唐樓看似平凡，卻反映香港的寫照 🏙Tong Lau may look ordinary but reflecting the portraits of Hong Kong 街道生活/ 唐樓外表的確是本身較平凡，也是基層階級的產物，但是唐樓卻衍生出樓梯鋪、天台屋、街道生活的出現，描寫了更多香港的寫照。底層地鋪多元不同，其商品更延伸到行人路上，街頭擺賣繼而伸展到馬路。這種一層又一層的連繫形成了街頭生活。現有的摩天大樓，因商業考慮而令圖則變得奇形怪狀，只用冷氣解決通風問題，將室外與室內毫無留情地分隔開。但唐樓的設計正方而擁有自然通風的對流窗，而這裡每天發生的不只有行人的流動與商業的交易，而是人與人之間交流是自然和有溫度的。唐樓展現了香港繁華背後的樸素日常的一面。 唐樓背後/ 在這看似繁華的香港出現劏房問題是十分諷刺的，但無奈唐樓仍然是很多基層和年輕人的經濟選擇。很多人在唐樓的地鋪裡創業，也很多人不介意住在「唐八樓」「唐九樓」，只求一個居住的地方，為了生存，為了未來的生活。雖然城市發展是無法避免的，但一個城市也需要多元化的面貌，唐樓正是其中一面。 _____________________________________________ Street Life/ Although Tong Lau may look ordinary and is the representative of the lower social class, the emergence of Tong Lau also introduced the staircase store, roof housing and street life that narrated different moments of Hong Kong. Diverse types of ground-floor-stores extended to the pedestrian lane and attracted hawkers to operate nearby. The layering linked moments are the street life that is needed in Hong Kong. The current skyscrapers design that is emphasising the position of economic concern results in irregular forms of buildings using a.c. to resolve every ventilation problem. Indoor and outdoor spaces are mercilessly separated. On the other hand, Tong Lau, by using opposite openings for natural ventilation, is designed to be in regular forms. It is about the emotional interaction between people, rather than some senseless pedestrian and money flow. Behind the Scene/ Tong Lau embodied the simple and daily faces behind the bustling of Hong Kong. The subdivided flat problem inside Tong Lau still exists nowadays, which is ironic for it to happen in such a wealthy city. However, it is still a popular choice for lower social class and youngsters as a survival from and start-up of life. They do not mind living on the eighth or ninth floor without a lift, they just want to survive and hopefully can live a life in the future. We shall admit that it is unrealistic to avoid city development, but please do not ignore the many other faces of the city, that realistically exist, Tong Lau. Photography by @mr_nkf #archi_kongcept #我港建築 #kongcept #我港 #唐樓 #舊區 #街道生活 #tonglau #olddistrict #streetlife

從四個保育案例看香港古蹟制度的敗處🗿 竟然沒有法律保障歷史建築物!? 皇后碼頭/ 皇后碼頭以現代主義建築形式興建而成，原是皇后像廣場的停泊處，只供香港總督及英國主要官員往返香港時使用。後來改建成皇后碼頭，價值不止是其現代主義建築，還有它作為記錄香港人集體回憶的公共空間。政府以發展為由，竟帶頭將這個一級歷史建築清拆。十三年後，至今仍沒有重建計劃。其實香港的「歷史建築」只有參考作用，沒有法律效力；「法定古蹟」才有法律保障。即使近年政府提出，被評為一級歷史建築能被接納為已列入具高度價值的建築，增加成為法定古蹟機會，但很多歷史建築因私人業權問題難以保育，最後也只能落得清拆下場，例如「同德大押」(grade III) 和「何東花園」(grade I)。 「古蹟辦」被笑稱「估即辦」，考察過程草率了事 皇都戲院/ 皇都戲院已經有六十九年歷史，它作為香港昔日娛樂事業風光年代的證據，也盛載我們的集體回憶。國際保育專業組織 Docomomo International在一六年發出「文物危急警示」促請為它評級為一級歷史建築，但古蹟辦被揭發對戲院的內部改動情況不充分掌握就草率提出將戲院列為三級歷史建築的建議。先不論古蹟辦考察過程透明度之低，其中一位負責評審的學者竟說：「假若漢墓值5分，清代（建築）最多4分，咁皇都幾多分？」(bio有「活現香港」皇都戲院評級爭議懶人包的link)，從這話可看出他們的想法已與現今保育方向脫節。幸好最後古諮會評定它為一級，現時被新世界發展商收購，是首個發展商主動提出的活化項目。 Queen's Pier; No legal protection for historical buildings Built in the form of modernist architecture, its value lies in its use as a public space that records the Hong Kong people’s collective memory. The government demolished this first-class historic building for the new development scheme. In fact, Hong Kong’s "historical buildings" are only for reference and have no legal validity; only "declared monuments" have legal protection. Even though the government has proposed in recent years that historic buildings rated as Grade I can be accepted as buildings of high value which increasing the chance of becoming statutory monuments, many historic buildings are difficult to preserve due to private ownership issues, and they can only be demolished in the end. State Theatre; ‘Antiquities and Monuments Office’ teased as ‘Assumption Making Office’ . The inspection process was regarded as hasty It has a history of 69 years. It serves as evidence of Hong Kong's past entertainment industry and also contains our collective memories as a HKer. Docomomo International, an international conservation professional organization, issued the "Cultural Relics Emergency Warning" in 2016, urging it to be graded as a Grade I historical building. However, the AMO was revealed that it did not fully acknowledge the internal changes to the theatre and rashly proposed to list it as a Grade III historical building. It is currently being purchased by the New World Development and is the first conservation project proposed by the developer.

