Co-Design with Architects – Design Charrette Resource Kit

Co-Design with Architects Resource Kit for Design Charrette 2019 organized by Institute of Architects (HKIA) For Community Stakeholders, Heritage Groups, Construction / Design Professionals & Architects

"I want to take Tradition in Architecture to mean a shared and continuous development of a way of doing things towards practical artistic and social ends, … not old fashioned or nostalgic.” Edward Cullinan (British Gold Medalist Architect).

1 Our Vision and Mission: The Architectural Heritage of Hong Kong encapsulates the story of Hong Kong people expressed through the historic architectures. UNESCO promotes not just preservation of old buildings, but instead pro-active expression of the “Spirit of Place”1 by best practice conservation. This can involve sensitive upgrading old buildings to suit modern functions, or innovative adaptation of old buildings to contemporary community uses, while still keeping the traditional characters, and conveying the historic message that we still treasure. The heritage of Hong Kong belongs to the people, thus Architects will work together with community members to explore opportunities and challenges, through this design exercise of adaptive reusing historic buildings to people’s use, and expressing the people’s values.

Fig 1: Administrative Blocks and Play Field at Central Valley Zone

2. Our Project and Exercise:

Our Co-Vitalize Our Heritage Events: We, the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), thanks to grants from Built Heritage Conservation Fund (BHCF), organize a series of public participation events in 2019, known as Co- Vitalize Our Heritage2, which aims to share our professional knowledge with public, and explore future ways to energize community efforts in conservation of our heritage. In the past six months, we organized Co-Craft with Master events for public to try out traditional building craftsmanship guided by craft masters, Co-Create with Students events for secondary school students to present

1 International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), Quebec Declaration on the Preservation on Spirit of Place, 4 October, 2008. 2 Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), Co-Vitalize our Heritage, http://hkia-covitalize.hk/en Hong Kong Institute of Architects September 2019 1 Co-Design with Architects – Design Charrette Resource Kit artworks inspired by urban heritage, and Co-Tour with Docents events for community members with an interest in becoming heritage docents. In September, we are holding our final event, Co-Design with Architects, which is a Design Charrette, where stakeholders join a two-day workshop with architects on a hypothetical exercise of adaptive reusing a historic site for community use.

What is a Design Charrette: Charrette is a get-together design process pioneered by the esteemed French art and architectural school of École des Beaux-Arts. “Most professional architects now equate charrettes with interactive brainstorming sessions; these kinder, gentler charrettes, held early in the design or programming stages of a project, place the client and other stakeholders, as well as all or most of the professional disciplines that will contribute to the project, in the same room for, usually, one to three days”3. But it may also be used as a community engagement exercise focusing on the “interactive process” rather than the result. As such, hammering out a professional design or delivering an agreed solution is not the prime objective of this kind of charrette. Rather, it provides a platform that stakeholders from diverge perspectives, gathering in discussion groups, can come around to explore the opportunities of a design challenge.

Fig 2: Examples of Design Charrettes held by HKIA (Photo Source: HKIA)

Our Co-Design with Architects Event: In this Co-Design with Architects event, we explore the issues of adaptive reusing historic building, balancing the task of providing modern community functions with preserving historic characters. We invite Community Stakeholders, Heritage Groups, Construction / Design Professionals, and Young People, to join our Architects, in this collaborative exercise in the field of adaptive reusing historic sites or buildings of Hong Kong. Our young Architects will support the groups by sketching out the intentions suggested by members. This exercise forms a stepping stone for the ongoing dialogue between community and professionals, upon which, we both learn in the process of interactive heritage conservation.

3 Willies, Daniel, “Are Charrettes Old School?”, Harvard Design Magazine, http://www.harvarddesignmagazine.org/issues/33/are-charrettes-old-school

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3. Our Heritage Site and Architecture:

The Choice of this Site: For this Co-Design with Architects exercise, we propose to use the Old Barracks in , which is now used as Lei Yue Mun Park. This site is chosen for this exercise because: (a) It tells the rich unique history of Hong Kong, (b) The historic topography and structures are still relatively intact, (c) Its extensive terrain and many buildings of diverse architectural characters offer opportunities for holistic conservation and innovative designs. The harmonious low-rise blocks scattered around the natural landscape can be adapted to a pleasant environment for the hypothetical brief of a community old-people cum child-care centre.

Some background drawing information and conservation management analysis we now use for this Charrette are borrowed from a class exercise for the Cultural Heritage Management (CHM) Class and the Professional Design and Architectural Studies (PDAS) Class of HKU Space in 2012.

