Of all the world housing crisis, Hong Kong maybe the most formidable. In the city of 7.3 millions, leads the world in housing price and inequality, with more than 220,000 people in low-income families live in dilapidated sub-divided flats, where average living space is less than 6sq.m per person.
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Kong Ha Wai Transitional Housing
Housing Architecture (Built)
Firm
Wong Tung & Partners Limited
Architect/Designer
Wong Tung & Partners Limited
Design Team
So Ching, Joanna Wong, Quentin Yau, Daniel Ho, Vivian Wong
Location
71 Kam Sheung Road, Kam Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong
Country
Hong Kong
Photographer/Copyright
©Wong Tung & Partners Limited
The Government has been promoting the development of transitional housing in the past few years, making use of short-term vacant land and premises to provide short-term accommodation to those in need and alleviate the hardship of the inadequately housed families that have been waiting for traditional public rental housing for a long time.
Transitional housing project ‘Kong Ha Wai’, located at rural area of Yuen Long, is funded by the Government under the ‘Funding Scheme to Support Transitional Housing Projects by Non-government Organisations’. Under the leadership of Housing Bureau, the project was launched with the support from Henderson Land Development Company Limited (HLD) through lending a 428,000 sq.ft parcel of land to the operating organization Pok Oi Hospital. It became the largest transitional housing project in Hong Kong – providing a total of 1,998 units to benefit approximately 40,000 people throughout the project.
Project Description
The project consists of eight 4-storey residential blocks and two amenity blocks in a rural village Kong Ha Wai, which for generations are inhibited by local clans. Access to the site is through the main road on the west. There is no public sewer and amenities nearby.
Project Objectives
Leveraging on the experience of Pok Oi Hospital in serving the community over the past century and its established local network, the provision of transitional housing services will help improve the livingquality of the underprivileged.
Supporting Government’s housing policy to provide transitional housing in the short term, Pok Oi KongHa Wai Village can help relieve the pressure of families living in and waiting in the long queue for public housing. Journeying with the residents of Pok Oi Kong Ha Wai.
DESIGN OF MiC UNITS
The primary challenge for construction is to find the fastest, most efficient method in providing housing units in a piece of almost virgin land with no infrastructure. MIC construction method are adopted, highly standardized living units are designed to suit 2-6 persons family. Each unit contains a separate area for toilet, shower and kitchen. The living space is compact yet efficient with a clear delineation of wet and dry area.
Each MiC module is constructed of structural steel frame with cross bracing to enhance its stability. The floor slab is precast concrete to prevent fire spreading. Connections between modules are simply by bolts and nuts. All the external and internal finishes and fittings are manufactured in factories and delivered to the site for installation. This ensures high standard of finishes for the living units.
Modular integrated construction (MiC) was adopted to achieve liveable environment rather than a barrack-like setting. The project was completed with aluminium kitchen cabinets for durability; vinyl wall-to-wall finishes for easy maintenance; refuse collection room for better estate management.
NORTH VILLAGE
The development is stretched over a long parcel of land. Borrowing the idea of clan/ village life in rural China, the project is divided into north and south village.
North village is near the main entrance. It is made up of several residential blocks, clustered around an old banyan tree where old Chinese villagers believe it is the fung shui protector for the village. In the heart of the village is an open space for the community to gather during festivals and events. It leads the way to South Village.
Inclusive Community
Living units grouped in small cluster are more manageable. Though living space inside the units are limited, local open space, courtyards and garden are arranged in each cluster to led residents a place to hang out. They can share a sense of familiarity, security and inclusion to the community.
Physical and psychological well-being
The project not just provide them a physical shelter but also a sense of social security. Low-income group is usually the most vulnerable group in the society, they have no money to spare and lack accessibility to resource in the society.
SOUTH VILLAGE
The south village contains a much more open area that is suitable for hosting large community events and several social activities.
With limitation in budget, the building design adopts a no-frills approach. Bold color super graphics on façade design gives individual identity for each residential block. Graphics embedding meaning of good health and prospects give these residents a sense of dignity and hope.
AMENITY BLOCKS The two amenity blocks occupy a total area of around 20,000sq.ft to house a Chinese Medicine clinic, a Western Medicine clinic, a dental clinic, a district health center, an information technology resource center, canteens, supermarket et cetera. Pok Oi Hospital will be responsible for overseeing the performance of the service provider to ensure the provision of a safe, hygienic and comfortable living environment for the residents. Through provision of daily needs, it provides convenience and sense of social security and support to their livelihood. Both the physical and psychological well-being of the residents are being taken care of.