Liberal Studies Teaching Kit for Senior Secondary Curriculum Today Culture in Vernacular Architecture [Student notes]

Organizer Sponsor Research Team Contents Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture Preamble

Learning plan i

Lesson 1: Culture in Vernacular Architecture

1.1 Vernacular Architecture for People 01

1.2 Case Studies: Various Cultures in Vernacular Architecture of Hong Kong 04 1.2.1 Tong Lau or Tenement Houses 04 1.2.2 Stilt Houses 07 1.2.3 Walled Village 11 Exercise: Examine a nearby Vernacular Building 13

Summary, Key words and Further reading 15

Disclaimer Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. © 2012 Hong Kong Institute of Architects Topic 01 Culture in Vernacular Architecture

Major teaching areas Interdisciplinary teaching areas Design and Applied Technology: Liberal Studies: Module 2 Hong Kong Today Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture • Theme 1: Quality of Life • Strand 1 Design and Innovation • Theme 3: Identity • Strand 2 Technological Principles • Strand 3 Value and Impact Related teaching areas Liberal Studies: Module 5 Public Health • Theme 2: Science, Technology and Public Health

Learning objectives • To distinguish the difference between vernacular and professionally designed architecture • To understand the characteristics of different typologies of vernacular architecture in Hong Kong • To understand the connection and interplay between architecture, lifestyle, social context and environment

Learning plan Lesson Contents Lesson 1 • 1.1 Introductory photos of vernacular and professional architecture • 1.1.1 Concept and definition of vernacular architecture • 1.2 Case studies focusing on three types of vernacular architecture and their connections to residents’ lifestyle, social context and environment • 1.2.1 Tong Lau or Tenement House • 1.2.2 Stilt House • 1.2.3 Walled Village

i Lesson 1 Culture in Vernacular Architecture

1.1 Vernacular Architecture for People

Are these buildings vernacular architecture? Why or why not? Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture

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Tick the boxes and explain your answers: 1. Palazzi of Venice, Italy

2. Schröder House, Utrecht, The Netherlands

3. Tenement house, Hong Kong

4. Houses in Cinque Terre, Italy

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3 Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture 2 4

Tick the boxes and explain your answers:

1. Tulou, ,

2. IFC 2, Hong Kong

3. Bamboo theatre, Hong Kong

4. Houses in Suzhou, China

02 Some would simply define vernacular architecture as ‘architecture without architects’. American architect Frank Lloyd Wright defined vernacular architecture as ‘folk building growing in response to actual needs, fitted into the environment by people who knew no better than to fit them with native feeling’.

Characteristics of vernacular architecture are as below:

• Use of traditional or locally available construction skills • Use of simple technology and commonly available materials • ‘New structure with old techniques’ as experiment and innovation are more costly than repetition • Evolved slowly through numerous experimental trials and errors instead of specifically designed by a professional • Functionalistic and simple design which fulfils basic needs of the people Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture • Born of people’s needs, culture, tradition and adapted to local climate

The stilt houses in Ma Wan are examples of vernacular architecture. They were not designed by architects, but instead were developed slowly through time by the local people to adapt to the environment and their living style, and were built with the most handy materials.

03 1.2 Case Studies: Various Cultures in Vernacular Architecture of Hong Kong

1 2 Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture 2 1.2.1 Tong Lau or Tenement Houses - architecture for a dense population

What is Tong Lau? 1. A series of Tong Lau at Shanghai Street The history of tenement houses or Tong Lau (唐樓) dates 2. Architectural details of Tong Laus at 10-12 Li Chit back to the mid-19th century. The ground floor of a tenement Street (built in 1920s). The Tong Laus have been house is occupied by a shop while the mezzanine and demolished and only one of the façade was other storeys are for living. Multiple tenants usually shared conserved after renovation. one flat due to the shortage of living space at the time. Eventually this grew to be one of the most common building types in Hong Kong, South China and Southeast Asia, with Media Corner particular stylistic flourishes in each place. Hong Kong Stories (Series 15) - When Hong Kong became a British colony in 1842, the Our History Episode 10 - A Roof Over Our population of Chinese immigrants grew quickly. Tong Lau Heads 20-3-2011 Duration: 22 min. were the quick and convenient answer to the housing problem. Chinese version http://programme.rthk.org.hk/ rthk/tv/programme.php?name=tv/ Life in a shophouse hkstories15&d=2011-03- 20&p=5013&e=134356&m=episode Most prewar (built before 1945) Tong Laus are 3 to 4-storey high while later tenement houses after 1950 have 8 storeys English version at most. Early Tong Laus were long and narrow, accessed http://programme.rthk.hk/rthk/tv/programme. by a long, dark staircase without any natural lighting and php?name=tv/hkstories_ourhistory&d=2012- ventilation. There was also no provision of elevators and 01-25&p=5227&e=165561&m=episode toilets. or http://evideo.lib.hku.hk/play.php?vid=4692654 What is the architectural style of Tong Lau? Hong Kong Tong Laus are unique in their details which display a mix of Chinese and Western styles. Very often, Tong Laus have balconies or verandahs which project over the pedestrian pavement. Kee lau (騎樓) type tenement houses have columns to support the projecting floors, forming a continuous arcade on street level.