Fig 3: Conservation workshop of HKU Space Class in Lei Yue Mun Park in 2012

The History: “The old Lei Yue Mun Barracks was one of the earliest and most important British Army fortifications in Hong Kong. Situated at the northeast corner of overlooking the eastern approach to the , Lei Yue Mun occupied a strategic position. … The main barracks, built at different times from 1890 to 1939, mainly served as offices and married quarters for the British Army. By the 1890s, the fortifications at Lei Yue Mun had fully become an important point of coastal defense and continued to expand in the following decades…. On 19 December 1941, the Barracks fell to the hands of the Japanese in the …. (Nowadays) The central area and the western ridge have become the Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village since 1988, whereas the military installations at the headland were restored to form the Museum of Coastal Defense which was opened in 2000”4. The detail explanation of the historical significance

4 Antiquities and Monuments Office, “Declared Monuments in Hong Kong –75, Chai Wan Road, Block 7 of the Lei Yue Mun Barracks, https://www.amo.gov.hk/en/monuments_112.php Hong Kong Institute of Architects September 2019 3

Co-Design with Architects – Design Charrette Resource Kit of the site will be presented by our expert historian at the beginning of our workshop, and thus will not repeated here.

Fig 4: Lei Yue Mun Barracks 1935-41 (Photo Source: Hong Kong Public Record Office)

The Architectures: Up to Eleven (11) of the buildings in this site are now Graded Historic Buildings and Three (3) are Declared Monument (see Appendix). Most of them, originally used as military offices or quarters, are generally low rise brick structure and timber roof / floor buildings of simple rectangular or L-shape plans, considered of “Colonial Vernacular” style, featuring characteristic wide open verandahs, sometimes of simple ornamental entrance doorways or chimney stacks, simplified classical-like piers, and low segmental arches. There are other buildings, including a small simplified gothic chapel (block 5), an Art-Deco style barrack (block 3), a few utilitarian gardener’s sheds, and modern supporting facilities. The detail explanation of the architectural significance of the site will be presented by our expert architects during seminars and site-walks, and thus will not repeated here.

Fig 5: Declared Monuments and Graded Historic Buildings in Lei Yue Mun Park

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The Conservation: Most of the buildings, fortunately, had not been substantially interfered with, except adding modest facilities, since originally built. But they appear not to have received high attention in repairs, and some lesser used structures appear to suffer from dilapidation. One of the significant buildings, Block 7, a Declared Monument, was recently conserved and upgraded to a pleasant and welcoming café by HKIA member architect, and the design attains the HKIA annual awards, Finalists in Heritage & Adaptive Re-use and President's Prize. “The design has to revive its original glamour to match its architectural characters of the colonial style” (extract from web-site of the architectural practice: ArchiPie). The architect not only sensitively restored the architectural features like the floor-tiles, fireplace, windows, and cornices, but also sensitively relocated modern installations to allow re-opening of arches and reinstatement of the open verandah in keeping with the historic design and ambience. The detail explanation of the project will be presented by the project architect during the charrette and thus not repeated here.

Fig 5: Block 7 adaptive reused as café (Photo Source: ArchiPie)

The Current Use: The site covers an area of appx 22.97 hectares, currently managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) as a Holiday Village. Many of barracks buildings are now used as Hostels (some for families and some for groups), most already equipped with showers / toilets. The village camp currently provides a wide range of sport facilities including archery-range, rope-course, football-pitch, tennis-courts, indoor squash / badminton courts, and venues for recreation like karaoke, TV games, arts and crafts, and children playground (extract from LCSD web-site). The well-preserved woodland, gardens, nature trail, orchid house, horticultural centre, and demonstration nursery, offer a rare opportunity to engage the natural environment amongst the city. Immediately adjacent is the Lei Yue Mun Public Riding School run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), and is “a peaceful haven for those who wish to escape the hustle and bustle of city life” (extract from the HKJC website).

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The Current Camp Facilities: The village camp is currently regularly let to camp groups, and that the recreation grounds and facilities are often rented out to institutions and local schools for holding events. However, noting the vastness of the park, proximity to urban transport, generously landscaped environment, and diverse architectural characters, it is worth exploring opportunities to fully utilize it, and to allow a wider sector of public to enjoy the grounds all year around, yet sensitively respecting its architectural and natural context. The intended adapted and expanded uses will be elaborated in following section.