建築與地方🏘 現在經過屋邨商場你還會願意流連嗎？⛲️Gorgeous Mall or Neighbourhood Centre？ Illustration by: @donfo.lio 城市客廳/ 你還記得小時候在屋邨商場打發時間的回憶嗎？香港在50年代開始興建大量高層的公共房屋以應付大量的人口增長。以規劃角度來說，要在地面上建造足夠的社區空間去滿足幾座、幾十層居民是十分困難的。於是你便會發現許多公園、社福機構、廣場穿插於屋邨商場裡，成為了商場的一部份。與現今商場的建造目的不同，屋邨商場除了有快餐店、士多、雜貨店讓居民購物用餐，有著照顧社區的功能。同時，因為無需要達到龐大的商業價值和利潤，屋邨商場的設計十分多元化，令它變得不只是一個賺錢的盒子。 只有商業價值/ 但你會否發現這種模式的屋邨商場買少見少？因為03年時面對沙士導致經濟衰退，政府為了開源節流，將原先由房委會擁有和管理的屋邨商場出售給領展 (原名領匯)。以價高者得的商業原則下，較低利潤的士多、雜貨店搬走，一些高檔次及奢侈品的商舖隨之進駐，租金跟隨上調。通過翻新商場，以此為由加租，亦為了讓商場保持新鮮感，更會要求商戶每隔幾年調鋪一次。休憩空間的元素因沒有商業價值而相應被移取。的確，翻新了的商場設計觀感有了很大的改善，但卻失去了我們流連在此的原因。 Urban Living Room/ Recalling the fading memories of my childhood, estate shopping centres used to be one of my favourite places to wander around. In the 1950s, to support the rapid population growth, the government decided to build a large number of high-rise public housings. Some of the estate shopping centres are combined with parks, social welfare institutions and open plaza.The purposes of estate shopping centres are not only to provide restaurants and shops but more importantly, also to cater to the needs and desires of the local microcosm. Moreover, as commercial value is not the only concern, it is something more than just a profit-making machine which brings the design of an estate shopping centre has more opportunity and diversity. Commercial Purpose Only/ Unfortunately, the purpose of being a community centres is coming to an end. Before 2003, most of the estate shopping centres were initially being managed by the Housing Authority, the government has sold the majority of estate shopping centres to a real estate developer to recover recession from SARS, Under the principle of the highest bidder wins, with the rent increases accordingly, numerous small local shops and grocery stores are now replaced by high-profit luxury shops and all kinds of chain stores. Besides, some merchants are required to refurbish or relocate their shops every few years to maintain a fresh look. Eventually, commercial value has become the only priority, and the elements of being the open space are removed. They look better, but the purpose of staying is lost. #archi_kongcept #我港建築 #kongcept #我港

蘊藏在唐樓背後的是未被利用的歷史文化價值🗿 比利時義品公司/ 轉角唐樓與比利時地產公司其實有莫大關係。19世紀的比利時是歐洲工業革命中發展得較蓬勃的國家。有別於其他歐洲大國積極擴展軍事及殖民地，比利時郤側重於資金、工業及學術出口到全世界。這造就了比利時義品公司在香港的出現。比利時義品公司在香港的生意主要在房地產投資、建築設計、施工作業、抵押貸款到物業管理，可算是一條龍服務。公司的總部在布魯塞爾，支部都由比利時人領導，但都需要華人在港管理。而他們的建築師大多來自比利時，不但引入現代摩登主義的設計，還因應香港的地貌與天氣，生產出具香港特色的轉角唐樓。很多轉角唐樓因應香港熱帶天氣而設計露天的走廊，作為室外與室內的緩衝空間。你更可以從圍欄通花找到裝飾藝術的足跡。范威利克出任當時的總負責人，是其中一個具影響力的建築師帶領著裝飾藝術到摩登主義的過渡。 瀕臨絕種/ 唐樓的起源在港島，但轉角唐樓的起源則在九龍。他象徵了當時香港的城市發展，摩登的轉角建築塑造了中產階層的社區。現在香港只剩下九座戰前的轉角唐樓，而青山道301,303號因遲遲未被評為歷史建築，而面臨被清拆的命運。現今被活化保留的轉角唐樓只有改造成中醫學院的雷生春及剛翻新的為群公寓。 的確，要將唐樓的商業價值提高至摩天大樓般是沒有可能的。但如果我們將商業與文化價值去看，活化唐樓群組不但保留社區特色，更可以打造成特色景點，商業與文化價值也能相輔相成。香港，這個地方有著世界級的商業中心，背後其實還有更大的建築資源等待被好好利用。但在經濟效益主導的世道下，究竟我們能否運用建築價值去記錄和分享其年代的故事？ Who is Crédit foncier d'Extrême-Orient (CFEO)/ Corner Tong Lau had a relationship with some of the Belgium developers. In the 19th century, Belgium attained substantial development from industrial revolution. Belgium based companies such as the Crédit foncier d'Extrême-Orient(CFEO) expanded to Hong Kong with Belgian-styles development investment, architectural design, construction work, mortgage service, and property management. Moreover, through localisation, corner Tong Lau was designed in response to the geographical and climate context in HK. Gabriel Van Wylick was the office head in Hong Kong, he was one of the influential architects who led the transition from Art Deco to the modernism age. Endangered/ Tong Lau's emergence was in Hong Kong Island, but Tong Lau first appeared in Kowloon. It emblemed the city development of Hong Kong in a particular period. Even though looking at the significance of Castle Park Road 301-303, it cannot escape from the destiny of demolition that it still has not been graded as a historical building. When we take community and cultural value into consideration, the assembly of different preserved historic buildings can be the hero. It can protect the community's unique character while accelerating the cultural and commercial value of that area. At the age of economic dominance, are there opportunities left for architecture to record n share stories of this city? #archi_kongcept

商業與公眾利益的取捨 Give and take of commercial and communal interest 以人的角度出發/ 私有的特定公共空間不應只是一個換取更多建造面積的工具，而應以第一身的體驗為出發點。現時發展商提供只限於行人走道這個較低層次的功能，他們認為從商業角度來看公共空間有損鄰近商鋪的價值，所以我們難以找到一個舒適而方便的私有公共空間。但只有從第一身的角度去設計公共空間才可將其空間與商業空間連結，為人們提供一個完整的體驗，更能提升其商場的知名度與價值。一個吸引人來和享受的公共空間反而能夠刺激消費，而不是用方法去阻止人們去使用這空間。青衣城二期便是一個成功將商場與公共空間合作的例子。他們將商場的天台改造成5000平方米多層次的綠化空間，人們能夠經過商場來到怡人的綠化區域，享受著開揚的沿岸河景。 香港，這個世界上數一數二擠迫的城市，對每個室外或室內的空間都爭分寸土，卻不忘尋找一點公共空間讓我們好好享受一個下午。城市當然需要發展，但發展商也有他們的社會責任，不只是為換取建造面積而提供公共空間，而真正讓人享受的空間，這是我們的權利去擁有的。 _______________________________________________________ From the angle of user/ The dedicated POPS should be considered as more than a tool to gain extra areas to build more floors but from the angle of the user's experience. Most of the dedicated POPS provided by developers only reached the first layer objective to provide a space for people passing through. They are examined from the commercial angle that public space will affect the economic value of retail stores nearby. Therefore, it is rare to find a dedicated POPS that is pleasant to stay but also easily accessible. However, only when the public space is designed by the angle of user can bind the commercial and public space together to provide a comprehensive experience for customers. It could be possible to foster the reputation and value of the shopping mall. Rather than setting rules to pushing out people away from the public space, welcoming public space can already fascinate people to stay but also consume in the mall potentially. Maritime Square 2 in Tsing Yi is a delightful example that uses its spacious public park as the magnetism binds with its shopping mall. Located at the terraces, people are engaged to access the 5000 sq m stretching park on different levels through the mall to enjoy the view of the habour. As one of the most dense cities in the world, we are fighting for every inch of space we can have inside and in between buildings, but also a public space that we can pause and relax in the busy afternoon. We do need new development. Developers have their social responsibility not only to provide public spaces for their own interest of extra floors to build, but public spaces that people can really enjoy