04 How were Tong Laus built? Early Tong Laus were supported by brick or stone load-bearing walls and beams. 1. Blue (grey) Canton bricks were chosen for the walls as they were cheaper than the stronger red bricks. 2. The ground floor was laid with Canton tiles. 3. The upper floor was made of Chinese timber floor planks supported by timber rafters. 4. The pitched roof was clad with unglazed clay tiles. Architectural details of Tong Laus at 1168 Tong Laus after 1935 were built in reinforced concrete. Canton Road (built in 1940s) Common Materials in Tong Laus Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture

Canton Brick Canton Tile Timber Planks Clay Roof Reinforced Concrete Tile How do Tong Laus adapt to the climate of Hong Kong? Effects of building design on lives of people To accommodate different families resulted from the influx Despite the cramped living condition and poor design of immigrant workers, each flat was divided into front of the earliest Tong Laus, they are built to respond to the room, middle room, end room (Fig. 1) or even smaller climate. cubicles. 1. High ceiling (approximately 4-5m high) Rooms were separated by partitions which were 2. large windows, built lower than the ceiling height to leave a gap for 3. balconies, and ventilation since there was no window in the whole flat 4. verandahs except at the front of the building. As partitions were thin and without any soundproofing, privacy was a critical are features which help create a well-lit and well- issue. Hygiene condition was also poor as all tenants had ventilated interior as a solution to the hot and humid to share the only bathroom and kitchen. climate of Hong Kong. Section 3

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2 1 6 6 Section Ground Floor Plan Section Elevation

Fig. 1 Typical plan, section and elevation of Tong Lau at 10-12 Li Chit Street in 1920s. Legend: 1. cookhouses 2. shop 3. smoke hole through the roof and floor 4. cockloft or platform above tenement cabins 05 5. tenement cabins 6. street in front of building Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture

Tong Lau at Wing Lee Street with ventilated staircases

What are the problems in early Tong Laus In the early days of Tong Lau, there was no regulation on its design. The buildings were tightly packed, built side to side and back to back without any space for natural ventilation and light could not penetrate into the interior and the building blocks were long and narrow (Fig. 1).

How did the government regulate the Tong Laus design? Prompted by the outbreak of bubonic plague in the over- crowded tenement block quarters around Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan in 1894, the government finally implemented the first buildings’ control under the Public Healthy and Buildings Ordinance in 1903 to regulate the design of Tong Laus in order to ensure the quality of construction and living space. 1. Improvement of Tong Laus A back lane and open space had to be provided, which means that more space had to left between buildings. Building height was restricted to the width of the street it was facing to ensure enough daylight penetrate, and building depth was limited to 12m to improve natural lighting condition of the interior. 2. Official Buildings’ regulation on Tong Laus The statutory regulation over Tong Lau design was further strengthened with the Buildings Ordinance 1935. Allowable building depth was further reduced to 11m. Adequate light and Fig. 2 Typical floor plan of a Tong Lau designed in ventilation was to be provided at every storey on every staircase, compliance to Buildings Ordinance 1935. hence caused the emergence of a new type of Tong Lau with a © Ferdinand Cheng / H. Y. Lee naturally lit and ventilated common staircase (Fig. 2). 06 Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture

1.2.2 Stilt Houses - architecture for a traditional lifestyle

What is stilt house? p Stilt houses in Tai O. Note the pitched roofs, the multi- Stilt houses, a type of housing elevated above the water use wooden decks and access to boats by ladders on stilts, can be found in fishing villages of Tai O and Ma Wan. They were built by the Tanka, a group of people who have lived in South China provinces including and Fujian for centuries, and they were also one of the earliest habitants in Hong Kong. This building typology has gone through a long evolution to suit the habits and lifestyle of its creator.