The Zones for Our Charrette: For the convenience of our design charrette, we delineate Four (4) broad zones for our participant groups to focus the design on:

Zone A – Central Valley: This zone includes mainly the main administration blocks at the public village park entrance, the central outdoor pitch (currently used for most school events), extending to the east slope to the horticultural gardens, and further to an extensive field used as rifle range or other sports, or potentially space for new buildings if needed. Zone B – Southern Highland: Rising from the Central Valley, the pathways up the hill passes through a number of typically simple rectangular barrack quarter blocks, with good views over the east, until the gate to the hilltop transmission station. Zone C – Northern Lookout: Walking north up from Central Valley, one reaches a high ground with a children playground and a number of barracks now used for recreations; enjoying the harbour view is Block 7, now adapted into a café as mentioned above.

Fig 6: Children Playground in Northern Lookout Zone

Zone D – Eastern Slope: An extensive dense woodland hides the portion which visitors often overlook; amongst the matured trees and natural stream in the valley, are a small simplified-gothic church and a 1930s Art-Deco block currently used as Film Archive, which leads to a cafeteria and a toilet block; beyond here, one can visit the adjacent Horse Riding School, and venture over the footbridge to the natural costal rocks.

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Fig 5: Site Plan showing the Four (4) Zones

4. Our Hypothetical Scenario: Our Design Charrette is based on a hypothetical scenario that the government offers to grant this entire site to operate as an Old-people Village cum Children Care Centre. We can call it Lei Yue Mun Community Village, where still physically able old-people can reside / visit here to enjoy the environment, while the park can accept local pre-school children during daytime. We assume an operator, who intends to manage the place with suitable public / private funding.

The following Core Functions are proposed for The LYM Community Village: - Unassisted old Age and retirement facilities; Hong Kong Institute of Architects September 2019 7

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- Day-time Community Centre for school going children; - Day-care centre for pre-school children; - Tourism Icon with focus on Military Heritage and Nature Trails; - Connectivity to the Waterfront to allow interactions of residents with boating community; - Integration with the Museum of Coastal Defense; and, - Possible construction of new compatible facilities such as schools.

This hypothetical operator, using his real-life conservation experience and experience of assisting a similar exercise with HKU Space classes, will lend his support again to this charrette, by explaining his operational ideas, and giving comments on design proposals. His detail business plans are attached in the Appendix and also will be presented at the beginning of the charrette and thus not to be repeated here.

5. Our Co-Design with Architect Event: Our event will span over two consecutive Saturdays (21/9/2019 and 28/9/2019).

Day One: Walk and Talk: There will be four presentations on: (a) History of the Lei Yue Mun Barracks (by Professor Stephen Davis). (b) Architecture and Adaptive Reuse of Barracks in Hong Kong (by Mr Raymond Fung). (c) Business Plan for the Future: Lei Yue Mun Community Village (by Mr Greg De-Eb). (d) Healthcare Needs for the Elderly (by Dr Fan Ning). That will be intervened with a lunch break, and a short walk around the site, probably in groups subject to number of people, and time allowed.

Day Two: Design Charrette: The participants will divide into groups, and gather in rooms we booked. Each group, assigned to each zone, will have a mix of community stakeholders and building / design professionals. Our experts can also come around to the groups to lend support if needed.

Each group will be provided by further Resource Kits to describe the site and historic buildings on that zone. The Resource Kit is prepared by our architectural and conservation team, along the format of a simplified version of a professional Conservation Management Plan (CMP) normally prepared prior to start of adaptive reuse designs, which depicts the Statement of Significance (SoS) and Character Defining Elements (CDEs) for that zone. Based on these basic conservation guidelines, the design can be guided to enhance heritage significance and mitigate risks of unintentional damage to heritage elements. Drawings of the site and buildings are printed and laid on table for members to work on. Furthermore, young architects assigned to each group will help the group members to translate their intentions onto drawings. Hong Kong Institute of Architects September 2019 8

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After lunch break, the groups can re-convene, and one member from each group can summarize and present the sketches to the participants. The objective is not a contest to compare the schemes, but a summary of lessons learnt through this collaborative design exercise. HKIA will consolidate the sketches and summary of discussions for eventual record.

