Housing in Place: Quality Living for Sustainable Hong Kong / The University of Hong Kong / Research, Architecture / 2021 - ongoing
Through conversion of four floors of a vacant building awaiting demolition in the heart of Jordan, into a Community Space and Demonstration Housing, the project examines how the thousands of underutilized buildings awaiting lengthy redevelopment processes could be used to generate quality housing spaces in accessible locations, improve existing housing stocks, and provide crucial community spaces in areas with the highest concentration of population in need of social services.
The project demonstrates how conscious removal can be a successful design method and intent, through peeling of accumulated materials and elements. Adding as little as possible, the subtle negotiation between existing, removed, found and added creates space which doesn’t negate its past at the same time offering a high quality environment for those in urgent needs. By disposing of dilapidated structures and toxic materials, improving natural ventilation and daylight access, as well as inserting high-quality new components that could be relocated and reused at future sites, the project aims to be environmentally, economically, and socially responsible.
‘Housing in Place’ is a project developed by Urban Ecologies Design Lab at Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong.
