Portfolio

Helen H.L. CHANinterior design

Content

Luen Tai Revitalization project (2013)

BUS re-running project (2012)

About ME

Essay

Hong Kong Heritage Conservation

Heritage conservation

project (2013)

Project Description On the retirement of some KMB buses in 2012, it becomes a potential project for revitalization while buses contain many important collective memories for public.In this project ,I am going to propose a design scheme sustaining these valuable cultural resources, used buses, by transforming the vehicles into space of innovative functions and programs of quality design in the local context

KMB re-running projectThe Kowloon Motor Bus Co. Ltd (KMB)

Client : The Kowloon Motor Bus Co. Ltd (KMB)Features : Since 1933 Keep improving

Eco-friendly

Responsible for social concern

( Ice Room)

I t is Hong Kong Style restaurant which is very common in 60-70s.

(small street restaurant) Everything they have to prepare is out on display, and it is cooked where people can watch.

KMB re-running project

Sea breeze on summer , High accessibility

Ka i Ta k d e v e l o p m e n t

Kai Tak Stadium (2013)Cultural activities around

Kai Tak Ribbon ParkGreen planning aside W

SITE : Kai Tak (Airport )

Kai Tak was the international airport of Hong Kong from 1925 until 1998.Located on the west side of Kowloon Bay in Kowloon, HK. Immediately to the south of the airport is Victoria Harbour. I choose this site because of her location , histor y and her development in future.

Development

Luen Tai Revitalization project

Luen Tai is a 10-storey former industrial building where is located in Kwai Tsing DistrictIt will be revitalized by Sun Hung Kai Properties Program planning is about Ginza style retail commercial center

Central Shek Kip Mei Kwai Tsing

Kwai Tsing DistrictTsuen Wan District Other

Living Area/Sex

Male

Female

Common Insight

Young people love to chill with friendsGo window-shopping in large store (e.g IKEA / G.O.D) (don't have to spend money but can kill time)Often go shopping, watch movie, have meal with friends on holiday as they have limited veriety of entertainment Like staying in air-conditioned placesPublic Space is needed for people to rest and gather

Site - Kwai Tsing

Interview with 17 young people

Surounded by schools and officesdistrict population:40% student

30% office clerk New Landmark

Concept Communication is all we need and is important towards a city. Interlocking is the best way to represent that relationship

Problem located :Disturbing Columns

1

2

345

6

5

5

1. Entrance2. Cafe3. Bar4. Staircase5. Retail Shop6. Kitchen

23644mm

34579mm

26438mm

Luen Tai Cafe

Cafe - a good place for Coummunication attracting people to come after school or work

Heritage Conservation Stone House (1941-1945)+ The only structures remained in Hau Wong Temple New Village+ Grade III historic building+ Located at the heart of Kowloon city

1. Protect historic building (preserve unique culture)2. Inherit3. Consolidate ideology

**Refer to my essay at last page

Kowloon City District features & Site

NO.31NO.32NO.33NO.34NO.35

Indication of tree

Kowloon walled city (old photo)+ Densely populated district+ Largely ungoverned settlement+ Demolished on 1994 + Become a park now

Living Museum (stone house)

Visitor centre (link of surrounding heritage)

Small society for youth(creative pop store in the open space)

cafe

Kowloon City Old district

History of Stone House

Bethel Bible Seminry(1930s) + Grade II historic building + Sun Hok Building

Hau Wong Temple (1730s )+ Grade I historic building

Former Yamen( ) Building (1847)+ Remnants of the south gate of Kowloon Walled City+ Declared monument

Program

Built Hau Wong Temple new village

let to newcomers fleeing the civil war in China

1951

residential

1970sDecoration Construction Companies()Grave and Tombstone Construction Company()

2001

clear

Only No.31-35 remained

Some had been used as industrial workshops ?Social value

* Link up thoses sites by stone house to introduce

the history of Kowloon City

Concept : lining

architectural language in line

Design Draft

There are shining treasure in every historic buildings

SCALE SITE ADDRESS1:75 NO.31-35 HAU WONG TAMPLE NEW VILLAGE KOWLOON CITY

DRAWN BY CHAN HOI LAI HELEN

61313 - 3BDRAWING NO. EL-01 EL-02

SCALE 1:75

PL-01DRAWIING NO.