Fig 6: Sequence of a Design Charrette

6. Lessons Learnt:

Best Practice Conservation covers a spectrum of activities ranging from high interventions such as alterations and upgrades, to a low intervention of simple daily maintenance. UNESCO encourages a model more advanced than a mere status quo, but using the heritage place to present the “Spirit of Place”, which often involves a restoration of parts that reveals the heritage message, or improvements of a premise that enhances public understanding of the heritage environment. This requires more than the knowledge to repair damages parts back into the old status, but the in-depth understanding of the embedded traditional wisdom when the building was designed and erected, and thereby to revive the place in a sustainable manner for future generations.

In Co-Design with Architects, practitioners and stakeholders hold a trial collaborative design exercise. In the format of Design Charrette, we will use this old Lei Yue Mun barracks site and the buildings in it as our hypothetical case, where we explore the possibilities of adaptive reusing it for the community. The challenges to salvage the structure and materials, to meet the local community need, and to comply with regulations and policies will be inevitably debated. The mission of heritage conservation is not to reverse the time, but to learn from our values and build a sustainable future in a sensitive manner.

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Appendices: Appendix I – List of Declared Monuments and Graded Historic Buildings in Old Lei Yue Mun Barracks (extracted from Heritage Impact Assessment for Block 3 at Old Lei Yue Mun Barracks by Architectural Services Department and Spence Robinson Ltd 2016) Appendix II – Business Plan for Lei Yue Mun Community Village (by Mr. Gregory De’Eb) Appendix III – Healthy Living Environment (by Dr. Fan Ning) Appendix IV – Key Conservation Terms

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Appendix One: List of Declared Monuments & Historic Buildings at Lei Yue Mun Park

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Appendix Two: Business Plan for Lei Yue Mun Community Village By Hypothetical Operator: Mr. Gregory De Eb Resource Kit for Design Charrette 2019 organized by Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA)

1. Observation of Existing Status:

The Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village is currently managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). It is located in Chai Wan, Hong Kong and overlooks the Lei Yue Mun Channel. The site occupies approximately 22.97 hectares, and is the first holiday village in an urban area. It was opened for public use in 1988. Unfortunately little information is available on the level of current usage. However it is understood that the number of day visitors, especially from local schools, is much higher than the overnight/hostel usage. Marketing and general knowledge of the location and its facilities amongst Hong Kong residents is inadequate. Tourism awareness and efforts to convey the historical and military background of the site is limited and obscure.

2. Opportunities to Optimize Community Use:

The business objective is to optimize its use and benefits for HK residents, while preserving one of the most valuable natural and historical sites of Hong Kong. The concept to convert LYM Holiday Village into The LYM Community Village is as profound as these words appear simple. The general community of Hong Kong must learn about this site, feel that they have total and uninhibited access as well as ownership of the site. Its utilization has to be maximized to the benefit of all. This alone will ensure its continuity.

At present, LYM is an extremely well preserved but comparatively under-utilized natural and historical icon. From a business perspective, by the very nature of its "financial value versus utilization comparison", it will come under increasing development pressure and redevelopment risks as Hong Kong continues to seek land for critical facilities and dwellings. The best prospect of ensuring its sustained preservation and enjoyment for all residents of Hong Kong is to optimize its community usage, creatively adapt its reuse, and reinvigorate its image.

To reinforce its heritage appeal, the site can be integrated / interlinked with two adjacent heritage assets: namely the Museum of Coastal Defence and the Waterfront (note the rock shore is probably the only remaining section of the natural coastal features on the island onto the harbour). To reinforce the local social association, connection with Pamela Youde Hong Kong Institute of Architects September 2019 14

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Nethersole Hospital (to assist with medical services) as well as with local schools and community centres (for the provision of child day-care facilities and after-school recreation facilities) may be promoted. From an operational viewpoint, utilization of some less heritage / environmental sensitive areas of this site for the construction of additional structures such as schooling, recreational and/or additional unassisted retirement dwelling facilities should also not be ruled out.

3. Major Conceptual Adaptations to Convert the Site from "Holiday" to "Community" Village:

The following Core Functions are proposed for The LYM Community Village: - Unassisted old age and retirement facilities; - Day-time Community/Recreational facilities for school going children; - Over-night camping style accommodation for school children and young adults - Day-care centre for pre-school children; - Tourism Icon with focus on Military Heritage and Nature Trails; - Connectivity to the Waterfront to allow low impact interaction of residents; - Integration with the Museum of Coastal Defence; and, - Possible construction of new compatible facilities such as schools, recreational over- night facilities and unassisted old age residences.

