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Modernism Coming to Town—Government Low-Cost Housing and Public Buildings

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Hong Kong Architecture 1945-2015

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Abstract

The word “modern”, according to the Oxford Dictionary of English, means primarily “relating to the present or recent times as opposed to the remote past, characterized by or using the most up-to-date techniques, ideas, or equipment… denoting a current or recent style or trend in art, architecture, or other cultural activity marked by a significant departure from traditional styles and values.”

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Oxford Dictionaries Language Matters, http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/modern. Accessed 26 May 2015.

  2. 2.

    After WWII, both political and military forces Chiang and Mao wanted to collaborate with the US, and hence its alliance UK. When the two sides of Taiwan Strait were in hostile state, Hong Kong acted a neutral place. See Spence (1990).

  3. 3.

    About the natural and artificial disasters in China mainly caused by Communist Party’s wrong policy from 1958 onward, see Dikotter (2010).

  4. 4.

    The median age of 1961 was from Fauer (2003). Compared with 2012, 50 years later, the median age was 43, people over 65 years old accounted for 13 % of all population. From Hong Kong Government, Economic Report (2013).

  5. 5.

    “Housing or revolution” was a proposal for the government in the 1920s, see Corbusier (1925).

  6. 6.

    The housing units number of the 1960s is from Hong Kong Government, Report of Housing Board (1972).

  7. 7.

    Source same as above. The figures in the 1960s are about two times higher than the housing units completed in the years of 21st century. Also see Hong Kong Government, Hong Kong Annual Report, 2001–2014.

  8. 8.

    In the 21st century, both private and public housing production are lower than 20,000 units a year, because of the economic downturn and difficulties of finding suitable land. See Hong Kong Annual Report, 2001–2014.

  9. 9.

    For the definition of architectural modernism, I follow the books of Frampton, Curtis and other classical books. For example Frampton (1992), Curtis (1987).

  10. 10.

    For the social housing in European countries, see Scanlon et al. (2014). The book mainly discusses the policies enacted by the various countries. For the design of European housing, see Dijk (1999) and Scoffham (1984).

  11. 11.

    Housing in China is mainly a social and policy problem instead of design. For the design part, see Lu et al. (2001) and Xue (2006, Chap. 6).

  12. 12.

    In the 1950s, a university graduate of engineering could earn around HK$400 a month, see Wang (2010).

  13. 13.

    Construction data from Hong Kong Annual Report 1957, Hong Kong Government.

  14. 14.

    For the housing design in the Netherlands, see Dijk (1999), especially cases from pp. 125 to 128 and the chapter on post war reconstruction.

  15. 15.

    The public housing figures come from the website of the Hong Kong Housing Authority, http://www.housingauthority.gov.hk/tc/index.html, Accessed on 21 April 2014. The plot size of the public housing estate is read from Google maps.

  16. 16.

    The statistic data is from Hong Kong population and housing census, 1971 main report, Hong Kong Government, 1971; Luke S.K. Wong’s article analyzed the phenomenon, see chap. 6. Socio-economic characteristics of public housing provision, in Wong (1978).

  17. 17.

    The allocation of public housing was made by the Housing Authority according to the accumulated points of applicants. The basic requirements are the applicants’ income and asset. The threshold standard is adjusted according to the income and inflation index every year. In 2015, the median level monthly income of Hong Kong is $18,000 (US$2322). The ceiling of income and asset for applying public housing is as follows: for 1 person family, income below $10,100 a month, asset below $236,000; 2 people family, $16,140, asset $320,000; 3 people family, $21,050, asset $417,000; 4 people family, $21,050, asset $487,000; 5 people family, $29,050, asset $541,000; 6 people family, $32,540, asset $585,000; 7 people family, $36,130, asset $ 626,000; 8 people family, $ 38,580, asset $ 656,000; 9 people family, $43,330, asset $ 724,000; 10 people and above family, $45,450, asset $780,000. To apply for government subsidized homeownership house, the family’s monthly income should be below $46,000. In 2013, more than 170,000 people were in the pipeline to wait for unit of public housing. For the income, see Statistic Report 2014, Hong Kong Government. For the qualification of public housing, see Tai Kung Pao, 27 February 2015.

  18. 18.

    The description of the Housing Society was found on the website of the Hong Kong Housing Society, http://www.hkhs.com/chi/about/index.asp. Accessed on 10 January 2015.

  19. 19.

    Both Bainiassad and Ng’s words are from Architectural Services Department, HKSARG, Post 97 public architecture in Hong Kong’, Hong Kong: Architectural Services Department, HKSARG (2006).

  20. 20.

    The riot in Hong Kong in May 1967 was triggered by a confrontation between the factory owners and workers. It was soon developed to a movement of “anti-British colonial rule” by the leftists in Hong Kong, influenced by the Cultural Revolution in the Chinese mainland (1966–1976). The riot lasted for seven months and included workers and schools’ strikes, paralysis of public transportation and a toll of 52 lives. See Cheung (2009).

  21. 21.

    These figures are from the World Development Report, Oxford University Press, New York, 2015 and Hong Kong Yearbook, HKSAR Government, 2014.

  22. 22.

    In talking about modernist architecture, the authors follow the discussion and definition of classical writings like William Curtis and Kenneth Frampton. See Curtis (1987), Frampton (1992).

  23. 23.

    For details of the design of Elizabeth Hospital, see The Hong Kong Society of Architects Year Book 1965.

  24. 24.

    The City Hall was designed by the Public Works Department, mainly through the pens of Alan Fitch (1921–1986) and R.J. Phillips (1926–), who graduated from the Universities of Durham and Essex. Far East Architect & Builder, Hong Kong, April 1959; Nov., 1965. For details on the initiation and site selection of City Hall, see Hong Kong Annual Report, 1951; 1953. Far East Architect & Builder, Hong Kong, April 1959; Nov. 1965.

  25. 25.

    The design intention of City Hall was reported in Ming Pao Daily News, 10 May 2007. For an explanation of “tropical modernism,” see Uduku (2006).

  26. 26.

    In 2011, the departments in the “Government Hill” moved to the new government headquarters in Admiralty. The west wing of “Government Hill” was proposed to be demolished to give way to high-rise office buildings. The proposal met severe protest in society. The protesters thought that no matter how dull it was, the “Government Hill” had witnessed a piece of Hong Kong history after the war and should be preserved totally. See South China Morning Post, 20 June 2012.

  27. 27.

    In the 21st century, the reclamation project was carried out in Central to build a traffic bypass to alleviate the traffic pressure and pave a new waterfront park. The Star Ferry wharf and Queen’s Pier had to be removed or demolished. The demolition of the two piers triggered several protests from Hong Kong society, especially young people. The occupation of Queen’s Pier and confrontation with the police and construction workers lasted for several days and attracted media attention. See South China Morning Post, 1 Aug 2007.

  28. 28.

    In 2011, the government headquarters were moved to the Admiralty new building. There was a plan to demolish the west wing of “Government Hill” built in the 1950s and provide land for office towers. This was protested in society as the building witnessed the post-war history of Hong Kong. See South China Morning Post, 20 June, 5 December 2012.

  29. 29.

    See Xue et al. (2013). The paper discusses the importance of public space in the East Asian environment.

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  1. Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

    Charlie Q. L. Xue

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Xue, C.Q.L. (2016). Modernism Coming to Town—Government Low-Cost Housing and Public Buildings. In: Hong Kong Architecture 1945-2015. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1004-0_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1004-0_2

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