Data & Credits
Hong Kong's population is ageing, with those aged 65 or above already making up more than 15%; this will be a major challenge for the whole industry and for society. Yet within this group, the silver-haired generation still have different needs, preferences and lifestyles, so homogeneous housing units cannot support a dignified, quality later life. In the design proposal, rather than adopting the conventional typical layout of different unit types, the project puts forward an open-ended system with only one unit type per floor, grouping together older people with similar preferences and needs and increasing the likelihood of community forming within each floor. Chai Wan is an old district where urban functions are intermingled, pedestrian and vehicle routes cross, and the open sea view is blocked by industrial buildings. The building mass re-establishes the site's visual connection with the bay, creating an atmosphere surrounded by blue sea and green leaves and reintroducing nature into daily life. At the urban scale, it is proposed to use a raised green terrace as a bridge, connecting the surrounding open spaces to form an urban greenway from the MTR station to the housing and on to the neighbouring swimming pool.