SITE ADDRESSNO.31-35 HAU WONG TAMPLE

NEW VILLAGE KOWLOON CITY

DRAWN BYCHAN HOI LAI HELEN

61313 - 3B

scale 1:150

scale 1:150

scale 1:150

G/F

3~7 Museum SpaceMuseum separated into 4 parts:40-50s , 50-60s , 60-70s , 70sEvery space shows the features of that time period. 6 ~ Small garden for resting

8~ 10 Theme Cafe8 ~ Emphasizing the features of windows and doors by using vertical pattern of wood 9 ~ different views of cafe10 ~ Glass house on first floor (leafy shade area)

1~2 Visitor CenterPreserved the timber joists and decking. View of office ,briefing room and garden

3,4 5

6

7

8,9,10

1,2

2

3 4 5 6

1

3~7 Museum SpaceMuseum separated into 4 parts:40-50s , 50-60s , 60-70s , 70sEvery space shows the features of that time period. 6 ~ Small garden for resting

8~ 10 Theme Cafe8 ~ Emphasizing the features of windows and doors by using vertical pattern of wood 9 ~ different views of cafe10 ~ Glass house on first floor (leafy shade area)

1~2 Visitor CenterPreserved the timber joists and decking. View of office ,briefing room and garden

8

10

9

9

9

About ME

Cultural Criticism and ResearchDesign Feasibility Study Cultural Reformation

Hong Kong Heritage Conservation

(Essay of graduation project)

Helen Chan

Content

1 Introduction2 What is Heritage?3 Heritage Conservation4 Recent situation

5 Case Studies 5.1 Lui Seng Chun( )5.2 Blue house ( )5.3 Hong Kongs oldest pumping station (1904)

6 Conclusion6.1 What kind of future we are going to have?

7 Reference

Hong Kong Heritage Conservation

1 Introduction

Due to the economic development, the hardworking of Hong Kong people, Hong Kong has started from a small fishing port under the Lion Rock to become a world class international city. Hong Kong spirit also starts from there. Invincible, perseverance and hard-working are the words usually used to describe the unique quality of Hong Kong people. At the end of the 20th Century, Hong Kong has gone through rapid and unprecedented development and growth in the commerce and finance.

The number of modern skyscrapers increased in great numbers within the last 20 years. Hong Kong boasts to have got the most eclectic mix of building style that you cannot find anywhere else in the world. Elegant colonial structures and Modernist masterpieces stand side by side with bamboo-shooting futuristic skyscrapers. However, limited space in Hong Kong begins to form obstructer of development. Therefore, old buildings have to be removed to make more for development of commercial areas. Since then, lots of historic buildings have been destroyed, like the Queens Pier, Lee Tung Street and many Tong Lau Most of the popular memories is disappearing. Hong Kong people seem to have only wakened up gradually. Demonstrations for defending Queens Pier and the other heritage conservation movements show us that people have become aware that they have to get back the right to determine the way to build the future of Hong Kong. That involved some conflicts between the citizen and government. We can say that it is also a problem of competition between heritage conservation and development. So what is heritage? What is heritage conservation? What is our recent situation? What kind of future we are going to have? What can we do to protect the historic buildings? Rebuild? Reinforce? Re-use? The following will try to provide answers to these questions by some analyses and case studies. Development in Macau and the recent strife on the redevelopment of the old Central Government Offices will also be examined in this essay to see in what ways the heritage in Hong Kong can be safeguarded.

2 What is Heritage?

Heritage refers to something inherited from the past. It is a form of precious memory of human. It is safe to say that Heritage bears witness to the development of our city and is a valuable and unique asset of our community. Old buildings always have strong relationship with heritage. French famous poet Victor Hugo (1802-1885) imagines that building is history book which is writes by stone. All great cerebration of human activities had been written on these stones. That means building is our history, how can we destroy our history? However, it seems good in theory but doesnt work out in practice. Demolition or redevelopment of historic buildings is necessary in reality. Otherwise, the development of society will be hindered. Also, it is dangerous to live in rattletrap structures. The building collapse in Hung Hom a few years ago aptly reminds us how dangerous it could be.

Apart from history, heritage also refers to something special, meaningful, carrying great intrinsic value. Most of cultural heritage contains human emotions; otherwise they are just dead objects no matter masterpieces or monoliths.

3 Heritage Conservation

As we become aware of the importance of heritage to the society, it is easy to understand why people started to advocate heritage conservation. Hong Kong Government seems realize the voice of her citizen and begin to set up offices, committees, commissions to tackle these issues. Antiquities and Monuments Office under Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Advisory Committee on Revitalization of Historic Buildings and The Commissioner for Heritage's Office (CHO) are the most significant examples.

However, are they really providing help for the conservation? What did they do? Any problem they are facing to?

4 Recent situation

Since 2008, seven selected historic buildings in Hong Kong have been identified as suitable for use by new occupants after going through assessment under the Revitalizing Historic Building Through Partnership Scheme. Up to now, most of these projects are almost completed. Other similar projects arranged by some organizations are underway. In the following, we are going to study 2 cases in Hong Kong, with one of them showing innovative idea for re-use.

Case Studies

5.1 Lui Seng Chun( )

Lui Seng Chun, a Grade I historic building, which is in Mong Kok, has been revitalized into the Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine and Healthcare Centre. This is the third completed project under the Revitalizing Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme (the Revitalization Scheme) following the North Kowloon Magistracy and the Old Tai O Police Station projects. This is one of the significant case for rebuild, reinforce and re-use

Before & after

Rebuild and Reinforce Referring to the characteristic design of Lui Seng Chun, rebuild and reinforce also have been used in this project. From the photos above, it is easy to recognize that exterior glass windows have been added to create more space and separate noises and pollutions from the street. And new colors have been painted on the exterior walls. For the interior, most of the wood decorations have been repaired by new wood, but still retaining the original shapes and colors. Even the floor tiles, all the original elements have been kept.

