaper rate of renting. Through organizing the basic supporting structures, rain shelter and services, the start-up coporate will have a sound interface to present their idea to the world. As a result, the centre of the site will become points of treasure hunt, and activating a dynamic shopping loop experience from podium levels down to the ground. -10-
PLA-Civilian Working Hub 30/F (Full storey), 31/F , 32/F
A Subtle Memorial to Site history The PLA Headquater tower, built by Britsh Army in 1979 and handover to China in 1997, is characterized by its funnel shaped transfer structure at the bottom portion. Now that the site development is departing from upgrading the existing PLA Tower, and integrating with the rest of the new construction, a transulucent curtain wall skin is proposed to shaded the site legend at some degree during daytime to create a humble coexistance impression. Yet, the funnel will be lit up by spot light at night, and become the highlight of the site, such that the site legend will be preserved subtlely like the showcase in the museum. As a result, the site transformation can be traced, and thereby, recording the progressing role of People's Liberation Army in facilitate Hong Kong stability and development. -11-
1.3 Neo Hong Kong Island in Uniform A narrative of Governmental Possibility under Political Zoning
*Project selected for degree show ( Project in collaboration with Bosco Ho and Tom Kwan) Hong Kong is situated in the East-West interface in history. Citizens have experienced diverse political thoughts, education and systems. On the one hand, they are rooted by the Asian tradition such as confucianism. On the otherhand, they are having prosperous life open to international exchange. It is always predicted that Hong Kong can be a future projection of mainland since the Reform and Opening Up policy in 1978.
Binhaiwan, Changan, Dongguan Hong Kong Exclave
Yet, such divetsity of political thoughts has resulted in political conflicts. Everyone is holding different views on how to resolve a problem, and put into protests. Division of society by polarized acts. There is no way to reach any consent for further action. Hong Kong is at risks of no progression. On the other hand, China will moved into a moderately prosperous society by 2020. As the needs of basic need in China will be generally fulfill, the thought and demand of its citizens will likely be fragmented. It is expected more social discourses will be raised beyond economic growth. Maintaining harmony between different thoughts would be a challenge. In Dongguan particularly, propaganda of beautiful future is always featured. When the basic pollution is resolved and citizen life are advanced, what will be the role of the future government? What and how the problem the government should resolve? Now that the political experiment from 1997-2018 in Hong Konghas been questioned as problematic by Central Government, China is in needed of new political experiment with the engagment of the Hong Kong citizens. Noticed that the urban planning has the intension to resolve conflicts of economic utilities, can it also play a part in resolving the political conflicts? By applying the diversity of political beliefs in Hong Kong and the capability of autonomous experiment in an exclave island in Dongguan, a new urban zoning strategy- political zoning is proposed in an reclaimed island of Dongguan. Can it result an ultimate form of government? A narrative of governmental possibility by political zoning is generated to provoke an imagination of new ways of ending history. -12-
Hong Kong
Positioning the Key Relationships Perception of Economic and Social System is the fundamental arguments of most of the social ideology. Hong Kong is currently under tension between different arguments not only Pro-government or not, but also the split between Antigovernment campaign. Systematically located their fundamental thinking would be a starting point for further ideas generation.
SEPARATION
The four polarized ideologies are separated into four individual islands to avoid intense conflicts.
The political compass is a two axis graph explaining the discourses questioning two fundamental human questions. 1. Whether human are self-conscious that they can live collectively naturally or they are selfish that need control? 2. Whether everyone have the right to enjoy the same resources or they should be distributed through competition? The two questions has generated four polarized political ideology which are quite reflects to the conjunction of Hong Kong currently. Authoritarian Left, Authoritarian Right, Anarchist Left and Anarchist Right can therefore generally classify the ideologies' extreme in Hong Kong.
INTEGRATION
Central ground is provided as a neutral ground for both incidental integration and also intentional negotiation of thoughts.
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Authoritarian Left
Authoritarian Right
Authoritarian left are centralizing the production and resources distribution by re trial of People’s Commune concept again with higher surveillance. They believe the past failure is not the ideology itself, it is the level of authority is not high enough to manage the behavior of people. To avoid lazy worker in building a community with equal resources distributed, they are monitored by more spot tower. Collective living is actualized again by the planned structure according a standard of equal life.
The authoritarian right are sustaining the market competition by maintaining the market efficiency. Building are built strictly according to building code that ensure the minimum safety and health standard. Traffic is highly separated to avoid accident that slower the economic activities. Land plot are well governance by government planning to achieve its economic plan. In turnout, all citizens are acted as the contributor to the market.
Anarchist Left
Anarchist Right
The anarchist left are afraid of being ruled over by other power and people, the first step they do is to build a self sustained community. At early stage, everyone are believing they are morally good in helping each other to progress, voluntary service and facilities are built and shared by individual household. When they agree on the same principles, they will collectively build by their own efforts. Or not, they simply not joining the building activities.
