Tai O Is a Remembrance of the Past and a Vision of the Future

TAITAI-O O |/ A MODERN VILLAGE Tejido Group / University of Arizona / Capla / 2013 INTRODUCTION In the summer of 2013, the Tejido Group from the University of Arizona / CAPLA assembled a group of volunteer students from both Schools of Architecture and Landscape Architecture to develop a revitalization master plan for one of the last remaining ishing villages in the Hong Kong territories – TAI-O on Lantau Island. The project illustrated a collaborative and interdisciplinary effort among our faculty and students from the University of Arizona. Our design team was graciously hosted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong throughout the four week duration of the project. CUHK faculty and students assist- ed us greatly in adapting to, and in better understanding the many complex social, economic and environmental issues confronting us in this fascinating project. With strong support from CUHK and their School of Architecture, the students, professors, and all others involved experienced unique design challenges resulting in experiences which fostered both academic and personal growth. This revitalization project of TAI-O has evolved into an attempt to develop a multipronged approach to the revitalization and conservation of the wonderfully complex social and environmental context which is TAI-O. We sincerely hope that this “sustainable rural development prototype” may assist TAI-O in revitalizing a threatened, yet truly unique and relevant lifestyle. With very special thanks to CUHK and our gracious host Patrick Hwang we offer the following as a brief summary of the design and planning outcomes resulting from this summer’s odyssey in Hong Kong. TAI-O DESIGN TEAM: Karen Costello | Monique Bassey | Suhkmeet Singh | Indira Orderique | Malcolm Daruwalla | Bri Lehman Pavel Savine | Dr. Mark Frederickson 1 2 Tai O is a remembrance of the past and a vision of the future. Once home to the Tanka people, Tai O has been an important trading and fishing port to China for the last 100 years. It was originally colonized in the 10th century CE as it occupies a strategic position in the Pearl River Delta, situated equally between Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangzhou. The waters in this area have been traveled for at least the last 6000 years, traveled by pirates and traders, armies and smugglers. Historically the major exports have been salt and fish, and the village is renown for its famous shrimp paste. Evidence of this commercial activity can be seen throughout the village today, from fish drying racks and shrimp paste drying in the open air to the remains of the salt pans that are now host to mangrove wetlands. Temples to Hung Shing, the patron saint of fisherfolk, can still be found throughout the village, a testament to the strong history and tradition of the village. An analysis of the Feng Shui of the village attests that it is strategically placed for social and economic success. Whatever you believe, it is important to preserve the history of the village, while providing a path for its future that will ensure its continued sustainability. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Site Analysis 6 Master Plan 10 Entrance and Commercial Zone 12 Modern Low-Rise Village 18 Mangroves and Research Campus 26 West Side Infill Strategy 30 Environmental Issues 38 Housing Strategies 42 Recreation Opportunities 48 Conclusion 50 References 50 4 5 Pearl River Delta Mainland China Macau Tai-O Hong Kong Lantau Island This is a view of the general Pearl River delta region. Lantau Island is connected to Hong Kong mainland by bridge, ferry and subway links. Currently a new bridge connecton is under construction to Macau. 6 HKG Airport Tai-O Disneyland Tian Tan Buddah Lantau Island Other than Tai-O village, Lantau island is largely undeveloped, yet there are new dense nodal developments in the form of a new international airport on the northern coast, and a Disneyland resort located along the northeast coast. 7 ESTUARIES Estuaries present an opportunity in terms of revegetation efforts in an attempt to reestablish natural ecologic functions. Natural vegetation, such as mangroves, prevent the detrimental functions of tidal actions. They also create a microenvironment in which fish, molluscs and other plants and animals thrive. HIGH AND LOW TIDES High and low tides are very significant in this region, with the high tide line moving throughout the village and up Tai O Creek, and the low tide moving far enough away from the land to create significant mud flats around the island. INTERTIDAL ZONE The intertidal zone supports a variety of life that is adapted to extreme enivronments. Because of the variability of this environment, many species of life are supported because of the high volume of nutrients presented by these different inputs. Habitats such as those created by mangroves can ameliorate the more dramatic affects in these areas. 