3.1 Unassisted Old Age and Retirement Facilities:

The Conversion of the existing Hostel/Barracks Buildings to Unassisted Old Age Accommodation forms the foundation of this proposal. It is envisaged that many of the Barracks Buildings currently used as holiday accommodation, can be converted with low impact into unassisted, old age homes to house low income middle-to-old age pensioners. It is suggested that, once suitable barrier free access is provided, the comparatively more mobile 60-75 year old groups may occupy the upper floors of these blocks, while the less mobile residents may be located on the ground floors. From an operational viewpoint, it is acknowledged that the barrack buildings will have to receive certain upgrades including washing and basic dining/cooking facilities to become self- contained group homes. The main food preparation and dining can be done in the existing main dining hall, while food can be prepared and carried to each residential building for the less mobile residents. The operator welcomes creative adaptation of these structures, including expanding floor space through the integration of out-door spaces, perhaps connecting the barracks buildings of different levels via footbridges or platform decks. The goal at all times will be to preserve the existing outlook while providing easier connectivity and access, while adding the maximum amount of additional space and facilities. Due recognition will have to be given to Hong Kong Institute of Architects September 2019 15

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the elevated status of these barracks buildings and the steep gradients of the road. Considering that these elderly residents will likely have to move to and from their residential quarters at least twice per day at meal times, the use of lifts and/or escalators/tram-like options could be contemplated to assist the easy movement of old age residents from one location to the other. The operator is prepared to consider alternative sustainable energy solutions. The planned business mode will be for residents to “buy” into the LYM Community Village not with money but by committing their time and participation to assist with the day-care of the pre-school children, with school going children’s activities, and also with the tourism/heritage operation of the village. Their active participation will be an integral part of their acceptance to be accommodated in this facility. In that manner, the residents become respected expert co-operators of the tourism and heritage promotion aspects of the LYM Community Village. The design of the adapted facilities should allow their convenient participation of these activities and operations. The operator welcomes potentially new structures at less sensitive zones as Partially- assisted Residence Building. These may be constructed and operated by other NGOs under separate funding if available. While not directly or physically part of the existing structures, these new facilities must be designed and constructed in such a way as to blend in with the existing architecture and preferably to provide connectivity to the other structures.

3.2 Pre-school Day-Care, School Children’s Centre and Holiday Camp:

(A) School Children’s Centre: The existing facilities already include a day-time community/recreational centre for school children and therefore only minor works are envisaged. Of course, the facilities need to be upgraded where possible, and historic buildings and spaces can be restored to their original splendour where opportunities arise. Energy saving and conservation friendly advances could be unobtrusively integrated into the design/upgrades.

(B) Public Use: The operator welcomes creative initiatives for the general public spaces (eg: the original parade ground now used as basketball courts), by optimizing usage on one hand, but also creating an association to their important historical purpose on the other.

(C) Camping/overnight Holiday Facilities for people of all ages: The idea of the operator being, to compensate for the devotion of some of the existing barrack quarter blocks to old-age permanent dwellings, alternative camping facilities can be provided such as a permanent tented village around the former rifle/shooting range. The operator is open to creative designs of military camp-like structures that are in keeping with the site’s overall historical place and feel. Hong Kong Institute of Architects September 2019 16

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(D) Day-time Community Care for Pre-school Children: Further considering the community needs, it is envisaged that preschool children from the local surrounding communities from to Chai Wan will be able to be dropped off each day at the Community Centre where they will be looked after by professional minders, while at the same time, joined by the middle-old age residents of the LYM Community Village in daily games or recreation activities. This provides the dual benefit of integrating our old age citizens into the work-force while providing an opportunity for “Cultural Transfer” between the generations.

3.3 Tourist Designation presenting Military Heritage and Nature Trails

From a business perspective, this is an extremely important part of the project as it involves converting the site into one large Military Historical Living Museum. It is envisaged that numerous tourism friendly but unobtrusive (low impact) items be introduced including additional walking trails, lighting, information plaques, dining and refreshment locations, viewing points, safety centres etc. Of course, certain existing casually added items (eg: soviet troop carrier or crude hand rails or obtrusive modern building structures) may have to be removed and replaced with more sensitive items and designs. Some bunker structures that are currently inaccessible and obscured, should be completely revealed and made an integral part of the overall site. Consideration should be given to the promotion of “local tourism” and ongoing usage for the benefit of Hong Kong residents. To this end, historical structures such as the existing chapel can be sympathetically adapted to provide a venue for local weddings to take place. The chapel could be linked to the former officers’ mess which could then provide wedding reception services. The operator welcomes creative ideas of new facilities such as casual dining, interactive museum, experimental performance spaces, and art workshops cum displays for all people.