The anarchist right simply believe market has the power to achieve optimization. They build by the capital ability with no regulation. As they believe, what is built will be worthed by market. At the early stage, they speculate the properties as they believe more people are egar to move in. Density is therefore very high and they are even taking the air right when they have enough money.
Episode 1: Departure for Dreams To carry out this zoning, the government will act as as neutral figure that do not interrupt the actualization of ideology. What it is built in the middle is just a neutral ground for arrival and departure of the island, and space for their possible interaction in the future. It linked with the four separated sector with empty land of polarized ideologies to allow them to realize the dream on the one hand , and avoid direct conflicts on the other hand. It shall be noted that, in the distribution of the ideogist by the two axis compass, they would actually share part of the common value despite there is strong split on the other hand. It avoid a situation where one is located opposite to the other extreme which meditation is hard to be happened.
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Episode 2: Nightmare The ideologies do not realized as their theorey. Over survaillance and planning failure has resulted in worries of government capabilities, while the anarchists experimental grounds found that they are unable to control the chaotic expansion of cities. To seek for alternative improvement, they start to come back to the forum of central hub on negotiating their alterations. They considered various option including cooperation for a mediated urban form but they are still holding a strong thought to their ideology. Finally, they seek for organic reclamation on the residual space in the default of the island, which is in principle not to be controlled by HK government.
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ORGANIC GROWTH
Organic growth will gives full autonomy the ideology to test out the alternative, intervention is avoided.
HARD BORDEDR
Hard border is introduced to avoid direct conflict and competition between each ideologies before a fulfilling mediation is developed.
INSERTION
Experts introducing new ideology into the in between zone that would expect both extreme could be mediate by a win-win thought.
SOFT BORDER
Soft border offers a buffer of retreat when new ideologies are totally in violence to the principles of belief
Episode 3: Hostility In Organic Expansion In order to gain more chance for visualize the alternative form as per their ideology, they try to reclaim and reserve as much as more land as possible. But once an ideology take action, the other also race for reclaiming fast, and finally hostility occurs in various form. The authoritarian left and right have their own armed force to protect their interests thus they send their army to secure their borders and an armed conflict is aroused. Both right of authoritarian and anarchist are pursuing of the greatest profit from the market and are reclaiming as much land for container ports therefore the canal is being narrowed and difficult to maintain normal navigation.The anarchist left and right are competing for more land with their own reclaiming method while the later one with the quickest reclamation method is polluting the border and causing deterioration of the fish pond of the former. Protest is found between the left of authoritarian and anarchist while armed force is sent by the former to protect the border and individuals are forming people power for the later. Hong Kong government aware the unsuccessful in achieving harmony by allowing the organic interaction and finally step in to stop the hostility.
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Crowd Funding Urbanism
Mediation of Anarchist Communities
The authorities figure out it can only be legitimize only when people believe it is working for their public goods. Yet public goods may not be equality and market sustainability, it can invented by building up a common aspiration. Museum highlighting the past to the projection of future may be built to legitimize the effort of authority. And create a standard good of future that the authority is working for. As a result, what the authority are working in, is what is the people believing in.
The anarchist Left and right are commonly believe in freedom. A crowdfunding urbanism is proposed to raise fund by market mechanism. Non market rationale ideas can be possible if they are welcomed by many people, everyone can invest a small part to achieve what they needed.The resultant building will be atypical in form, it contains of some entertainment facilities that many individuals want, and perhaps a conference centre for them to discuss the possibility of further funding.
Open Source Framework
Metabolism of Money
Defining Common Dream
Crowd-funding Urbanism
Aspiration for the good future leaded by authorities
Realizing public dream through market machanism
To legitimize the ruling authority, either achieving social equality or economic efficiency are not grounded as it do not mean the authority is serving for the people. Thus, by inventing a common desire for all the people, the government authority towards such common desire will be legitmated. Architecturally, the best way to invent such common desire is (1) to trigger the unsatisfactory of the past by invention of history (2) to display the authority has work to resolve such unsatisfaction and (3) to render an "invented good" future. Such expression should avoid over abstract or exaggerated to avoid the sense of misunderstanding of brianwashing.
To the liberal left, individuals' desires are often unique and new since there is no frameworks of thought limited by the authority or market. Yet, such desires are hard to be realized as individual or small selfcontained community are in capabable to organize larger scale urban projects. The crowd-funding urbanism gives good opportunity to organize the market power at the sum of all individual dreams. The market power is no longer simply aimed at profit maximization but also aimed at make cost of dream sharable. Hence, the defined "rationlale" in the neoliberal economy will no longer existed.
Museum of China Fuxing ( Chinese renaissance)
Proposal / Public needs
Legitimize the Authority Invented Future Aspiration "Improvement" leaded by state
Defining A Common Dream
Mediation of Authoritarian Governments
Realizing/ Returns
Authority Achievements
Funding/ Collective Ownership
Unsatisfactory past
SKYPOOL
Realized by raising $15,000,000 HKD from 1000 liberal left investor
CUBOID OF FUTURE GOOD
Promote the government vision as public vision
Mediation of Leftist Beliefs
The leftist would rather strike a balance in control of equality. Rather than absolute equal living or absolute free living, it will provide a framework to allow open source addition by the people at a fair start. As a result, messy urbanism can be controlled to sustain a more diversify of life in equal chance.
