Vertical Living: A Historical Perspective on Hong Kong's High-Rise Planned Communities

Description

Hong Kong’s planning history has been shaped by the twin challenges of land scarcity and population growth. Following the Second World War, Hong Kong experienced an explosive population surge that necessitated innovative and efficient housing solutions. Enterprising investors, both local and international, recognized the burgeoning opportunities within the real estate sector and introduced the concept of high-rise “planned communities.” One such iconic development is Mei Foo Sun Chuen, completed between 1968 and 1978. It exemplifies the planned community model, featuring communal amenities, modern flat designs, and comprehensive housing management. High-rise planned communities catered to the emerging middle class of the 1960s, who sought a comfortable lifestyle that traditional housing options in Hong Kong could not provide. Their developments were facilitated by evolving building legislation, which allowed for increased building density. The high-rise planned community model has proliferated throughout Hong Kong since the late 1960s, setting a new standard for the city’s middle-class housing market and becoming the predominant choice for residents to this day.

This lecture explores the key factors that have driven Hong Kong’s urban revolution, tracing the journey from modest tenements to the forest of residential towers that now define Hong Kong’s skyline. It examines the intricate tapestry of Hong Kong’s urban growth by analyzing policy changes, investment trends, and social dynamics—all of which have played a role in shaping the city’s vertical urbanism.

Period	28 Jun 2024
Event title	20th International Planning History Society Biennial Conference: The (High Density) Metropolis and Region in Planning History
Event type	Conference
Location	Hong Kong, Hong KongShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International