3.4 Connectivity to the Waterfront and respect for this natural feature

The terrain of the current Lei Yue Mun barracks used to be contiguous with the costal rocks and the headlands with the old fort (now the Museum of Coastal Defence) until it was cut off by the in 1980s, and only accessible via an unused and barricaded pathway that cross over the highway. This obscure path may yet be explored to reinstate the connection between the historic barracks and waterfront, offering both a more insightful experience for visitors, and an exciting initiative to visit the park for local residents. Given that this stretch of rock-faced waterfront is probably the longest natural/ undeveloped shoreline coastline on Victoria Harbour, any interventions need to be handled with extreme site sensitivity. Hong Kong Institute of Architects September 2019 17

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Consideration maybe given to enhanced (but highly restricted) vehicular access to the waterfront facilities, as well as improved walking trails, lighting, information-posts, refreshment locations, viewing points, safety centres etc, all with low impact additions that fall behind the coastal visual line. Between the Park and the waterfront are a few pillboxes well hidden amongst rock slope and woodland. Again, this design charrette will probably not venture so far, but considerations to connect the military trail there is encouraged.

The intention of the operator is that the headland of the Museum of Coastal Defence, as well as the slopes below the former officers’ mess that house the unutilized bunkers, should become an integral part of this larger military interpretation ensemble, and that the recreational and museological facilities there shall interconnect with that of this Lei Yue Mun Community Village. Although this design Charrette may or may not extend so far, the idea of future connection can be explored.

The final stage of the project as the operator aspires, if it were to proceed, will be to possibly erect new compatible premises such as school buildings in peripheral terrain and out of any site-lines without adversely affecting the historical ambience of the Lei Yue Mun barracks. This may primarily include the construction of one or more schools adjacent to the Pamela Youde Nethersole Hospital. Considering that this low lying zone, with little matured trees, backing onto the Lei Yue Mun slope behind, and fronting onto the Island Eastern Corridor, will not visually impact the old barrack landscape even if some medium rise structures were to be erected there. If developed thoughtfully, the schools will be able to connect up with the existing lawns of the Lei Yue Mun community village. This area can also be easily connected to existing road networks to urban areas of the Eastern district thus further optimizing the use of the site.

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Appendix Three By Dr. FAN Ning, Health-In-Action Resource Kit for Design Charrette 2019 organized by Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA)

Healthy Living Environment

It is a choice… It is related to quality of life: Health,Comfort and Happiness… It is about right to health…

The global challenges of health and it is evident in Hong Kong as well, are namely ageing population, increasing obesity, increasing chronic illness (including cancers), rising mental problems. Except ageing, all the health issues are socially, behaviorally and environmentally related, and could be subject to prevention. In addition, staying healthy at home and in community is the way to achieve happiness, comfort.

As human beings, our health and the health of those we care about is a matter of daily concern. Regardless of our age, gender, socio-economic or ethnic background, we consider our health to be our most basic and essential asset. Ill health, on the other hand, can keep us from going to school or work, from attending to our family responsibilities or from participating fully in the activities of our community. The world Health Organization has defined health not as the absence of illness but as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. In addition, every society should put endeavor and effort to ensure everyone can attain their highest potential of health and life. The affecting factors are called social determinant factors of health, and living environment is one of the factors. Health is no longer a matter of receiving medical care.

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Recent research has demonstrated connections of key physical design characteristics with the Five Ways to Well-Being (Connect, Keep Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give), which have been associated with positive mental health. Designing the home, neighbourhood and work environment to improve health and well-being is an opportunity that could help the society to attain a high standard of quality of life, rather than just keeping an unhealthy long-living state.

In New York, the government has developed the Active Design Guidelines: Promoting physical Activity and Health in Design. It is driven by the need of health concerns in the city, obesity and diabetes. Through design and providing cues, people need to take the choices and could develop the habit of walking, biking, taking stairs. However, these decisions are largely based on comfort, on a daily basis.

Elderly health need 1) Cognitive problem Ageing could lead to weakened cognitive abilities like dementia. Dementia will have memory loss, communication issues and easy mood change. They may have hard time looking for what they need in home, easily confused with sudden change in setting or environment. They will lose motivation to engage in activities.

2) Perceptual problems Human perception is also something that most often becomes weaker as we age, due to the gradual weakened state of our senses. Weakened eye-sight, hearing, taste and smell could be taken into consideration.

