Week 3 Wonderings
As I continue to acquaint myself with what Hong Kong looks and feels like, I've been curious about the uber-efficient uses of space I see around me, how walkable the city is, and how every nook and cranny that could be turned into something useful seems already to have been.
I started this Sunday morning by reading the Hong Kong Urban Planning Department's "Urban Design Guidelines" to try to start to understand why this city looks the way it does. Some notable excerpts included:
"The Hong Kong Island has a magnificent natural setting with the spectacular Victoria Peak overlooking Victoria Harbour and Kowloon Peninsula. Developments in the north shore of Hong Kong Island should respect the dominance of Victoria Peak and other ridgelines / peaks when viewing from Kowloon side, in particular from the West Kowloon Cultural District; Cultural Complex at Tsim Sha Tsui; and the waterfront promenade at Kai Tak Development (Figure 3). Uncontrolled building height for developments within the view corridors which may breach the building free zone should be avoided."
I found especially amusing this objective selection of the "most beautiful harbor cities in the world" included in the document:
"The fascinating juxtaposition of the mountains, sky and sea combines to form everlasting images. Being one of the five most beautiful harbour cities in the world: Sydney, Vancouver, San Francisco, Rio de Janeiro and Hong Kong, panoramic view from Victoria Peak to Victoria Harbour should be preserved."
And notes like this provided some explanation for how much of the space is a recreational paradise, with areas to be active or just take a breather and sit down so easily accessible.
"Where practicable, continuous waterfront promenade should be provided for public enjoyment such as strolling, jogging, cycling, fishing, sitting where appropriate. Points of interest or nodes such as landscaping areas, sitting out areas, lookout areas, boardwalks, and small piers which strengthen the vitality of the waterfront should be encouraged."
My favorite line, though, had to be, "Lack of land in Hong Kong makes it difficult to respect human scale..." Aptly put, as the buildings tower over us in front of the formidable sea.
"The Hong Kong Island has a magnificent natural setting with the spectacular Victoria Peak overlooking Victoria Harbour and Kowloon Peninsula. Developments in the north shore of Hong Kong Island should respect the dominance of Victoria Peak and other ridgelines / peaks when viewing from Kowloon side, in particular from the West Kowloon Cultural District; Cultural Complex at Tsim Sha Tsui; and the waterfront promenade at Kai Tak Development (Figure 3). Uncontrolled building height for developments within the view corridors which may breach the building free zone should be avoided."
I found especially amusing this objective selection of the "most beautiful harbor cities in the world" included in the document:
"The fascinating juxtaposition of the mountains, sky and sea combines to form everlasting images. Being one of the five most beautiful harbour cities in the world: Sydney, Vancouver, San Francisco, Rio de Janeiro and Hong Kong, panoramic view from Victoria Peak to Victoria Harbour should be preserved."
And notes like this provided some explanation for how much of the space is a recreational paradise, with areas to be active or just take a breather and sit down so easily accessible.
"Where practicable, continuous waterfront promenade should be provided for public enjoyment such as strolling, jogging, cycling, fishing, sitting where appropriate. Points of interest or nodes such as landscaping areas, sitting out areas, lookout areas, boardwalks, and small piers which strengthen the vitality of the waterfront should be encouraged."
My favorite line, though, had to be, "Lack of land in Hong Kong makes it difficult to respect human scale..." Aptly put, as the buildings tower over us in front of the formidable sea.
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