Mediation of Rightist Beliefs
INVESTOR CONFERENCE HALL For proposing new projects and call for fund
The rightist believes in a continue market mechanism in generating new wealth. Yet land is limit, the new wealth is not able to generate any more when speculation lead to the bubble economy. To create more new money, the way is to expand the fiscal spending. Land metabolism is introduced to shorten the land usage, and create more development opportunities and value adding process.
FERRIS WHEEL BUILDING
Realized by raising $45,000,000 HKD from 2000 liberal left investor
TYPICAL OFFICE FLOORS
Demanded to cover the operation cost by liberal right investor
MUSEUM OF THE ADVANCED TECH Establish the confidence to present authority
INVENTION OF TRADITION
Chinese vernacular expression to boost the sense of nationalism
Skyfarm
Realizaed by raising $150,000 HKD from liberal left investor for monthly rentle
SLIDE EXIT
INVESTOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Who ever participate in funding support would be recognized
Realizaed by raising $700,000 HKD from 500 liberal left investor
BAUHINIA PLAZA
FORTRESS FACADE
To reinforce the sense of belonging to the authority
To imitate the fortress monuments in Fumen
OPIUM WAR MONUMENT
To trigger the disatisfaction of a weak authority in the past
Open source Framework Shared economy in guided basic
COMPROMISE
Building is built with function serving the original ideologies and its revision. A little compromise was given to its opposite in order to gain consent in development.’
A anarchist community looking for equal growth is not an easy achieve goal as properties and social resources is not properly protected. However, when heavy regulation is implied, the distribution of resources is also not efficient as the desire of people varies. Therefore, limit framework in sustaining the accessibility of resource production and distribution would balance the roles of leftist ideologies. Everyone is given a parameter for their freedom of input at a fair starting point.
MEDIATION
Through experiencing the thoughts, knowing own disadvantage and the adjacent advantage, a mediated ideology will be naturally generated.
Basic Parameter
LIFTING INFRASTRUCTURE
Production of Space
To encourage greater scale of renovation and sign or new occupation contracts to generate more development profits
Imagination freedom FRAMEWORK FOR PLUGIN
Minimum control to individuals expression
Episode 4: New Departure In the step in of HKSAR government as hostility began, all development in the newly reclaimed zone are prohibited. Rather, SAR tabled a few option for the ideologies to achieve consent. The first one is equally distributed the plot to ideologies at both side. The second one is to insert some new urbanism proposed by specialist by observe and research on the common needs of ideologist, and the third one, is to sign a manifesto on the development of in between sector.
SERVICE APARTMENT
Built in 2027 when the sectors is full of new experiement participants
TYPICAL OFFICE (DEMOLISHING)
Converting to Co-Office as traditional banking decline
EXPANSION SEPARATOR
To retain open spaces to avoid over-dense expansion
Metabolism of money
Manifesto is preferred by all ideologies as this allow them to spread their influence to others, and it is open to more possibility. In this manifesto, the land is divided into grid, both ideologies can propose on what to build in one plot every year, but the proposal has to be agreed by the opposite ideology.
Sustaining demand and supply generator
SHARED AMENITIES
Voluntary operated amenities to the community
As a result, the early building erected in the manifesto are more compromise approach, in order to seek their opposite approval. But as time pass, they start to aware their own weakness and other advantage, they would rather accept the opposite the idea. Finally , a mediated idea is developed which both of the parties are happy with.
SHARED BIKE PARKING
For better protection of shared properties
Speculation of properties is actually not a preferable models to capitalist and developer, as such value created is virtual and highly subject to the risk of external environment. To developer, they may actually prefer more chance of conducting a projects, and directly earn the value added / organizational service charge to a vacant land. To the government, the over involvement of economic plan may lead to failure as the response to the external market is less sensitive by its rigid planned infrastructure. As a result, if the building is more flexible and shorter in lease terms, it will allow infrastructural program to match with market, and generate more demand on redevelopment.
