Yuen Long Hung Fuk Estate

Case Study 2 Yuen Long Hung Fuk Estate Planning, Designing and Managing Open Space Close to Hearts and Homes Ms Portia YIU Chief Planning Officer, Housing Department, HKSAR Government

Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA)

• To meet the housing needs of low- income families that cannot afford private accommodation

• To provide affordable quality housing in an age-friendly and barrier-free environment for building a sustainable community

HKHA’s Four Core Values

“Core values (4Cs) being Caring, Customer-focused, Creative and Committed, we are constantly exploring innovative ways to triumph a higher standard of quality housing and people-oriented design” How does HKHA plan, design and manage open spaces in public housing estates? Planning and Design Principles

• Making reference to the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines (HKPSG) as a start

• Taking into account:  Advice from relevant Government departments;  Views of the local community; and  Provision in the vicinity, etc.

• Planning and designing of facilities in an inclusive manner

• Adopting universal design principles Planning and Design Requirements

• Provision of at least 1 m2 per person of local open space (HKPSG)

• “Community Play Areas” for different age groups

• Green coverage for public housing projects:  30% or above for projects with site area over two hectares;  20% minimum for smaller sites

• Tree planting ratio of at least one tree per 15 flats Environmental Considerations

• Adopting site specific planning and design to address different site characteristics

• Conducting micro-climate studies

Air Ventilation Sun Path and Shadowing Pattern

Annual E wind Summer SW wind Summer 9:00am Summer 3:00am Design Considerations

• Enhancing ecological value

• Green initiatives

• Low maintenance

Management and Maintenance

Month Responsible Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec • Setting guidelines for Item Unit (I) Watering (whole year) Estate

horticultural maintenance (II) Pruning - Tree branches and crown # work – watering, pruning, - Shrub / Climber (as necessary) Estate - Lawn (Arrange grass cutting when the height of lawn grass reaches 100mm) Estate

Horticultural - Wild growth at hillside weeding, fertilizing, pest and Services Contractor disease control, soil cultivation, (III) Weeding (at least once every two weeks) Estate (IV) Fertilizing - Lawn Estate stabilizing tree stakes/ties and - Other planting areas Estate

Pest and Disease (V) (as necessary) Estate straightening trees; and regular Control inspection (VI) Soil Cultivation - Digging soil Estate - Improving planting Estate medium - Applying mulching Estate

• Executing the yearly plan for Stabilizing Tree (VI) Stakes/Ties and (as necessary) # horticultural maintenance work Straightening Trees (VIII) Regular Inspection (whole year) Estate - Replanting (as necessary) Estate - Replacing or removing according to seasons/months (as necessary) Estate fence Yearly Plan for Horticultural Maintenance Work

Case Study – Hung Fuk Estate Hung Fuk Estate

 Site Area: 6.4 hectares  Plot Ratio: 3.5  No. of Domestic Blocks: 9  No. of Flats: 4,905 rental units  Population: about 12,900

 Open Space: over 13,000 m²  Green Coverage: 31%  No. of Trees: 675 (54% natives)  No. of Shrubs: 182,700 (34% native)

Respond to Environment – Bring Breeze and Air Let’s play with the Sun

Play Area Farm

Summer 9:00am Summer 3:00am Play Area Planning of Activity Space

• One basketball court is on the East and the Lawn other one on the West, both are orientated along North-south axis to minimize glare effect • Play Areas are planned on the East, as most kids Plaza play in the afternoon Ball Court • Community Lawn Area are Community Farm Ball Court planned on the West, as plants enjoy strong Courtyard sunshine • Entrance Plaza and Courtyard are planned in the middle where community activities are always under shade most of the day Photo taken at 3:30pm in Summer Interactive Plaza Connects People with Comfort and Convenience

• The courtyard & plaza are cleverly created by linking up the covered walkway and the shopping verandah • It brings breeze (wind speed of 3.8m/s) • It brings a sense of arrival • It brings an identity to the estate

1 – Entrance Courtyard 2 – Entrance Plaza 3 – Arrival in Estate Interactive Open Spaces • Landscape gardens and covered activity areas are the BIG LIVING ROOMs for our the residents, to play, to rest and to interact with each other • Creating a “Sense of Place”

Chess graphical displays at Leisure Activity Area

Chinese paper- cutting sculptures and graphical displays of twelve animals in Chinese zodiac are used to decorate the Cultural Activity Area Enhanced Ecological Value • Planting of native trees and vegetation to enhance ecological value • 675 Nos. trees, 54% natives • 182,708 Nos. shrubs, 34% natives • Green roof to provide habitats for wildlife • Landscape design to incorporate conservation and education elements. • Provision of Mini-Woodland, Nature Walking Path & Butterfly Garden

Ixora chinensis Rhodomyrtus tomentosa 龍船花桃金孃 (崗棯) Transplanted trees in nature walking path Greening Opportunities & Low Maintenance

• Total Green Roof areas ~5,000 m2 with native species of ground cover • Total Vertical Greening ~400 m2 provided at trellis over sitting areas and basketball fencing • Automated dripline irrigation system is provided for green roofs, planters along building perimeter “All-sand” Rootzone Profile (全沙根質) Design for Lawn

• The sand layer provides excellent drainage and is resistant to compaction

• The perched water table created at the interface of Turf the sand and aggregate layers can retain water in the rootzone 200mm Sand • 17 This design facilitates the establishment of grass 100mm Gravel • It also improves the durability of lawn and reduce the need for frequent maintenance Landscape / Planting Design Theme

1 2 3 4 5 1. Nature Walking Path 2. Irrigation System Trial Area 3. Camellia Garden 4. Recycle Plaza 5. Community Lawn Area 6. Butterfly Garden 6 7 7. Entrance 8. Ornamental Grass Area 9. Heritage Court

9 Healthy Green Living

• Community farm to encourage residents to participate for recreation and education purposes

• “Action Seedling (育苗行動)” – participants from residents, schools and community organisations to nurse Farming Workshop seedlings plants given by the HA and its building contractors for transplanting into new estates’ planters

Action Seedling in Hung Fuk Resident Survey on Satisfaction Level

Design, Planning and The Estate Provisions of Facilities as a Whole of the Estate

94% 95%

Usage of Vacant Bay Adequacy of as Leisure Areas Greeneries

93% 98% Satisfaction Very / Quite satisfied Happiness Average Healthy Living Professional Recognition and Awards

9 Professional Institutes’ Quality Building Award 2018 - Quality Excellence Award - Hong Kong Residential (Multiple Buildings) Category - Grand Award

Hong Kong Institute of Project Management Project Management Achievement Awards 2017 - Winner (Community Service/ Regional Development) - Winner (Construction/Engineering)

Asia Pacific Federation of Project Management’s Project Management Awards - High Commendation Community Service and /or Regional Development

The Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects - HKILA Design Awards 2016 - Merit Award

HKGBC Green Building Award 2016 - New Buildings Category (Completed Projects - Residential Building) - Grand Award The End