Hong Kong brutalism explored: tour the island with this new architectural map

‘I by no means anticipated Hong Kong’s structure to be so fascinating and significant, particularly with out the standard affect of capitalism,‘ says Bob Pang, a Hong Kong Chinese language architect, who based the Brutalism Hong Kong Analysis Group in 2021. Over the previous 4 years, the crew of 20 researchers has uncovered and documented over 40 examples of brutalist structure within the metropolis, each standing and demolished. They’ve curated two exhibitions, authored a key publication, and contributed to quite a few talks and lectures throughout China and Asia.

Their newest mission, the bilingual Brutalist Hong Kong Map, advocates for town’s hidden architectural heritage, linking it to the worldwide brutalist narrative and interesting the worldwide community of devoted followers.

Be part of our structure tour of Hong Kong brutalism

The analysis, supported by Design Belief, a non-profit funding platform, and Leigh & Orange Architects, with roots in Hong Kong since 1874, has uncovered the lacking items of town’s architectural historical past from the Fifties to the Seventies, piecing collectively an image that had by no means been totally shaped. Unsurprisingly, Hong Kong’s brutalist structure was closely influenced by the British brutalist motion, with many key figures having studied within the UK or collaborated with famend British architects like Denys Lasdun and John Bonnington.

A wave of designs with a robust sense of geometry started to form Hong Kong’s architectural panorama within the mid-Nineteen Sixties, together with the expressive Chinese language Methodist Church North Level (Szeto Wai, 1965) and the Mies van der Rohe-influenced Chun Hom Kok Architect’s Residence (Jackson Wong, 1966).

By the Seventies, as native brutalism reached its peak, a number of iconic buildings emerged, every contributing one thing distinctive to the motion: the daring, line-crossing Diocesan Youth Retreat Hostel and Chapel (Samn Lim, 1971); the interlocking types of Chung Chi Corridor Scholar Centre (Dennis Lau, 1972); and the UFO-shaped Stewards Pooi Tun Secondary Faculty (Ronald Poon, 1975).

The findings evidently revealed how these buildings tailored to Hong Kong’s fast city progress, hilly terrain and subtropical local weather. Designed with vertical integration, they maximised compact areas for a number of makes use of, together with workshops, workplaces, canteens, leisure areas, and parking. The Jap Sea Industrial Constructing (Peter Pun, 1975), a cargo-sized, ‘pre-cast pre-stressed’ construction, exemplifies this method by combining numerous makes use of in a single high-rise.

Clear facades, corresponding to climate-responsive brise soleil and air flow blocks, seen in St Stephen’s School Particular Room Block (Tao Ho, 1981), provided pure cooling earlier than air con turned extensively inexpensive. The swift building of buildings just like the Shaw Brothers Studio Manufacturing Unit (Peter Pun, 1968), accomplished in simply 5 months, displays the period’s fast city improvement, the place longevity was maybe not a main concern.

‘The post-war architects tackled social points with designs of outstanding spatial and building high quality, producing brutalist buildings which might be each deeply related to the native context and uniquely reflective of their time,’ Pang says. Because the financial increase of the Nineteen Eighties, many iconic buildings have been demolished to make manner for bigger, extra luxurious curtain wall buildings, whereas others have been extensively renovated.

Just a few stay of their unique, well-preserved state. The Brutalist Hong Kong Map seeks to doc these surviving gems, whereas additionally encouraging a rediscovery of their attraction and a rethinking of town’s evolving city panorama.

‘For a day journey exploring Hong Kong’s Brutalist structure, begin at The Chinese language College of Hong Kong within the New Territories, the place you may simply stroll between over twenty brutalist buildings, all conveniently shut collectively.’ Pang stated, ‘Then transfer to the Hong Kong Island, start on the Chinese language Methodist Church in North Level, then take the metro to St Joseph’s Main Faculty in Wan Chai.’

‘From there, hop on a tram to Completely satisfied Valley to see Smiley Court docket flats. Finish your day with a minibus journey to Island South to go to the Residence of Jackson Wong in Chung Hom Kok, and luxuriate in a sundown on the close by seashore to cap off the expertise.’

bluecrowmedia.com