Market Flexibility Up-to-date
INVENTION OF TRADITION
Chinese vernacular expression to boost the sense of nationalism
Occupy
Renovate PARALLEL TRADE MALL
Lease expire
To be demolished in 2030 as Mainland as open to import goods
BASIC BUILDING SERVICES
Provision of electricity and sanitary facilities
MATERIAL RECYCLE CENTRE
For disposal of construction waste and regenerate recycle materials
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Utopia or Dystopia? Through continuous understanding and negotiations between ideologies by the opportunities of vision realisation, can an ultimate form of goverment be developed for all Hong Kong people, and project back to Hong Kong territory and future China? Even not, will particular ideology become more advanced in solving the problems and visualized a better Hong Kong that majority want? By taking over the other ideologies when one become popular, will it give a tempo to Hong Kong history, and achieve harmony in making progression in short? The worst scenario is not terrible. The split of ideologies may still be existed. Yet, that will just be a replica of today’s Hong Kong. Some particular ideologies will keen on cooperating with mainland directly while other may indirectly contributed. To Dongguan, the connection with Hong Kong is no longer seperated by Shenzhen, meaning more interaction is inevitable whatever the island is developed. Moreover, by contextualizing the ideology in a given place, true competition is possible to lead to an overall progression, which is great step move on from the current paper debates. -18-
Site research documentation video https://youtu.be/lqYloZTO_2g
1.4 Preserve through Demolition
Reveal the history of Post-war mass housing through controlled disassembly *Project selected for public review The thesis questions the role of architectural preservation when it encounters with post war masshousing, which is at the risk of extinction. By contextualizing the research in the last remaining 1960s generation resettlement housing in Hong Kong, Shek Lei, it is found that these sites have housed specific livelihoods yet unable to be traced from the nearly abandoned concrete structure. Extending the building life through any mean of program injection or spatial intervention on the generic structure would not help to preserve the essential chapter of urban history. It results in the design of controlled disassembly as sequenced farewell events, and reveals separated architectural elements of the mass housing into sight before the building is fully erased. Instead of restoring depicted narration of site history, the design serves as a platform to evoke old inhabitants to imagine their past livelihood by the subtracted and incomplete space, and thereby allowing them to react and exchange their memory to those who are interested in these urban histories. As a result, the process itself will achieve an autobiographical preservation- transferring site knowledge with the absence of form. The building is erased for remembering. -19-
Kajima cut and take down Demolition - Require vertical transportation of building waste - Less environmental impacts to far distance - Require additional support jack during the process
2021-2022 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture(HK)
Insertion of computer controlled hydraulic jacks Building structure is removed from the lower floors
[Utopian Element]
Protective screen cover up the top levels, which can gradually lowered as the upper structure removed Hydraulic jack holding the toppest floors while the lower floors are removed progressively
Self-Contained Demolition
- Less environmental impacts - Allow more building component to be cut and recycle - Require additional support jack during the process
The post-war mass housing has introduced the idea of high density of collective living. Housing blocks in the 1960s have introduced dozens of new architectural elements that were not popular used before. Today, these elements have been essential to the contemporary urban living. The exhibition reveals the discussion towards the historical utopian elements by using the site of erasure of early generation mass housing, which will extend to the projection on both reuse of architectural elements by controlled demolition and the future invention of architectural elements.
High-reach Excavator/ Wrecking Ball
- Less demolition plan required - Demolition process exposed to public - Require large enclosure zone for debric collection - Dust generation
Building parts are totally destroy and require large debric collection area
Top-down Demoliton Scaffolding with catch fan require to avoid falling of debric
- Least danger controlled zone required - Suitable for urban density - Allow partial removal - Required detail demolition plan
Covered walkway to ensure pedestrian safety
Implosion Demoliton
- Quickest way of removing multi-storey building - Strong visual communication to public spectator - Extensive danger control zone required - Building fabric are destroyed and unreusable
Extensive controlled zone to avoid the spread of exploded debric
Architecturl Biennial in recalling SiteDemolition History practice approach of taking of building down Through research and questioning Convention the effectiveless preservation, the thesis argues the concrete structure itself is inadequated to reflect the site history due to its unidentical building technology and material expression. With traces of life are disappeared through abandonment, preservation of the physical structure is ungrounded to inform the site history. Observing the people's reaction in the past demolition events in Hong Kong, the thesis argue demolition to the site can actually brings possible impacts in linking old inhabitants and those who are interested in the site history together as they have the sense of emergencies of memory disappearance. With the constraints of urban density and environmental concern, demolition today has shifted from a violent approach of destroy to a more controlled way of taking building down piece by piece. The new technology allow to exchange building structure to temporary hydralic jacks in order to reduce dust exposed and to allow building material to be reuse.
By studying the demolition technology, the thesis argues a cleaner and safer self-contained demolition should be employed to the site as to allow the building to be disassembled piece by piece in a controlled way. As a result, it can open up the site for exhibition during different stage of demolition, which allows participants to reveal and discuss the spatial history of architectural space and element hidden before through subtraction.
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Architectural element of resettlement housing to be revealed. Most of them are firstly popularize in this 1960s generation housing. Exposing it could generate discussion on their preception when they firstly appeared in life, and how inhabitants life associated with them through the time shifted.
Reimagining incomplete space
In the early phases of exhibition, architecture elements of the resettlement housing are revealed through the status of ruins. When the old inhabitants are coming back, they realized the place they stayed for a quarter of their life is really gone. Yet, the compartment footprint and structure still give their imagination how their family congested into the room. Artists invited them to imagine the furniture layout through tape.
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The event is not simply display about this element. In fact, it is proposed generate a guideline of operation to these element. Certain operation can be added into it in order to make it be a place that can trigger certain temporary place for different activities.
