Opinion | See the beauty in Hong Kong’s ‘boring’ housing estates, don’t tear them down
- Redevelopment decisions should not be taken lightly, especially with regard to the iconic Choi Hung Estate and Tai Hang Sai Estate, an architectural gem
- We should cherish the buildings people are already celebrating and preserve them, while finding meaning and beauty in everyday architecture
In 1929, French master architect Le Corbusier published The City of To-morrow and Its Planning, his revolutionary urbanisation concept. His manifesto was in defiance of how most European cities had organically developed since the Industrial Revolution, their uncontrolled growth often lacking order or any thorough planning.
While we appreciate the unique character of many former medieval cities today, at the time, they were often chaotic, unhygienic and congested. Le Corbusier provided a much overdue solution to the demand for economical housing, efficient mobility and shared urban space.
City planners inspired by Le Corbusier spaced out skyscrapers to welcome natural light and ventilation, increasing density by stacking floors and efficiency through unitisation and standardisation.
Gone were the narrow alleys, makeshift annexes and private yards, replaced by wider roads, orderly geometric blocks and shared open space on the ground. This urbanisation model spread rapidly, including to Hong Kong.
We built towers reaching new heights, with prescribed windows and site coverage limitations outlined in our building codes. For most of us, home is a flat in a private or public housing estate, the architecture often seeming bland and boring. But all architecture chronicles development and good examples are not only functional but also a rich reflection of history or culture. Before passing superficial judgment, we should seek to understand both the cultural and pragmatic context.
