Low-Rise
Urban Renewal
Architectural Assistant, Architecture Commons Ltd. 2022
Causeway Bay has been a dense commercial district since the mid-20th century. The low rise buildings shelter mixed functions and businesses, creating a complex urban ecology in between the big shopping malls and offices. Many of them were poorly maintained and began to crumble down from the facade. To respond to the new redevelopment plan directed by the biggest landlord of the district, a project was proposed to give new characters to the streets and the low-rise buildings, attracting more young tenants and residents to cultivate in an urban village.
Rather than kick-starting with urban plans and maps, our team began the design phase from the perspective of walking citizens on the streets. We collected some interesting perspective photographs which can talk about the depths, the widths and the density of the specific streets. The initial ideas were sketched directly on the perspective reference and highlighted the corners and surfaces which may contribute to the schematic design phase. In the design, the existing buildings would be preserved while the balconies, windows and door gates become the main agents to reconnect the upper levels back to the street’s vibrancy. The sketches also tested the design in different atmospheric conditions.