Alternate historic understanding
The next phase of exhibition will generate new functional space through subtraction of architectural element, for example, exposing the corridor. This operation not only display the elements, but also articulate into a platform for old inhabitants and those who are interested in the site history to exchange and document the idea. Diversified historic knowledge is passed to the next generation.
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The design proposal will collaborate with the HKSZ urbanism biennial and platform who are interested to archive HK oral history together to invite work submission in responding history and projection of these element.
Remembered by absence
The final stage of the demolition will be hawker bazaar on the ground footprint, which was originally shops. Artist are selling their creation and documentation through the half-year event. Through revealing the architectural element and space in the last 1960s resettlement blocks, its spatial history will be systematically narrated, documented and archived by other media. The event itself, will even lead us to project the future living condition through the reflection of site history. It began from a nostalgic event, and ended with a forward-looking closing.
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2.0 Making Freelance Creation 2017-2019 Master of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong 2013-2016 Bachelor of Social Science in Architectural Studies at Chinese University of Hong Kong In supporting the visions, skills of making have been considered essential to explore the architectural possibility with latest technologies. This includes the application of structural and material knowledge, tectonic methods and computer design tools. These technologies could generate powerful perspectives, but after all it is crucial to execute them with a legitimate vision.
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2.1 Beyond Waffle Slab The project aimed rediscover the spatial and structural potential of a particular structural type. Waffle Slab- a structural system which was widely employed in post war medium-large span concrete construction was found neglected in recent years due to complexity of formwork was selected for further research. In fact, having clean exposure to ceiling, the waffle slab could generate impressive perspective quality which quantify the scale of space by grids. Yet such regular grid does not necessary react from equal bending moment. Studies were made to transform the waffle grid according to iso-static bending patterns, which could create another sense of spatial experience echo to the nature of force. Subsequently, the experiment further extrude the iso-static waffle grid t o a wall building with changing beam depth, which resulted a unique form that faithfully response to the two-way structural character. Fall 2017 -25-
2.2 From Fragment to whole T h is undergraduate project is not driven by any main idea or a s i mple design language. It is an try and error approach, working from inside-out. The imaginery image of the whole design was not appreared until the later stage of design. Perhaps, the concept of this project is the Methodology itself. B e gins at a series of spatial experience models of each single p r ogram, these models, did not take the building planning and c i rculation system into account. It is purly expressing the mostw a nted atmosphere of each space. Through sketching and o b serving of these abstract models, the DNA of such spatial models could be found through the exercise. The DNA was further a r ticulated into the other spaces. Then, these spatial models are integrated together with the consideration of program flow and the site feature. Various in-between space are created and has become a second level of spatial experience. It would also mean a lot of challenging spaces are left. As a result, the final approach of the design is rationalisation, which is to consider how the circulation be integrated into the building while enhancing the spatial quality in the meanwhile. Through various attampts of moving back and forward, the fragments are integrated into the whole. Fall 2014 -26-
2.3 Workspace 2021 This is a freelance design job for a startup office in Hong Kong. C o n sidering the business model, the workspace provided b o t h regular working spaces and hot desking. Private club is reserved for business networking and company functions. -27-
2.4 Digital Design A s e ries of application exercises of Rhino c o m m ands, grasshopper components and plugin in creation of architectural fragments. Fall,2017. -28-
3.0 Narrative Book publication from 2018-2021 The aesthetic appreciation to urban built objects is commonly d e p a rted from the identification of type, and subsequently derived from the research of their spirits in response to the agenda in particular time of history. Inspired by a group of researchers who systematically document and define the history of "Socialist Modernism" in the early 2010s, my research narratives started from a further interpretation to the anonymous urban history of Eastern Bloc during my travels in 2018-19. With these basic a t t e mpts, the narration methodologies were applied to the documentation of Hong Kong and Mainland China, with the focus of specific periods and building types. These processes a r e merely just developing archives, they are also helpful to generate contemporary design ideas.
