For a class that i'm taking at Hong Kong University this summer we were taken on somewhat of a tour around Kowloon. We visited many interesting places and were encouraged to blog about our experience and what we learned after the event. Here is what I learned about six of the fascinating places we visited.
Energizing Kowloon East Office
Energizing Kowloon East Office is a government office that was assigned the task of bringing Kowloon to life and retrofitting it to become a satellite business district. Here we learned about CBD2 or Central Business District 2 which is being created by EKEO as a satellite business district for Hong Kong's central business district. CBD2 is broken down into three major parts: Kai Tak waterfront development, Kowloon business area, and Kwun Tong business area. Kowloon east can provide 7.1 million square meters of land for the new CBD2; 1.7 million from Kai Tak development, 3.5 million from Kowloon bay and Kwun Tong development, and 1.9 million from existing developed areas. But EKEO is not simply interested in just turning this old manufacturing district into a new business district, their vision goes far beyond that. EKEO is a pioneer in place making. What is place making you ask? Place making is creating an environment where people want to work, play, walk, relax, and live. They want to create an enjoyable urban area, and that's exactly what they're going to do. Their plan for CBD2 consists of four major elements: Connectivity, Branding , Design, and Diversity. Enhancing the connectivity of the area is a huge part of their design, they want people to be connected to the city and not just live in it. In doing this many parks and play areas will be brought into the city, streets will be turned into "green boulevards" by lining them with trees, and environmentally friendly linkage systems will be implemented throughout the city for pedestrians to be able to access every wonderful part of this phenomenon. Another major goal is to give the area somewhat of a brand name, give it some recognition that everyone will realize as the new Kowloon. An international ideas competition is going to be launched to find the best proposal for the water body between the old airport runway and Kwun Tong Waterfront. One interesting idea that was given was a water park wonderland right on the water, pretty out there for a central business district, i thought, but certainly an attention grabber. If you're interested in a taste you can visit the Kwun Tong promenade which is located right along the bay near the EKEO office and see a section of one of their place-making sites finished for use, it's quite impressive. All in all a very interesting approach that really leaves you on the edge of your seat to see more. |
Enterprise Square Five
Enterprise Square Five is a 1.6 million square foot office/retail landmark located in Kowloon and designed by Kerry Properties. It is comprised of two 15-story office buildings and Megabox, a 19-story shopping center. Although its two office buildings are certainly no eye-sore, Megabox is by far the main focus of property. with all of it's 1.1 million square feet, making it the largest shopping mall in Eastern Kowloon, there is no one that this megamall won't surprise. The mall contains the first ever commercial IMAX theatre in Hong Kong as well as having the only ice rink in Hong Kong to meet international standards. It's riddled with high-speed escalators and its exciting design makes sure that there is always something to look at. Not to mention you'll never leave hungry as there's something for everyone when it comes to dining. Although this mall seems to have everything, it does have its downfalls. Although it provides a 1000 car parking garage, it you're coming by train you may be in for a disappointment as the nearest subway station is a 15 minute shuttle ride away and even though it is a free service it is not always the most reliable. |
Zero Carbon Building
Across from legendary Megabox shopping mall lies a beautiful green area with the revolutionary Zero Carbon Building. The Zero Carbon Building utilizes many different techniques to ensure that it is self-sufficient when it comes to energy usage. Its main methods to do this are its passive design, active systems, and use of renewable energy. Passive design is the use of natural elements in the design of the building. ZCB utilizes this in thirteen different ways. Its main techniques are using wind and the earth to cool down air used in the ventilation systems as well as using a number of different glazing and shading techniques to block out heat from the sun and using "light pipes" to reflect sun light from domes on the roof into the rooms of the building for natural lighting. Active systems are systems such as electrical and mechanical systems that in the ZCB are created to be extremely energy efficient to save power. Some of ZCB's active systems are high-volume-low-speed fans and a high temperature cooling system, which works more efficiently to cool the building instead of using up extra energy. It also utilizes natural light to cut back on electricity, a regenerative lift that saves energy, and a bio-diesel tri-generation system that combines heating, cooling, and power generation as well as using biofuel made from waste cooking oil which makes it 75% energy efficient compared to 40% for most conventional power plants. Finally ZCB has two main sources of renewable energy: biofuel, which was already mentioned, and photovoltaic panels. ZCB has three different types of photovoltaic panels which can generate up to 87MWh of electricity per year. All of this together is what makes ZCB Hong Kong's first completely energy self sufficient building and is a huge step forward in Hong Kong's transition to a low carbon economy. |