3) Physical problems With chronic illness become evident, physical strength and mental wellness will decrease. It implies that daily activity will decrease. However, how to raise or maintain the physical strength through encouraging both physical and social activities is very important for maintaining and improving health. Their mode of mobility will affect the design and we also need to take consideration of the life course up to near end-of-life state. Keep them as independent as possible is a way to make them comfortable, happy and feeling well.

Some of common chronic health problem elderly face are: 1) Visual problem 2) Hearing problem 3) Dental loss 4) Hypertension, diabetes hyperlipidemia 5) Heat and Lung problem 6) Musculoskeletal pain 7) Dementia 8) Cancers

Potential risks on mind are: 1) risk of fall 2) home accident 3) getting lost

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4) Mental problems Depression is common among the elderly. It may be related to concurrent multiple medical problems, lower self-esteem, loss of social network and thus social life.

Multigenerational design/ Universal design As HK is planning for ageing society, with chronic illness flooding, everyone in community could be a ‘carer’. We could actively participate in promoting healthy living through individual effort and active in society design in living environment.

The concept of universal design is to make living and work spaces equally comfortable, safe, and accessible for all, regardless of height or physical ability. The principle of universal design aims to create a built environment that is accessible for as much of the population as possible, and for as much of their lives as possible. However, universal design principles also support those who would like to live to the stage of end-of-life and die in peace and dignity. Universally designed multi- generational house plans are gaining popularity because today’s long life expectancy means more of us will be around longer, and we often have living parents even when we are old ourselves. The best thing about universal design is that it makes the basic tasks of life easier for all people and built environments that are useable by all individuals, regardless of disability or age.

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References: 1) What Can Architecture Do for Your Health? 26 June, 2012 by Irina Vinnitskaya ArchDaily 2) Place and public health: the impact of architecture on wellbeing Architecture helps shape the quality of our environments and can contribute to health and happiness, writes Karl Johnson 3) Anderson, J. (2014). Urban design and wellbeing. Cambridge: Doctoral thesis, University of Cambridge. Aked, J., Michaelson, J., & Steuer, N. (2010). Good foundations: Towards a low carbon, high well-being built environment. London: New Economics Foundation. 4) Right to Health. WHO, Office of the UNHCHR, Fact Sheet No.31 5) 一個真正健康的香港：建設以社區為本的跨界別基層醫療系統, 醫護行者; 香港基層醫療：反思與 前瞻社聯政策報, 2017年9月第二十三期

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Co-Design with Architects – Design Charrette Resource Kit

Appendix Four: Key Conservation Terminologies By Mr. Edward Leung Resource Kit for Co-Design with Architects 2019 organized by Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA)

Key Terms  Built Heritage: This term would generally cover all elements of the built environment (including buildings, structures, sites, villages, townships, built-features and man-made- landscapes) considered to have heritage value and not just due to age, thus is a term broader than and more relevant than “historic building” when considering policies for protection. “Built Heritage possesses an intrinsic value independently of its initial role and significance which enables it to adapt itself to a changing cultural, social, economic and political context” (Preface of Resolutions on Introduction of Contemporary Architecture into Ancient Groups of Buildings passed by ICOMOS General Assembly Budapest in 1972) In modern conservation, the definition of cultural heritage is broadening … “A concern for the vernacular, or for the cultural landscapes, or for the spiritual, has moved the focus” (Herb Stovel; Foreword for the Nara Conference 1994).

 Adaptation / Adaptive Re-use: The term “Adaptation”, as used in the Burra Charter, means “modifying a place to suit the existing use or a proposed use”. “Adaptation must be limited to that which is essential to a use for the place … (and) is acceptable only where the adaptation has minimal impact on the cultural significance of the place” (Burra Charter Article 21) Standards and Guidelines for Conservation of Historic Places in Canada explicitly laid down the requirement to “find a use for a historic place that requires minimal or no change to its Character Defining Elements”.

