Spaces in Transition: Making Room for Junctures in Hong Kong

Abstract

This thesis addresses the scarcity of civic spaces in Hong Kong by proposing impermanent interventions to meet city events’ demands. There are two cyclical events that contribute to a unique city character, the democratic march held every July 1st and the informal settlement of migrant domestic workers. In one, thousands of locals and NGOs take to the street as expression of their civil rights. The other is migrant domestic workers, who are relieved of their duties every Sunday who sit and gather in the interstitial spaces. Bother desire space to fully express their aspirations and maximize potential as social occasions. There is little space for them in the city fabric to gather without hindrance. There is a spatial-temporal aspect to these two events, one yearly, the other weekly. The yearly march is formally organized event by local activists and the other is an informal phenomena. Given the topology and compacted built environment of Hong Kong, this thesis propose interventions on the city core which address needs for public space within the intense urbanity.