[再]發聲—設計大綱

 

黃竹坑的歷史

黃竹坑在香港歷史上的發展歷程相當引人入勝，從明代一條長滿竹子的河邊、1860年的漁村、1960年的紡織業重鎮、1975年開放的海洋公園、旅遊和酒店業發展，1990年到2010年現代的中央商業區，都是一段頗為有趣的歷程。

黃竹坑的定位一直都在改變。隨著城市發展，總會伴隨出現一些剩餘、未被使用的地段。一些交錯, 複雜的行人天橋，加上周邊稠密的石屎森林，更讓其以下的空間成為空置的空間。

 

地盤的周邊概況

本計劃牽涉的地盤包括﹕1.南朗山道休憩處﹔2.業勤街公園和其鄰近範圍和3.前往香港仔郊野公園的行山徑。

這些地盤都由一條行人天橋連接，最終可到達黃竹坑站。而這些地盤周圍都被工業、商業和混合使用的多層大廈包圍著。前瞻未來，黃竹坑正慢慢地轉型成為一個充滿活力，動感的區域，並充滿著初創企業，孕育新思維的搖籃。

在這些地盤的邊陲，城市與大自然交匯起來，而通往香港仔郊野公園的行山徑就近在咫尺。這提供了一個絕佳的機會，可以創造一道「綠色連結」連接現有行人天橋，把自然和人造物接合起來。

 

概念: 「再」發聲

乍看來，聲音和休憩空間沒辦法好好共存。現時的地盤，雖然被設計作為一個的公園，但卻未能發揮其應有功能。在周邊充斥道路，建築物，鐵路雜音的情況下，南朗山道休憩處並不是很理想的休憩空間。即使在靠近山邊的業勤街公園，都因缺乏適當，有吸引力的設施而致使用率偏低。

要解決這矛盾情況，我們的計劃是「再」發聲，從定義上改變「休憩」的性質。「休憩」並不是永遠需要寧靜、清幽的地方﹔聆聽樂隊表演、笑匠、分享會、遊戲這些「發聲」的活動，人們也能從中得到心靈上的享受。在黃竹坑這個本來就充斥著各種雜音的地方，我們又何妨不加入其中，發出自己的聲音，成為黃竹坑中的重要一員。

 

執行

我們的概念是容許這些公園進行有活力，多元和有沖擊力的活動。南朗山道休憩處將會用於進行社區活動，提供環境讓不同的企業眾首，交換意見，結識新朋友的地方，同時也容許表演、創意活動的進行。至於業勤街公園，我們計劃換上新面料，加上吸睛，有活力外形的新構築物，以新面目示人，務求讓行人、來訪者能輕鬆一下，享受美好環境。

隨了以上計劃，現有行人天橋也將進行改動，以更好地連結以上各地盤。天橋的設計將與兩公園融合，並伸展以連結香港仔郊野公園的行山徑。

我們深信把這些各形各色的活動，或者用另一個說法，也就是「聲音」，結合為一的話，加上取得自然與人類的平衡，定能為黃竹坑成為更有朝氣的社區。

[Re]make some noise—Design Statement

 

Historical nature of WCH

It has been quite an interesting journey for the development of Wong Chuk Hang in the history of Hong Kong. Wong Chuk Hang has been transforming from the Bamboo River in Ming dynasty, the Fishing village in 1860, Textile industry in 1960, Ocean Park in 1975, Tourism and hotel industry in 1990 into Modern CBD in 2010. 

The identity of WCH is changing. The city evolves and generates more left-over space, which are the by-product of the city’s development. Condensed and crossed flyovers create the residual space under the interlocking and overlapping of concrete jungle.

 

The Context of WCH Site Context

The sites involved are: 1. Nam Long Shan Road Sitting-Out Area; 2. Yip Kan Street garden and associated space; and 3. hiking trail towards Aberdeen country Park. 

These spaces are closely connected by an elevated footbridge, eventually linked to Wong Chuk Hang MTR station. These sites are surrounded by multi-storey industrial, commercial and mix-used high-rise. In the future, the surroundings are gradually being reshaped into a vibrant, dynamic district where new corporations and ideas are born.  

At the edge of these sites, where urban meets with nature, the starting point of Aberdeen country park trail is curiously close to the footbridge link. This opens up an opportunity for creating a “green link”.

 

Concept: Make some noise

Noise (n.)

1. To arise or occur again; to provide with a new or fresh exterior or upper boundary of an object or body; 
2. To appear again after being lost or missing plane or curved two-dimensional locus of points

At first glimpse, noise and recreation space don’t blend well. Currently, the sites exist physically as sitting-out areas and parks, but are mentally isolated. Surrounded by roads, buildings and railway as it is, Nam Long Shan Road Sitting-out area is not a welcoming space for people to enjoy. Even at places near the mountain, lack of attractive space also causes low usage of existing recreation space. 

To tackle this contradiction, we are going to [Re]make some noise by changing the definition of “recreation” in these parks. Recreation need not always be quiet and sanctuary – band music, humor talks, sharing, talking, fun fairs, all are ways people use to enjoy themselves. In Wong Chuk Hang, the noise is always a part of its making, and we aim to add in our own flavor of noise into this already colorful collection. 

 

Implementation

Our intent for these parks is to allow energetic, dynamic and powerful activities taking place inside. For Nam Long Shan Road Sitting-Out Area, it will serve as a local activity hub, where corporations nearby can join together, exchange ideas, make new friends, becoming a place for performance and creativity. For Yip Kan Street garden, new finishes, new looks with sharp and energetic structures will form a new hub for foot traffic, relaxation and family gathering. 

With the above considerations, the existing footbridge linking these sites together will act as an even more important connection. Not only will it blend in with the fore mentioned sites as part of the complex, but also serves as a direct linkage towards the hiking trail. 

By joining all these different activities together, or as we put it, noise, will surely make Wong Chuk Hang a vibrant, lively community under the harmony of humanity and nature.