When will Hong Kong stop building skyscraping boxes with bay windows?
Our outdated building regulations are too rigid, aimed more at preventing possible violations than promoting human-friendly design
Undersecretary for Development David Lam Chi-man recently called for a fresh “facilitator” mindset to streamline the project vetting and approval process, while the Buildings, Fire Services, Highways and Water Supplies Departments all committed to cutting excessive red tape. Such initiatives are a small step in saving resources and time, and a giant leap in inspiring new development interests.
The message shines a welcome light, showing that even bureaucracy can change and adapt to the current market conditions. To reinvent ourselves, we should not stop at streamlining the process, but should also question the quality of our built environments.
His words remind me of Hong Kong buildings, and I don’t mean particular starchitects’ masterpieces, skyscrapers or cultural facilities. I mean the everyday architecture where most people live and work.