Transformative public landscapes- interventions at the graham st. Market, Central, Hong Kong

Ref.: 278
Key theme: 03 Visual integrity of historic urban landscapes
Date of reception: 15/11/2008

AUTHORS (*Main author)

YIU, Marisa * (China) - The University Of Hong Kong

ABSTRACT

This paper explores multiple scales of design advocacy from an architectural, public art and urbanism view point to determine and define what a historic urban landscape (HUL) could envision. It will ask how important this must be considered in the process of `development' for a dense urban environment in Hong Kong. The visual and built integrity of the HUL is tested from a series of designed Light public art installations as part of a research, built and design seminar entitled, `'The Politics of the Object: Transformative Public and Cultural landscapes'. The site is the Graham St. Market, a critical 150-year old Open wet market in a dense urban area located in the highest land prices of Hong Kong. Its current landscape fabric is composed of low rise buildings on a sloping topography, with a diverse community in close proximity to the Central Business District and the dining and entertainment hubs of Hong Kong thus has an extended social and cultural impact. This site is currently undergoing the irreversible resumption process by the Hong Kong Urban Renewal Authority and zoned as a `Comprehensive Development Area' (CDA). This contentious yet sensitive site has met fervent objections whilst confirmed with the go ahead on its development strategy.
As a response to this on a late Tuesday evening in April 2008, the Graham Street. market typically dimly lit, quiet and abandoned was transformed. Seven light installations were switched on to create an event space. Seemingly innocent work was displayed; yet, at a closer examination a series of provocative questions were raised by a group from the Department of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong. At around 7:30pm the open air market peeters down and stall owners close shop to leave from a long day of hectic and bustling energy. Hawkers lock up their cubicles, including the wet market fish mongers and herbal stores, leaving only a few fruit stores and flower sellers to remain further into the late night. Street cleaners appear late evening, with their hoses of high pressure water rushing down at steady speed onto the alleyways to flush out the daily grime, to leave only the swirling of grey water at the brim of the drains. The sectional topography of the Graham St. market gives the neighborhood its character and at night the market becomes silent, surreal and meditative. Passer-bys were surprisingly confronted by the works: some installations were hung on hawker booths, others were suspended off a corner post and another subtly projecting messages intermittingly on a dilapidated exterior wall. Light, text and panels informed the onlookers regarding the fate of the market. With these probing questions, remarks were made on the status of the future change of this neighborhood, slated for `development'.
Due to the strategic location of this dynamic open market ­its proposed developments of high-rise towers and hotel has conjured staunch opposition from various groups, activists and residents. Preservation of the cultural and intangible values of the neighborhood- the social networks of hawkers, residents, visitors and tourists that depend on the market who work and live in the area are under threat due to the seven year construction process ahead. The paper explores the problems and potentials through the lens of a seminar that I conducted in collaboration with Ms. Katty Law, co-founder of the `Save the Street Market Campaign' (and Central and Western Cmmunity Concern group) and a lighting consultant Mr. Christopher Mok (Spectrum Design Associates). This four month seminar course produced field work research and a final design project as seven light installations installed in the market. Each installation dealt with the politics of the markets' transformation and acted as tools for advocacy, raising public awareness on these critical issues for HK. Starting as an educational initiative, the paper will explore further the outcome with ongoing discussions with individuals from various government to non for profit organizations and postulate on the potential of alternative working models. Imaginative practices to augment the visual integrity of the neighborhood, integrate the existing community and `not raze and demolish' will be examined. Furthermore, creative practices, sustainable green projects, community based led architectural propositions, unconventional models of collaboration with government bodies, developers through lighting strategies, visual programs should be proposed as `flexible' case strategies. In particular, this neighborhood should be granted as an unique opportunity to experiment with an `alternative' model of development. The livelihood of the current hawkers, surrounding tenants, community, safety, interest from a tourism position to a commercial future viability from a societal angle must be in place for this extremely vital, rich, and complex public, historic yet contemporary landscape to continue in the heart of Central, Hong Kong.
(More information of the Seminar projects are at http://blog.ad.arch.hku.hk/5108b/)

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