Location: Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Urban Intervention
Size: non specific
Year: 2021
A Local Problem
REGEN Urban Initiative a Sustainable way to regenerate the neighborhood A better solution Hong Kong is notoriously known for its densely populated urban environment. There is only about 2M square of public space per person, which is even less than that of Seoul (5.8m2/p) and Tokyo (6.1m2/p). The city has undergone a drastic socio political reform. One of the reasons for this problem is the lack of quality public social spaces in working class neighbourhoods. Part of a cultural problem is that people find it difficult to ask for help. This feeling of being ignored creates a domino effect that can give fuel to the more radical of activists.
A Better Solution
ReGen Urban Initiative (RUI) is a new local non-profit initiative that aims to re-create better Urban spaces . Based on the modest model of place making in collaboration with the local communities and urban farming. Each site utilises a combination of modular market place, sitting and hydroponic systems to maximise the potential of these community gardens. The construction cost of the urban intervention are subsidised by both government and the retailers/restaurant owners; this way the retailer can retain significant economic value from the high footfall of bring into the high street.
The modular units are mass prefabricated and each consists 18 component frames. Users can customise their market stand or urban pocket park to fit to different sites and individual needs. The urban intervention is highly contextualised and adaptive to serve the neighbourhoods. The modular unit are entirely energy independent. This bottom up approach initiative allows every citizen to get involved in the process of place makeing. So that they can create a unique communal living room that can truly be called home.