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3.1 Socialist Primorsky
Soviet Heritage in 2018 Vladivostok & Ussuriysk This photo collection is taken in my visit to Vladivostok and Ussuriysk in 2018 summer. It is served as an expression of my recent concerns and thoughts towards post-socialist modernism. From the short visit to the Primorsky, my impression of the region is that it is in great dilemma. On the one hand, the monuments of the previous authority are well preserved, and branded as national glory. Socialist ways of living- eating highly industrialized foods, work-to-rule etc. has been underlined in large degree. On the other hand, the cities, which have once been very advanced, have not been u p d a ted since the dissolution. Perhaps, it is the result of the unprecedented political movementneither the previous authority was takeover by the foreign power nor overthrown by bottom-up mass movement, but it is the natural withdrawal of the authority’s ambition. The wishes of Putin to reverse Soviet Collapse if he could during 2018’s election may highlight the dilemma on point. -30-
32pages, A4square Published online through Issuu: h t t p s://issuu.com/hortayhfu/docs/20180803_ socialist_vladivostok
3.2 Socialist 9288+
Tracing Trans-Siberian Socialist modernism This book is a documentation to my graduation trip organized along the 9288km-long Trans-Siberian Railway, plus selected Baltic and Eastern Slavic states. It covered photos and writings to architecture, mass products and urban life three decades after Soviet dissolution. It began from Vladivostok in the far east, and ended at Pripyat as the ruined utopia. Initially, there was a second struggle to confine the book to document only architecture of Socialist Modernism built from 1955 to 1991 as exhibited by Architekturzentrum Wien, but Constructivist and S t a l inist architecture did constitute a major branch of Modernism discourses. The Trans-Siberian travel is a transect discovering how the Soviet modernism has copied, varied ,transformed, removed and revived from the edge of Eurasia to the political cores. -31-
192 pages, B5 Published online through Issuu: https://issuu.com/hortayhfu/docs/socialist_9288
3.3 Inventing Alma-ata
Defining Kazakh Identity under the common Socialist Content As the third publication in my Socialist Modernism series, Socialist Alma-ata focuses the documentation on regionalism that was defined and invented in Kazakh SSR- the union republic which was drawn from the Russian SFSR in 1936, and its subsequent architectural translation from the text-book of p o s t-war Soviet modernism to a unique, yet familiar image of city in the republic’s capital Almaata. Moreover, it extends the documentation of post-Soviet transformation- when identity became a real matter as an independent state with weak historical reference, how the architectural practice continued, progressed or reverted to accommodate the state narrative.
104 pages, B5 Published online through Issuu: h t t ps://issuu.com/hortayhfu/docs/socialist_almaata
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3.4 Brutalist HK 20 The album is captured in Hong Kong during 2017-2018. 20 photos are carefully selected and edited with drawing documentation in narrating my insights towards the essance of Post War Hong Kong modernism from macro to micro perspectives- which I would call it Brutalist. The word "Brutalist" not only refer to the uses of Béton brut as architectural material, but also the bold urban intervention which determine the form of economy and civil life of Hong Kong through out the Second-half of Twentieth Century. The collection has been conceived as a mean for me to pick up the interests in photography which has been lost during my busy yet unfruitful undergraduate study. With undefined asthetic meaning in the education blackbox, the collection was firstly started to challange the value of the less appreciated built structures in the city and ended up at appropriating them with the historical c o n t exts. Incidentally, this has driven my appreciation to the faded-out visions in the collective industrial past, and has directed my on-going search of belief. -33-
46pages, A4 Square Published online through Issuu: h t t p s://issuu.com/hortayhfu/docs/20181002_ brutalisthk_20
4.0 Practice 2016-2017 Year-out architectural Trainee at ALKF+ 2019-2021 Architectural Assistant at ALKF+ 2021 Architect at ALKF+ The Practice experience in Hong Kong local projects not only enabled me to be skillful in handling local statutory and project administration requirements, but also expanded my criticality on Hong Kong architectural discourses. We may have architectural visions which aim to achieve a high moral goal, but we shall also convey such visions in alignment with the client's initial objective. In a series of themed writings, this section would illustrate my various construction projects and feasibility studies carried out for Hong Kong Public institutions and Private Developers over the past years.
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4.1 Stories to dress
Facade Design for various local institutional projects The scope of architectural consultancy services in Hong Kong may sometimes be limited by client’s prescribed f u n c tional layouts and specifications. Architects are rather focused in detail design and project administration, i n c l uding the improvement of the base schemes to enhance the institution's image to the community. I n A LKF+, I have participated in the facade design of v a r i ous CLP Power Substations in New Development A r e a . Conventionally, a Power Substation is utilitarian i n f r astructure which houses for heavy transformers, w h i c h result in a harsh visual impression to the community. As a result, dressing up these infrastructures would be useful to create a soft screen to the structure. Question is, how to make the dress be meaningful to the surrounding neighbourhood.
The Tree Shadow (CLP Substation in Ma Sik Road, Fanling) T h e substation is located in the woodland at t h e edge of Fanling New Town. To situate the m a s s ive structure in harmony with the green b a c k ground, an earthy perforated facade screen in tree shadow patterns was proposed to seal off the transformers inside the woodland.
Unpublished information due to copyright sensitivity. Please contact hortayhfu@connect.hku.hk for detail information
Project status: Under Construction Involvement: Facade Design ALKF+, 2019
M e a n while, conceptual designs were carried out to other public institutions such as Hong Kong Observatory and Hong Kong Housing Society. In forming the idea of facade and building mass design, we do not only simply c o m p ly with objective parameters such as passive e n v i ronmental performance and functional zoning, but also deliver site specific stories to justify the image of the buildings. I n t he design of Transitional Housing for Hong Kong S h e n g Kung Hui, limited budget was allowed due to the temporary nature of the building. Painted graphics were played on the end wall of modular flats and estate avenues, which also deliver both architectural vibrancy and positive motive of livelihood to the residents in need. T h e taste and expectation of architectural language e x p r ession may vary from disciplines to the general p u b l ic, but what gains appreciation would be a story commonly understandable. It is a game of articulating t h e architectural tectonic and materiality with popular culture and knowledge.