8 EXISTING LAND USE Much of the land surrounding the village of Tai O is already protected and not slated for development. Any future development within the historic village is also strictly limited, often times not allowing houses that have been destroyed to be rebuilt. CIRCULATION Circulation within the village is good, if not somewhat limited by the shape of the development and the water that surrounds most of it. Circulation is most limited in the access to the village from the outside, with the only main circulation paths being one road from the rest of Lantau and one ferry entrance at the port. AMENITIES There are amenities for the residents of the village, but they are often not placed with regard to the limited mobility of the mostly aging population of the village. Amenities tend to be concentrated in the newer developments, presumably because they are more easily located than in the existing village fabric. 9 å°Žç®¡ ZONED MASTER PLAN æ¿¾æ°´æ± å¢³å¢“ å¢³å¢“ å¢³å¢“ Much consideration was taken in developing å¢³å¢“ å¢³å¢“ å¢³å¢“ a new master plan for Tai O. Much emphasis was å¢³å¢“ å¢³å¢“ å¢³å¢“ placed on the preservation and redevelopment of å¢³å¢“ å¢³å¢“ å¢³å¢“ existing infrastructure, as it was important to keep å¢³å¢“ å¢³å¢“ å¢³å¢“ the fabric and social cohesion of the village intact, å¢³å¢“ and preserve the historic elements which make the å¢“åœ° å¢³å¢“ å¢“åœ° village such an important part of the history of Hong å¢³å¢“ Kong. Areas that were unused or underutilized were å¢“åœ° targeted for redevelopment plans than emphasized ฀ the overall cohesion of the area, while attempting to address some of the issues that had developed in recent years. Amenities were placed closer ENTRANCE AND COMMERCIAL ZONE to the areas in which they would be utlized, and MANGROVES AND RESEARCH CAMPUS development strategies emphasize the creation of WEST SIDE INFILL STRATEGY more infastructure for visitors, while attempting to MOUNTAIN HIKE improve the quality of life for the residents of the MODERN LOW-RISE VILLAGE village. PUBLIC AREA INFILL HOUSING ACTUAL HOUSING ACCESS POINT AGRICULTURE MANGROVES GREEN AREA 10 MOUNTAINS 16 å°Žç®¡ æ¿¾æ°´æ± 20 4 20 40 0 1 4 G 20 40 0 1 å¢³å¢“ 20 40 60 60 80 80 20 4 å¢³å¢“ 100 40 4 60 20 60 G G 40 å¢³å¢“ 4 å¢³å¢“ 12 20 20 20 å¢³å¢“ å¢³å¢“ 72 60 G 40 60 å¢³å¢“ 40 G 40 G G G 60 G å¢³å¢“ G 4 40 å¢³å¢“ G 20 60 å¢³å¢“ G 7474 G G 40 G 60 20 G G 20 å¢³å¢“ 78 å¢³å¢“ å¢³å¢“ 6 40 G G 10 å¢³å¢“ G å¢³å¢“ 60 å¢³å¢“ 40 20 80 G G G G 40 G G G 30 G 40 20 G G G 20 20 4 80 60 å¢“åœ° å¢³å¢“ 40 å¢“åœ° G 40 å¢³å¢“ 60 100 20 40 6 G å¢“åœ° G G 60 20 40 80 20 20 60 20 40 60 40 4 ฀ 6 0 80 60 40 G 80 20 60 80 60 40 60 40 20 14 ENTRANCE AND COMMERCIAL ZONE 4 50 40 20 60 10 20 MANGROVES AND RESEARCH CAMPUS 80 80 60 60 40 40 20 19'-7 15/16" 19'-7 15/16" SHR SHR W SHR 11 G G G G G G G G G ENTRANCE AND COMMERCIAL ZONE Tai O is a picturesque fishing One crucial design issue was the village that is facing several challenges. purely functional but uninteresting entry It’s fishing industry has been trailing sequence for visitors to Tai O. The bus off as the young people are turning depot dominated the entry plaza and there away from a low paying, physically was no inviting sense of arrival. Also the demanding career to new career seawall and drainage river between the old opportunities in urban Hong Kong. The village and new high rise housing creates a village is also gaining attention as a barrier, both physically and visibly. The wall possible ecotourism destination. With is so close to the old village buildings that this in mind, the design team determined it inhibits expansion and personal gardens that maintaining the fishing industry was and communal open space. importance for integrity and relevance, but ecotourism should also be a target. 9 2 2 e A 50 S O M TAI 48 168 175 2 46 21 0 44 42 173 40 tfall Ou 1 6 171 8 3 164 34 169 162 1 7 1 4 160 167 of rch 1 hu a 5 C n 1 e hi T 158 165 Th C 2 st in ol A hri cho I C S O i O 1 TAI O YEE CHUNG 156 a 3 T M Stilt House 1 163 A 0 R 1 1 K 54 1 E 161 T 8 - S 6 1 T 52 9 150 7 157 4 148 - 2 5 DSD Tai O No.1 1 Sewage Pumping Station 46 ll 1 3 a 1 55 Seaw 44 15 142 3 1 151 14 HWM 0 149 13 Stilt House TAI O 8 147 145 1 134 43 TAI O TAI CHUNG 141 132 139 130 137 3 32 34 8 30 36 13 28 40 128 5 26 42 44 46 48 50 5 1 13 4 2 or 26 3 2 54 ing Ch 29 31 5 5 W 25 33 3 6 8 chool 131 2 35 7 39 60 S ll 1 2 4 a 6 1 - 4 45 12 aw 1 3 6 4 e 8 47 2 S 64 129 49 66 51- 68 7 1 53 0 4 23 55 1 72 27 57 74 21 59 61 76 63 78 67 80 12 120 1 118 -15 69 116 13 14 A 71 8 1 11 4 73 86 88 75 90 92 7 7 121 0A 1 79 9 119 94 6 7 98 11 81 100 115 L 83 8 102 5 104 87 106 PRIVATE GARDENS 89 9 91 10 9 3-95 97 ll 9 101 9 10 wa 3 105 107 ea S 3 o.

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