Community topics
Written by: Lu Nuojun Huang Weimin
2020-11-13 09:00
Last update date: 2020-11-13 09:00
Two of the Mei Tung Village, which has been standing in Kowloon City for more than 40 years, are expected to be rebuilt next year and are expected to provide 2,800 public housing units.
This old housing estate adjacent to the Kowloon Walled City in the past is the first single public housing estate in Hong Kong. It has witnessed the changes in Hong Kong's history and its design is also very architectural.
Dr. Wei Cuizhi, who is known as a "Public Housing Expert" and has worked as an architect in the Housing Department for more than 30 years, said that although Mei Tung Village is small in scale, each of the four buildings was built at different times. Over 40 years, the "jumping" development history of building design.
The Zhongmei East Building has a "pedestal" and a "high block", which are very rare in Hong Kong.
The city’s remains of the sea are facing the fate of demolition. In a social environment where "a house is hard to find", should all of them remain or should they move forward?
In recent years, many citizens have begun to pay attention to the old-style public housing design, which has successively caused a "check-in" boom. However, when it comes to characteristic housing estates in various districts, they rarely think of Mei Tung Village.
Mei Tung Village, located on Tung Tau Village Road, Kowloon City, was completed in 1974.
In the past, due to its proximity to the old Kai Tak airport, the two early buildings were only 10 floors high.
So far, many shops in Mei Tung Village have been vacated. It is hard to imagine the bustling scene adjacent to the Kowloon Walled City in the past.
This day, the reporter and Dr. Wei Cuizhi, who had participated in the construction of Cuiping Village and Ma Hang Village, came to Meidong Village.
Dr. Wei pointed out that the location of Meidong Village used to be the squatter area of Dongtou Village. In 1951, a fire broke out in the squatter area. The government began to encourage some religious groups and non-profit organizations to build relatively stable bungalows there, so it became Dongtou. Bungalow area.
Dr. Wei believes that its contribution to history and its historical value to the public are more important than the building itself.
(Photo by Huang Weimin)
Unsuccessful land resumption results in characteristic base design
In the 1970s, the government launched the "Government Low-rent Housing Scheme". However, some villagers in the Dongtou Bungalow Area believed that the bungalows were already government-recognized housing. At that time, the government encountered a lot of opposition in the resumption of land. Among the 4 bungalow villages, only successful I received two pieces. "The original design concept of (the first completed Meidong Building) was that there were two floors of residences below, and other tall buildings were raised above them. However, because they did not reach the ground, the project could not continue." Wei The doctor pointed out that it became the current design of Meidong Building with only two floors on one side of the base, which is very rare in Hong Kong. "Although it was a difficulty at the time, it changed the characteristics of this village."
At first it was only named after the number
The Hong Kong Housing Authority was established in 1973, integrating the then Works Bureau, Resettlement Office, and Building Construction Committee. Government low-rent housing and resettlement areas in various districts have also become public housing estates. It was named after the number (Block 6), and in 1974 it was first renamed Meidonglou and Meidongcun.” By 1981, the government built another Meibao Building on the northwest side of the Meidong Building, providing 133 units.
In 2001, the remaining bungalows were demolished, and the government built Meiren Building and Mei De Building in 2010 and 2014 respectively. "They adopted two designs that were adapted to local conditions, instead of adopting the 50-year-old " "Standard building design" instead of "non-standard building design"." Dr. Wei said.
"(New and old) have their own specialties. I personally think that the new public housing estates are actually easy to live in. The equipment and planning are all well equipped. It is not the old housing estate."
Former Housing Department Architect Dr. David Wai
The old-style public housing estates were built relatively short and low in density. Walking into the village, the cool breeze of late autumn was blowing.
"If you talk about a superior place, you will feel so comfortable when you arrive. I am used to seeing high-rise buildings, but I feel so comfortable when I see low-rise buildings." However, Dr. Wei pointed out that the housing problem in Hong Kong has become more serious. The old design may have to compromise.
"(New and old) have their own specialties. I personally think that the new public housing estates are actually easy to live in. The equipment and planning are all well equipped. It is not the old housing estate."
Rethinking conservation issues
"Some people think it’s special. Actually, I should keep the village as a village? I have another way of looking at it... When we keep or conserve something, it’s actually a culture. Value, history does not mean that there is historical value.” Dr. Wei believes that compared to the building itself, its contribution to history and its historical value to the public are more important. “Our principles for conservation are all about taking the previous The next generation. The new building should be preserved. It is indeed a problem worth considering. If they (buildings) don’t get a strong message, should they solve the current social problems?"
Chunyang Village's new public housing estates are often thrown away if they are not used
Public Housing Association of Public Housing Association for Semi-annual Maintenance and Maintenance of Recreation Facilities in Estates: Too few suppliers should introduce competition
In the eyes of netizens, the most favorable public housing estate in Ping Shek Village is 2 minutes to the MTR Sha Tin Estate’s swimming pool comparable to private buildings
01Community
01 VideoKowloon City Community Public Housing Historic Buildings
