Architectural culture. 3｜“Market value” dominates architectural cultural space and it is difficult to resonate

Although the Antiquities Advisory Committee expressly stipulates the "Historic Building" grading standards, there are always many variables in the development of Hong Kong's conservation architecture culture.

This stems from the misunderstanding of architectural culture by the general public, and the controversy over whether colonial buildings should be preserved based on different ideologies in society; in addition, architectural conservation has always been in a passive state, and there are many historical and social values ​​with great historical significance and social value. The buildings were all demolished for commercial needs.

When the buildings that serve as the carrier of history and culture gradually fade away, how can Hong Kong "tell the story of Hong Kong well and the story of China well"?

The myth of "decolonization" has undoubtedly become a resistance to promoting Hong Kong culture, but it is not the only reason.

In fact, the number of buildings demolished due to "decolonization" is very small, and they are mainly demolished and rebuilt due to development pressure.

Chen Huiyan, Assistant Professor of the Department of Social Sciences at Caritas Institute of Higher Education, believes that the biggest problem with Hong Kong's architecture is not that "commercialism" is the dominance, but that most of the "commercialism" in Hong Kong cannot be "people-oriented". "This is because (architecture) It's not about people, it's not about 'commercialism'. The government building is not beautiful, but it is definitely not for commercial use, and the reason it is not beautiful is that the building is a display of power."

Therefore, some people believe that Hong Kong has become a capitalist society, and the pursuit of "money first" is also the reason for the "decline" of architectural culture...

For details, please read the 328th issue of "Hong Kong 01" Electronic Weekly (August 1, 2022)

Architectural culture.

1｜What kind of Hong Kong story does the historical buildings left by the British colony tell?

Architectural culture.

2｜Searching for Hong Kong architecture that inherits the combination of East and West all depends on "collective memory"?

Architectural culture.

3｜“Market value” dominates architectural cultural space and it is difficult to resonate

Colonial history reflects national humiliation, and some people are disgusted with related historical buildings, especially Western-style classical buildings that boast unequal rights.

(Photo by Zhang Haowei)

The Huangdu Theater was once tried by the developer to force the film, but it was rated as a first-class historical building only after the citizens fought for it.

(Photo by Lin Ruoqin)

Chen Huiyan, Assistant Professor of the Department of Social Sciences at Caritas Institute of Higher Education, believes that the biggest problem in Hong Kong's architecture is not that "commercialism" dominates, but that most of the "commercialism" in Hong Kong cannot be "people-oriented".

(Photo by Huang Baoying)