 Conservation Plan: means broadly a document prepared for a heritage place intended to guide conservation works to that place; it is recognized by many heritage authorities or professionals that the diligent preparation of a good Conservation Plan, based on goof research and rational assessment should be the basis for best practice of conservation works. While there is no strict standard format of a Conservation Plan, a number of well- known documents / publications set out general guidelines and expected contents. Australian practitioners commonly refer to Conservation Plan: A Guideline to the Preparation of Conservation Plans for Places of European Cultural Significance by James Kerr on behalf of the National Trust of Australia (New South Wales), Fifth Edition, 2000 which explains that “a Conservation plan is a document which sets out what is significant in a place and, consequently, what policies are appropriate to enable that significance to Hong Kong Institute of Architects September 2019 22

Co-Design with Architects – Design Charrette Resource Kit

be retained in its future use and development.” UK practitioners may refer to Conservation Plans for Historic Places by Heritage Lottery Fund, UK, which states that “a Conservation Plan is primarily a tool for the owners or managers of a heritage asset, therefore the detailed content will vary; … a Conservation Place focuses on the significance of a heritage asset and which policies need to be in place to retain this; it is part of the process of understanding the asset at the outset.” It may be known as a “Conservation Master Plan” as in China Principles 2002, or “Conservation Management Plan” or Conservation Policy Plan” or “Conservation Action Plan” as used by other practitioners.

 Statement of Cultural Significance (SoS): is a common major component in a Conservation Plan recognized by practitioners to be useful tool in guiding overall conservation approach. “Written Statements of Cultural Significance and Policy for the place should be prepared, justified and accompanied by supporting evidences” (Burra Charter clause 26.2). It is often written in a few lines as an executive summary of the most important significance of the heritage place concerned. It can be utilized as the basis for Selection for Statutory Protection.

 Historical Value: Historical Value generally encompasses “the history of aesthetics, science and society; …. A place may have historic value because it has influenced, or has been influenced by, an historic figure, event, phase or activity; It may also have historic value as the site of an important event; For any given place the significance will be greater where evidence of the association or event survives in situ, or where the settings are substantially intact, than where it has been changed or evidence does not survive; However, some events or associations may be so important that the place retains significance regardless of subsequent.” (Burra Charter). Hence Historical Significance of a heritage building / site implies the manner that such building / site exemplifies such Historical Value(s).

 Architectural Value: Architectural Value generally means “the aspect of design value that is most readily recognized in the historic environment; strong indicators of (architectural) significance are age, rarity and completeness, quality of design and craftsmanship, and innovation, particularly in the mainstreams of architectural design” (English Heritage, “Conservation Principles”). Hence Architectural Significance of a heritage building / site implies the manner that such building / site exemplifies such Architectural Value(s).

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Co-Design with Architects – Design Charrette Resource Kit

 Social Value: Social Values, “in its wider concept, includes the Social Capital, meaning the Community Goodwill and Trust acquired by its members over the years, through its understanding and addressing of the concerns and priorities of its citizens” (English Heritage, “Conservation Principles”).

 Character Defining Elements (CDEs): CDE is a concept introduced by Parks Canada in 2003 to depict “the materials, forms, location, spatial configurations, uses and cultural associations or meanings that contribute to the heritage value of a historic place, which must be retained in order to preserved heritage value” (Standards & Guidelines for Conservation of Historic Places in Canada 2003). It evolves from the slightly looser term “Character Defining Features” used by the Dpt of Interiors (Standards and Guidelines for Treatment of Cultural Landscape 1996) of USA. Nowadays it is commonly used by conservation practitioners in preparing Conservation Plans to identify specific tangible or tangible elements of a subject heritage site which are essential to its significance. A heritage building may have many parts or components that embody different aspects of values and thus deserve different treatments. Both authorities and practitioners generalized value or decision of a heritage building is not adequate to justify treatments to each component. Hence good practice suggests that a Conservation Plan should list out the CDEs of the subject heritage place, relate each CDE to corresponding value / significance, and recommend appropriate level of intervention to each to retain or enhance such value / significance. Other practitioners may choose to use terms ranging from “special heritage features” or “significant elements” which serve similar intention.

 Categories of CDEs: It is often too easy to narrow the attention on immediate visible elements and overlook other overall architectural characters. There is a concept of viewing architectures in Layers, namely the Six (6) S (Steward Brand, “How Buildings Learn”). We propose to the Seven (7) S for categorization of CDEs of a Heritage Building or Site, namely: 1) Site: Site Selection, Planning, Environment, Landscape, Topography, and Geomancy. 2) Space: Orientation, Processions, Internal Planning, Height, Depth, Size, Openness, Enclosure, Lighting, Ventilation, 3) Surface: Elevation, Wall, Door, Window, Floor. 4) Structure: Structural Elements, Construction Method, and Built Material. 5) Services: Usage, Facilities, Functions. 6) Stuff: Finishes / Decorations / Artefacts. 7) Spirit: Social Association.

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