T h e Village (CLP Substation in Kwu Tung North) The substation is planned to serve the Kwu Tung North New Development Area, an area erected by vacating the existing village neighbourhood. To connect the future new town with its history, gable roof forms in various size were designed t o h ouse the transformers, which symbolised t h e dynamic vernaculars used to exist in the site. Project status: Under Construction Involvement: Facade Design ALKF+, 2020
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Secluded at Woodland (Annex Building at Hong Kong Observatory Headquarters) The Annex Building is situated in the woodland of HKO Headquarters where there are diversified b i r d species. A curved wire mesh facade design screen would be helpful to create a soft screen to the Annex Building, which avoids the collision of birds with the sharp building edges. Moreover, the secluded architectural expression w o u l d enhance the privacy protection to the headquarter daily operation. Project status: Competition Involvement: Facade and Layout Design ALKF+, 2021
Unpublished information due to copyright sensitivity. Please contact hortayhfu@connect.hku.hk for detail information
Community Scale ( H K H S Subsidised Housing at Kwu Tung North) T h e provision of 2600 social housing flats on the 2.6 hectare plot would inevitably require the erection of tower blocks to maximise residents' enjoyment of natural ventilation and view. The challenge posed at creating a sense of human s c a l e at the ground community. Instead of d e s i gning a plain podium structure, dynamic g a b l e roof forms were employed to break the building mass in smaller scale. Project status: Competition Involvement: Facade and Maste Layout Design ALKF+, 2021
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Unpublished information due to copyright sensitivity. Please contact hortayhfu@connect.hku.hk for detail information
Growing Circle (HK Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Transitional Housing) The steel modular (MiC) housing estate is built and used for a seven years term to house the low income residents of Hong Kong. A positive motive- United Court was employed to build a residents-self-supporting community. Circle wrapping from building facade to estate avenue are to be painted around the estate. With smaller circle graphics joining onto the larger circle, it coherently expresses the motive of growing social circles. Project status: Under Construction Involvement: Facade Design and Tender Preparation ALKF+
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Opaque Glass 300mm projected Curtain Wall 500mm projected Aluminium Aluminium Cladding
4.2 Pencil customisation
Unpublished information due to copyright sensitivity. Please contact hortayhfu@connect.hku.hk for detail information
Creating affordable comfort at urban density
300mm projected Curtain Wall
P e ncil Tower, commonly spanned with two 5-meterwide urban lots, is a product specifically developed from t h e 1962 Hong Kong Building (Planning) Regulations. To maximise the floor area to be constructed, slim tall t o wers at one-third of the site coverage served with a scissors staircase rear core became the standard formula to define the building section.
500mm projected Stone Cladding
Wall projection from water tank (Non GFA)
Aluminium Grills
During my year-out training experience in 2016-2017, I h a ve participated in design and project administration w o rks in two Hong Kong pencil towers hotel projects. These hotels were not built to be star hotels which are e q uipped with diversified accommodation, but they a r e rather positioned as express inns which provide a f fordable and comfortable quick stay to budget travellers. T h e art of crafting these pencil towers is the detailing of dimension and furniture, such that every limited inch could be functional. For example, in the design of a bed frame, an open framed design would allow the guest to p l ace their luggage underneath, thereby reducing the n e ed for storage space on plan. Other considerations would be the identity making to the pencil hotel towers. The variation of facade expression and common space interior could generate identical hotels which are targeted at different age groups.
Facade detail study ( H otel Redevelopment at 87&89 Des Voeux Road West ) F a cade options study was carried out to the pencil tower hotel. In turn out, a neo-classical p o dium portal with curtain wall tower facade was adopted to create a mature expression to meet with the position of the hotel. Project status: Completed 2021 Involvement: Facade Design ALKF+, 2017
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8035
X
70 290 1085 100 1100
1100 300
300 1100 225 1100 300
3375
2100
200 1085 300 70 90
1800
100
1800
300 1100 300 1100 275 1000
100 100 1150 300 10 742
1500
125
500 100 100
500 100 100
75
1900
100
EXIT
100
1500
1900
1550
EXIT
1550
1650 100
200
Unpublished information due to copyright sensitivity. Please contact hortayhfu@connect.hku.hk for detail information 4185
100
2500
100
2567
FORMICA Sand Oak Laminate
250
900
200
900
150 125 150
2500
150
100
GUEST ROOM 4
150
2600
GUEST ROOM 3
250
150 150 125
200 45
GUEST ROOM 2
3885
6460
75
1083 150 1267 100 1342 75 1150 1183 150 1267 100 1267 150 1083 100
GUEST ROOM 1
Concrete Floor Tile
Construction detailing ( H o tel Redevelopment at 13&15 Mercury Street ) W i t hin the tiny 3,500 sqm floor plates and its limited frontage, 99 guestrooms were divided in the pencil hotel towers. Room dimensions were precisely defined to allow the bed and shower placed comfortably. Project status: Completed 2017 Involvement: Project design and administration ALKF+, 2016-17
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Unpublished information due to copyright sensitivity. Please contact hortayhfu@connect.hku.hk for detail information
4.3 Housing at difficult terrain
Disposition in relationship to slope Due to the fact that developable urban extent have been h i g hly restricted in Hong Kong, housing development i n recent years has tended to expand to difficult sites with substantial site formation requirements. The study of building disposition of buildings could not only reduce the site formation extent, but also enhance the residential view and ventilation in relation to the natural terrain. I n ALKF+, I have majorly involved in the HKHS Public R e n tal Housing project at Shek Pai Wan Road which sited at the urban fringe at Aberdeen. Administering such p r o jects impose challenges on unforeseen technical difficulty during construction. Forgiving design tolerance o n building and landscape disposition is a way to minimise the implications. H a v ing such construction experiences, I have applied the skill on carrying out feasibility studies in other slope site. In some cases, connection to the upper slope may also open up site accessibility to public transport which enhances the land lot value. The circulation for residential d e v elopment tended to be more three dimensional in such sites.