Telford Gardens
Telford Gardens is an excellent example of one of Hong Kong's self-sufficient communities. It includes 41 residential blocks that were built in 1980 as well as two plazas with a wide variety of amenities. The complex has restaurants, banks, shops, department stores, a kindergarten, community center, music and dace centers, clinics, and part of the City University of Hong Kong. Telford Gardens even has its own clubhouse that includes swimming pools, tennis courts, and a fitness center. The clubhouse was originally open to the public but as of 2006 is members only. The area utilizes overhangs that connect most of the entire area and it is even connected to a very nearby MTR station making it easy to acquire whatever you may need regardless of the weather. Telford Gardens shows how simple and convenient life in Hong Kong can truly be. |
Kowloon Walled City
What is now the Kowloon Walled City Park occupies one of the most historical sites in the area. First fortified in 1668 the importance of the area wasn't appreciated by China until the British occupation of Hong Kong island in 1841. In 1846 a walled garrison city was constructed as a fort used by the Chinese to help defend themselves from the British. In 1898 the New Territories were handed over to the British for a 99 year term and in 1899 British troops were sent to take over the city and the Qing officials and soldiers were expelled from the city. This led to the deterioration of the city and eventually caused it to become a somewhat lawless area. During the Japanese occupation of 1941-45 the walls of the city were torn down to build the nearby Kai Tak airport. Once the Japanese left, highly illegal and poorly constructed high-rise tenements were built back to back and the area became riddled with drug dealers, criminals, and unlicensed "professionals" of many varieties. In 1987 the decision was made to clean up the area, rid it of its illegal structures, and build a park and in 1994 demolition was finally completed. Now a beautiful 31,000 square meter park with eight individual scenic zones stands in its place becoming just another example of the immaculate things that Hong Kong can accomplish. |
Wong Tai Sin Temple
The Wong Tai Sin Temple is home to three different religions: Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. It is named after the famous Wong Chuping who began following Taoism when he was fifteen and achieved enlightenment forty years later, becoming immortal. Many people from all around the world visit the temple to have their fortunes told. They light joss sticks, kneel down in front of the main altar, make a wish, and then shake a cylinder full of "fortune sticks" until one falls out. The fortune stick is then taken to a fortune teller and exchanged for a piece of paper bearing the same number as the stick, their fortune is told to them based off of the number they received. The temple has many worshippers in Hong Kong and is therefore very busy all year long, especially around the Chinese Lunar New Year and Wong Tai Sin's birthday which is the twenty-third day of the eighth lunar month. |
References1. http://zcb.hkcic.org/Eng/index.aspx 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telford_Gardens 3. http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/hongkong/kowloon/wongtaisin_temple.htm 4. http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/see-do/highlight-attractions/top-10/sik-sik-yuen-wong-tai-sin-temple.jsp 5. http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/parks/kwcp/en/index.php 6. http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/see-do/culture-heritage/historical-sites/chinese/kowloon-walled-city-park.jsp | Images1. http://www.ekeo.gov.hk/filemanager/content/award/photo_award_3_large.jpg 2. http://www.building.hk/Edit/UploadFile/2014062309482173499.jpg 3. http://starphotohk.com/hk-place/2007/20070529-KowloonBayMegaBOX01-600.jpg 4. http://www.prc-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Zero-Carbon-Building-designed-by-Ronald-Lu-Partners.jpg 5. http://zcb.hkcic.org/Eng/Images/Features/pv.jpg 6. https://static.groupon.hk/67/73/1381459217367.jpg 7. http://www.timeout.com.hk/media/fck/images/154/kwc-main-977x635.jpg 8. http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/02/48/cb/91/kowloon-walled-city-park.jpg 9.http://static.asiawebdirect.com/m/phuket/portals/hong-kong-hotels-ws/homepage/attractions/wong-tai-sin-temple/allParagraphs/04/image/wong-tai-sin-temple-02.jpg |