Why did the Tanka people build stilt houses? The Tanka people live on boats and rely mainly on fishing and salt production for a living. There is no standard definition of what ethnicity the Tanka is. It is however believed that they were a mix of Han and other southern races who fled to the sea due to war or exile. The stilt house typology in Tai O was gradually developed around 200 years ago when the Tai O Tanka people moved into houses as family sizes grew too big to be accommodated p Lives of people in the 1960s, before the fire in 2000 by the traditional boathouses. whole structure would shift away during serious floods. How were stilt houses built? In the 50s, Tai O locals began to take wood from disused The earliest stilt houses were constructed in a barrel- fishing boats for the construction of stilt houses. This shape resembling a boat with wooden planks, stone stilts reddish brown ironwood (坤甸木) from South China is and palm leaves, while later houses were made of metal strong and resistant to water erosion, and therefore sheeting, wooden planks and stilts. The barrel form was widely used in boat making. Villagers found it to be the taken over by the pitched roof and houses expanded from perfect material for the local environment. one-storey to two-storey high. After a devastating fire in 2000, Tai O saw the birth of a new type of stilt house. New materials including plaster Local residents found the earliest structures were not and aluminium sheets were used. strong enough. The stone pillars collapse easily and the 07 1 2 How do stilt houses evolve? 1&2: An early vaulted stilt house on concrete supports and a close up view of a vaulted 1. Spatial arrangement roof. Note how the roof is repaired with handy Houses belonging to different households often cluster along materials. a common wooden walkway which stretches from land to sea. Facilities such the kitchens and the shared bathrooms Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture are placed along this axis. The house at the end of the walkway and right above the water is built with a wooden deck. Fishing boats are tied right underneath and are easily accessible by a ladder which stretches from the deck to the water.

2. Structural improvement An early vaulted stilt house is divided into two rooms while a newer house has 3 compartments on the ground floor and bedrooms on the upper floor. Cross bracing was also used to improve structural stability of the stilt supports.

3. Reconstruction of the vernacular village p An open kitchen next to a common corridor. Behind After the fire in 2000, affected residents were allowed this kitchen shed are a bathroom, a shed for to rebuild their houses. Despite the need to apply for storage and other stilt houses. reconstruction licence and to comply to fire safety requirements, the reconstruction process was organic and flexible as typical in vernacular architecture. The residents communicated closely with the builders, and the resulting new houses were all customised to the owners’ needs.

p A new generation stilt house with cross-braced wooden p Wooden stilts with concrete footings 08 stilt supports and aluminium boards Evolution of stilt house: 4 generations

Architecture is always changing in response to the needs of people. Such intense integration with people’s lives is particularly evidenced in vernacular buildings such as stilt houses. Vernacular architecture Bamboo may appear unprofessional and not the most strips aesthetically pleasant, but it evolves through time to fit into people’s life and is therefore a good solution Compartment for its users.

First generation • Bamboo arch roof • Wooded structural framework • Circular stone plinth Stone Section plinth • Single storey rectangular compartment First generation of stilt house Wooded Second generation purlin • Wooden truss roof

• Wooden structural framework Wood truss Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture • Slender stone plinth • Single storey rectangular compartment

Third generation • Wooden frame roof • Wooden structural framework • Wood pillar as base support • Multi-storey compartment with semi-open deck Stone Section plinth Second generation of stilt house Fourth generation • Wooden frame roof Roof • Wooden structural framework framing • Further division of space • Balcony over front deck • Wood pillar protected with concrete plinth

Front deck Section Wood pillar

Third generation of stilt house

Front deck

Structures for kitchen Section sanitation Wood pillar protected with concrete Fourth generation of stilt house plinth 09 Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture

p Multi-purpose outdoor space is important for the fishermen families. The deck is where the family gather, prepare for work and for meals, as well as to relax.

How do stilt houses adapt to lifestyle and needs?