Conjunction between city and nature (HKHS Public Rental Housing project at Shek Pai Wan Road ) T h e housing project aimed to provide 600 r e n tal flats in the urban fringe of Aberdeen. D i s position of cruciform, linear form and T shaped were studied. In turn out, it is noted that a T shaped plan would minimise the extend of slope excavation, while not resulting substantial wall effects to the natural scenery at the rear of the building. Project status: Foundation Involvement: Project design, tender preparation, statutory and contractual administration ALKF+, 2019-21
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+220
+90 +120 +100
+140
+90 +110
+90
+50
+50
Tender Site at 72 Hill Road, Hong Kong
Unpublished information due to copyright sensitivity. Please contact hortayhfu@connect.hku.hk for detail information
Releasing potentials ( F e a sibility Study for Private Residential Development at 72 Hill Road ) Being close to MTR HKU station, the feasibility s t u d y suggests releasing the high density d e v e lopment potential on a slope site with existing 6 storey buildings. Study of changing c l a s s of site, building setbacks under local p r a c tice notes PNAP APP132 etc., have e n h a nced the potential residential view, connectivity and density. Project status: Feasibilty Study Involvement: Full study ALKF+, 2021
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4.4 Reclaiming Human Scale in Megastructures development Kwun Tong Complex Development
Urban redevelopment in Kwun Tong district in Kowloon have utilised the remaining plot ratio and relaxing height l i m i t. Megastructures have become a single type of d e v e lopment in Kwun Tong such as APM and Yue M a n Square commercial developments nearby, which resulted in loss of human scale and traditional street life. Moreover, pedestrians are alienated from the utilitarian t r a n sport infrastructure along Kwun Tong Road. The p r o p osed Kwun Tong Complex Development (KTCD), considering the proposed CFA to accommodate all the functions, is likely to result in a large building footprint. T h e r efore, the design takes the challenge to reclaim h u m a n scale alongside the congested urban environment, and to create a green spine which serves a s a n urban oasis between the residential area and industrial district. Architecturally, the design would focus on addressing matters regarding big and small, solid and p e r m eable. Whilst acknowledging the size of building t o a ddress the functional requirements, we strive to redefine the perception of scale.
Unpublished information due to copyright sensitivity. Please contact hortayhfu@connect.hku.hk for detail information Lifting from Ground (Civil Servants College at KTCD) One of the key concepts would be the unboxing o f t owers at pedestrian levels. Instead of e n c l osing the column grid structure with air conditioned glass box, the design would open up the space as much as possible, which would enhance the low-height natural ventilation and pedestrian walkability. Project status: Design and build proposal I n v o lvement: Concept design of the complex, detail design of Shine Skill Centre ALKF+, 2021
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Unpublished information due to copyright sensitivity. Please contact hortayhfu@connect.hku.hk for detail information
Healthy learning (Shine Skill Centre at KTCD) A n o t her occupant of the KTCD would be a t r a i ning school for students of disabilities. I n m asking the building form, it is noted the b u i l ding length could be extended to reduce t h e overall storey height. Terracing garden was provided at each teaching storey to allow s t u d ents to have immediate enjoyment of natural air. By integrating the building into the w a l k ing spine of the complex, students are encouraged to integrate into the community. Project status: Design and build proposal I n v o lvement: Concept design of the complex, detail design of Shine Skill Centre ALKF+, 2021
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HORTA, FU YAT HIM Portfolio 2021 Edition Email: hortayhfu@connect.hku.hk Tel: +852 63806222 1/F,199, Kei Lun Wai, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong HKIA, ARB Registered Architect 2021' M.Arch (Dist.) , The University of Hong Kong 2019' B.S.Sc. (Architectural Studies), Chinese University of Hong Kong 2016' Website: https://hortayhfu.wixsite.com/b-grade-utopia -44-
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