Sustainability and Engineering Profession (CON4433)

Lecture 5 – Urban Development and

Built Heritage Preservation

© VTC 2013

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Issue of Urban Living space in HK

Urban decay

High population density

Population congestion

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Introduction

Hong Kong has a relatively small amount of land to accommodate a large and growing population.

As population grows the urbanization of society is inevitable.

Urbanization leads to an increased impact on the environment;

the 'ecological footprint’ of cities is spreading

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Hong Kong possesses a lot of sites which contain archaeological, historical and religious value.

There provide a means of understanding of the past. It also provides a focus for community identity and cultivates a sense of belonging to Hong Kong.

Therefore, balance the issue of improve people live and protection of built heritage is an important work in Hong Kong.

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Urban decay

Most of the private buildings in Hong Kong were built after World War II. In some old district, i.e. Sham Shui Po, many of the buildings were built between 1950-1970.

The social awareness in timely building maintenance is low in the last century.

The income at those dilapidated district is below average.

Many of the tenement houses do not have Incorporated Owners.

Some of the registered owners were deceased/moved oversea and could not be found. Lack of building maintenance

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Problem of Old Urban

Mixed urban land use

Congested living conditions

Traffic congestion - Narrow streets

Lack of open space and green areas

Environmental degraded

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Solution of urban decays

Revitalisation

Redevelopments

Rehabilitation.

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What is heritage?

monuments

groups of buildings

sites

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Key Measures for Heritage Preservation in Hong Kong

Sites or buildings with historical/cultural significance can be protected through:

declaration as monuments

Recording/grading.

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Declared Monuments

Places, buildings, sites or structures may be gazetted and protected

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Apart from the relevant importance of buildings

historical interest, factors such as structural stability of the premises, planning proposals for the site, land status and liability to pay compensation are also relevant in considering possible declaration of monuments.

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Legislation framework

Ordinance: Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance (Cap 53).

Authority: the Secretary for Home Affairs

Public consultation: Antiquities Advisory Board

approval of the Chief Executive,

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Recording/Grading Buildings and Sites

Buildings have the following characteristics may be considered for preservation/grading:

Old age

Special historical interest

Association with important events or well-know persons

Outstanding architectural merits

Group values

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Grading of Buildings/Archaeological sites

Buildings are generally categorised into 3 grades

Archaeological sites are classified into 3 categories

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Buildings are generally categorised into 3 grades

Grade I - Buildings of outstanding merits, which every effort should be made to preserve if possible.

Grade II - Buildings of special merits, which efforts should be made to selectively preserve.

Grade III - Buildings of some merit, but not yet qualified for consideration as possible monuments. These buildings are to be recorded and used as a pool for future selection.

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Archaeological sites are classified into 3 categories

Designated – those which have been declared as monuments. They are to be protected and conserved.

Administrative Protection – those which are considered to be of significant value but which area not declared as monuments. If it is not possible to protect these sites then salvage excavation should be conducted.

Monitored – those which are of lesser significance or whose potential is not fully assessed. Disturbance of these sites is to be avoided, although minor works may be permitted if monitored by AMO.

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What is Conservation?

Preservation = Conservation ?

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What is Conservation?

All the processed of looking after a place so as to retain its cultural significance … includes maintenance and may according to circumstance include: Preservation Restoration Reconstruction

Commonly s combination of more than one of these.

“Cultural significance” means aesthetic, historic scientific or social value for past, present or future generations.

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What is Conservation?

Preservation: maintaining the heritage in its existing state and retarding deterioration.

Rehabilitation:

restoring the EXISTING heritage to a known earlier state by removing accretions or by reassembling existing components without the introduction of new material.

Modification of the usage to suit proposed is possible

Reconstruction: returning a place as nearly as possible to a known earlier state … distinguished by the introduction of materials (new or old) into the heritage… not to be confused with either re-creation or conjectural reconstruction.

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Preservation:

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Preservation:

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Rehabilitation:

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Rehabilitation:

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Reconstruction:

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Factor of consideration in Heritage Conservation:

1. Inter-linkage between heritage and its further usage.

2. Continue of community activity

3. In harmony with heritage environmental

4. The influence of community and citizen

5. Preservation of collective memories and community culture

6. Improvement of whole community planning

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Built heritage conservation in Hong Kong

the Government recognition.

The policy stated “It is important to rehabilitate and preserve unique buildings as this not only accords with our objective of sustainable development but also facilitates the retention of inherent characteristics of different districts, and helps promote tourism. The concept of preserving out heritage should be incorporated into all projects for developing old area”.

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Legislation/Guidelines for Heritage Preservation

Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance (Cap.53)

Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance (Cap.499 s.16)

Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines (HKPSG)

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Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO)

provides secretarial and executive support to the AAB in conserving places of historical and archaeological interest,

is the executive arm of the Antiquities Authority.

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Role of AMO identifying, recording and researching on buildings and items of

historical interest; organizing and coordinating surveys and excavations of areas of

archaeological. significance; maintaining and developing archives of written and photographic

material relating to heritage sites; organizing the protection, restoration and maintenance of

monuments; assessing and evaluating the impact of development projects on

heritage sites, as well as organizing appropriate mitigation measures;

arranging adaptive reuse of suitable historical buildings; and fostering public awareness of Hong Kong's heritage through

education and pulicity programmes such as exhibitions, lectures, tours, workshops and setting up of heritage trails, etc

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Heritage Conservation and Development Control

In the planning process, to protect and preserve buildings of historical or architectural

merits.

Town Planners : recommending appropriate zonings and uses in achieving

conservation, enhancing the environment of historical buildings and

integrating the buildings with the surrounding developments.

Many factors including: ownership, land status, existing land use and development rights.

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Not all the historical buildings are declared under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance,

many situations the existing town planning mechanisms may encourage the owners to conserve the whole or part of a historical building through administrative means.

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