1. Terrace The terrace side facing the water is regarded as the front/head (棚頭) of the stilt house. As there was insufficient electricity supply in the past, a lot of activities such as drying of salted fish, net knitting p Mr Wong’s house rebuilt with red roof and in and cooking were conducted under the sun and such resemblance to houses in Jiangnan (江南) - an outdoor space was important. example of vernacular architecture adapted to individual taste and combination of traditional 2. Personal taste building technology. When residents rebuilt the houses that were lost in the fire of 2000, they worked closely with the builders to make sure the new houses suit their individual needs. Such interaction, flexibility, adaptation according to needs, environmental condition and resources are all essential elements in vernacular architecture which modern, ‘professionally designed’ architecture often lacks.

p A new house with aluminium sheeting, aluminium windows and a large deck 10 Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture

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1.2.3 Walled Village - architecture for defence p The watch tower at the corner of Shan Ha Wai (also known as What is walled village? Tsang Tai Uk) (山下圍，又稱曾大 Early residents of the New Territories were mainly 屋), Shatin. It is believed that the farmers from South China. In an agricultural society, fork-shaped feature on the ‘pot- people lived with their own clan (氏) in a cluster of ear-shaped’ walls (鑊耳形山牆) farm houses in South China architectural style. is a symbolic device to drive evil spirits and bad luck away. The main entrance, assembly hall and the ancestral hall aligns to a central axis. As the clan expanded, side houses were built around the older houses but the symmetrical layout was retained. Between the houses were courtyards and lanes for circulation and which also allowed natural ventilation in the hot wet climate of Hong Kong. Some walled villages even have watch towers at the corners and moats around the wall.

Why were walled villages developed? The history of Hong Kong’s walled village dates back to Ming and Qing dynasties. There are 2 types of walled villages - the Punti (本地) and the Hakka ( 客家). In Ming and Qing dynasties, Punti villagers began to build walls around their houses to protect themselves from pirates’ attack. In late Qing, Hakka p Wooden shutter for security people began to settle in the New Territories. Due to their different culture, language and customs, they also built walls to protect the village against rival clans.

How were walled villages built? Houses in a walled village were constructed with traditional materials such as stone, bricks, timber and Chinese tiles. Strong metal gates and wooden shutters were installed at the main entrances. 11 Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture

Fig. 8 Master layout plan of the walled village Tsang Tai Uk A

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A Ground Floor Plan Section AA A

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A First Floor Plan Section BB

Fig. 8 Plans and sections of a house in the walled village Tsang Tai Uk (plans and sections)

Legend: 1. Dinning room 2. Living room 3. Bedrooms 4. Kitchen 5. Skylight

12 [Exercise] Identifying and examining a vernacular building nearby

1. Identify a vernacular building nearby Students should identify a vernacular building near the school or in their neighbourhood.

Type of the vernacular architecture:

Location: Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture

Photograph of chosen building here Year of construction:

Materials:

Current use:

2. What do you notice in the surrounding environment?

What is the population density in the area? What are the historical and current development in the area? Are there any physical constraints?

13 3. Suggest one solution of the vernacular building in response to the people’s life and the environment. Photo of the feature 1

Photograph of chosen building here Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture

Physical What is the physical feature? Features

What problem is the physical feature responding?

4. Report your findings to the class and conclude by answering these questions: - What lifestyle does this vernacular building represent? - How could it improve the quality of living? - Can you see signs of the building’s evolution over time?

14 Summary

• Vernacular buildings are designed by everyday people who use and live in them. The building methods and designs have gone through a long process of evolution in response to culture, climate and technology.

• The Tong Lau / tenement house is a building type popular in South China from late 19th century to 1960s. The ground floor of a Tong Lau is occupied by a shop while the other stories are residential flats.

• A stilt house is a building type created by the Tanka people who rely mainly on fishing for their livelihood. The house is made of wood with metal sheeting, and is supported above the water by wooden stilts.

• Walled villages are found throughout Southern China. They are formed of a group of houses enclosed by a protective wall, and were usually built by Hakka or Punti farmers.

Key words Liberal Studies | Culture in Vernacular Architecture Vernacular architecture Tenement house Stilt house Walled village

Further reading 1. 《 大澳 － 尋回昔日的香江 》 網站 http://www2.hkedcity.net/citizen_files/aa/ce/my400897/public_html/index.htm 2. 張兆和、廖迪生《香港地區史研究之二：大澳》，香港：三聯書店（香港）有限公司 2006。 3. 陳翠兒、蔡宏興 《 空間之旅 － 香港建築百年 》，三聯書店 2005。 4. Yeung, Gary. “Practicing the Built Tradition in Tai O Hong Kong: the meaning of revitalizing vernacular neighborhoods in post-traditional environment”. HKIA Journal issue(2007) 48.

Organizer Sponsor Research Team

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