The Double Doors after Basic Repair Works

Re-use

Under the collaboration of the Government and non-profitmaking organizations, government-owned historic buildings are revitalized and operated in the form of non-profit-making social enterprises for the economic and social benefits of the community. After careful selection process under the Scheme, a new use has been identified for Lui Seng Chun, which is turned into the Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine and Healthcare Centre Lui Seng Chun. The revitalized Lui Seng Chun as a Chinese medicine and healthcare centre not only can reflect the original use of the building but also will enable it to continue with its former role of serving the community. Here is the chat explainning the function of each floors:

Apar t f rom Chinese medic ine and healthcare service, free guided tours will also be provided at the revitalized Lui Seng Chun. The public can visit the display area showing information on the Luis family, Lui Seng Chun and the history of Chinese tenements in Hong Kong

David Lui, who was born in Lui Seng Chun, uses to tell visitors the following: Lui Seng Chun has always been our home. Now that it has found a new use, and that the building can be preserved with the community served at the same time, I think this is the perfect outcome.

5.2 Blue House ( )

Blue House refers to a 4-storey balcony-type tenement block located at 72-74A Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai. It is named after the brilliant blue color painted on its external walls. It is one of the few remaining examples of Tong Lau of the balcony type in Hong Kong and is classified as Grade I historic building.

ReinforceBuilt on 1920, it is nearly 100 years of age. As usual, it is a wood structure. So reinforcement is necessary for improving it safty. Compare with Lui Seng Chun, Blue House has not made any change on the exterior of the building. No new color is painted on it. It remains practical and pragmatic. In Lui Seng Chun, we can see that most of the decorations and finishes are new, and lordly. For Blue House, we may experience the real condition of Hong Kong Tong Lau, which is friendly and civilian.

Function

We are glad to hear that the Blue House residents are allowed to stay with the tenement for the execution of the revitalization scheme. In blue house, we may find how people were living in the past. For the elderlies, they could find their collective memories. For teenager, it is a good education tools for them to experience the Hong Kong culture and history. Apart from the residential areas, there is a small museum call The House of Stories consisting of a variety of activities, like house tour, a paper puppet theatre on the story of the house, a Blue House Cup football match and local snacks prepared by housewives in the neighborhood. Those events help promoting Hong Kong culture and build up relationship between history and people.

Stair Blue house after revitalization

5.3 Hong Kongs oldest pumping station (1904)

Built in 1904, the Tai Tam Tuk Pumping Station was awarded Grade I status by the Antiquities Advisory Board in 1994. It is the oldest functioning pumping facility in Hong Kongs water supply history.

World-famous watch maker Piaget held its prestigious gala dinner in this Grade I historic building. Commissioner for Heritages Office and Water Supplies Department provided old architectural drawings, photographs and other decommissioned equipment for display during a cocktail reception which took place inside the pumping station for over 100 guests.

It tells us that historic building could be a unique venue for events. That is a creative idea which could revitalize our historic buildings. Promote the build to public, give a completely different image to the building, let the building tell story to the guests.

However, it may not be a good idea for long term development. It is because good conservation should be able to provide a comprehensive and sustainable plan on its future function role.

6 Conclusion

While planning a heritage project, we should ask three questions. Who will be the user? What is the function of the building? What is the best way to carry out the project? That would determine the items we mentioned at above: Rebuild , Reinforce and Re-use.

We are not saying that Lui Seng Chun is an unsuccessful project; we understand that as a clinic, as a public service usage, it should have a better appearance to enhance the reliance of public. And that is great to receive positive feedback from the Luis family. But for a good conservation project, we should propose them into keep it original. And consider more about the citizens because we have to be reminded that Heritage is always connected to human. What they feel can be significant? What they want have to be respected? We cannot deny that these are the most important considerations.

There is no formula for carrying out a heritage project. Every building is unique. Each has its own history having different memories for people, so it is hard to plan them in stereotyped manner.

6.1 What kind of future we are going to have?

A c t u a l l y , t h e r e a r e l o t s o f w a y s f o r revitalization. The Blue House project is encouraging to participate setting a new mode for our heritage conservation work in Hong Kong. Although there were some disputes in our society before, we can see that government is improving. The coming revitalization project will provide further experiences to us. Spirit of Hong Kong will evolve and develop. Lead us to unite, to hang together.

Reference

Website

http://www.heritage.gov.hk/tc/index.htm

Blog of interviewhttp://leila1301.mysinablog.com/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=489404

h t t p : / / b l o g . y a h o o . c o m / _J5EXNDE2KA4J2T2P5SGGQJY5QU/articles/710717

Reading materials

Hong Kong Style

Thank You

Helen H.L. CHANhelenchanhl@live.hkinterior designer