Made in Hong Kong : re-envisioning the pedestrian interface

Abstract

The thesis begins with an interest in the diversity and ambiguity of open spaces in a consumption oriented society: Hong Kong. The hustle and bustle of informal markets, together with the traditional pedestrian streets that ow from the mountains down to the waterfront are typical examples of such open spaces. However, these multifunctional spaces are being eliminated now, with the domination of megamalls. This phenomenon gives rise to a conflict between the usurpation of open space by commercialism and citizens' needs for daily use of it. The thesis aims to reintegrate the original diversity and ambiguity into current open spaces of Hong Kong. The author addressed this problem by researching the contemporary and historical making and use of open spaces within the evolution of Hong Kong's economic structure. By diagraming a spectrum of shopping spaces with such characteristics, the thesis proposes an interior urbanism, an alternative pedestrian interface, that not only extends the commercial core to its waterfront, but also provides a new playground for dynamic civic life. As an architectural device, the interface facilitates the movement of people from a subway station to a ferry terminal. Within this process, the interface creates "moments" with a juxtaposition of four types of commercial programs- informal markets, street retail stores, mall stores, and luxury flagships- and a view of the harbor. In such moments, both locals and tourists have an unique city experience that belongs only to Hong Kong.