Visit : Yau Ma Tei Vernacular Solution for Architecture [Student Notes]

Design and Applied Technology Teaching kit for Senior Secondary Curriculum Visit : Yau Ma Tei Vernacular Solution for Architecture [Student notes] Organizer Sponsor Research Team 1 Contents Design and Applied Technology | Design and Applied Technology Preamble Learning plan i Visit: Yau Ma Tei - Vernacular Solutions for Architecture 1.1 Itinerary for the Visit 01 1.2 Brief History of Yau Ma Tei 02 1.2.1 What is Localization? 03 1.2.2 What is Vernacular Architecture? 03 Solutions for Architecture - Vernacular Ma Tei Yau Visit: 1.3 Checkpoints 1 Public Square 04 2 Temple Street 05 3 Mido Cafe 07 4 Yau Ma Tei Car Park Building and Gascoigne Road Flyer 08 5 Prosperous Garden 09 6 Man Wah Sun Chuen, Man Sing Street 10 7 Shanghai Street No. 313-315 11 8 Yau Ma Tei Wholesale Fruit Market 13 9 Yau Ma Tei Theatre 15 Summary, Key words and Further reading 17 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 10 Visit: Yau Ma Tei - Vernacular Solutions for Architecture Major teaching areas Design and Applied Technology: Strand 1 Design and Innovation • Design in practice | Design and Applied Technology • Design consideration Strand 2 Technology Principles • Nature of Technology Strand 3 Value and Impact • Values in technology and design • Historical and cultural influences Visit: Yau Ma Tei - Vernacular Solutions for Architecture - Vernacular Ma Tei Yau Visit: Interdisciplinary teaching areas Liberal Studies • Module 2 Hong Kong Today Visual Arts • Visual Arts Appreciation and Criticism in context Physics • Chapter VIII Energy and Use of Energy Learning objectives • To observe and identify the characteristics of local skills in vernacular solutions for architecture • To understand the characteristics of different typologies of vernacular architecture in Hong Kong in relations to the people’s ways of living. • To understand the connection and interplay between architecture, lifestyle, social context and the environment. Learning plan Lesson Contents Lesson 1 • Understand the background of Yau Ma Tei Visit to Yau Ma Tei - • Learn more how do the life and cultures of locals influence the Vernacular Solutions to architecturtural design through a site visit Architecture • Identify architectural features and materials typical of post-war Hong Kong • Learn more on local construction materials and solutions i 1.1 Planned itinerary Field Trip Map for Design and Applied Technology 9 8 Design and Applied Technology | Design and Applied Technology 7 6 3 2 Visit: Yau Ma Tei - Vernacular Solutions for Architecture - Vernacular Ma Tei Yau Visit: 1 4 5 Pre-trip Introduction (20 min) • Background 1: Brief History of Yau Ma Tei • Background 2: Building Typology • Background 3: Building Material Field Trip (approximately 2 hours) 15 min 15 min 20 min 15 min 30 min 15 min 15 min 20 min 15 min 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Public Temple Mido YMT Car park Man Wah Prosperous Shanghai St. Wholesale Yau Ma Tei Square Street Cafe Building Sun Chuen Garden No. 313-315 Fruit Market Theatre 01 1.2 Brief History of Yau Ma Tei Before 20th century - Harbour / Fishermen Port Yau Ma Tei’s name translates to ‘Oil-Jute-Land’ as this used to be an area where fishing boats gath- ered. Tung oil and jute are two essential materials for fishermen, and shops selling those products flourished around the area. During the Qing dynasty in early 19th century, Lin Tse-hsu built the Kwun Chung Fort against the British | Design and Applied Technology and successfully kept Kowloon from British authority until 1860. The Yau Ma Tei Typhoon Shelter remains popular fishing harbour even after several reclama- p Yau Ma Tei as a fishing village (1880s) tion projects. Piers were built to serve fisherman as well as for boat access. 1900 Early 20th century - Local Business Local business began to grow along the shore in early 20th century. Trading of fish, fruits and mer- Solutions for Architecture - Vernacular Ma Tei Yau Visit: chandise blossomed and made Yau Ma Tei the heart of neighbourhood business. Goods and crafts were produced locally and imported from neighbouring ports. p Shanghai Street (1900s) Mid-late 20th century - Residential With the influx of Chinese migrants, low-rise residential blocks were built in the early part of the century. Along with the population growth and industrialization in 1970s, both public and private sectors sought to provide housing solutions to ac- commodate local need. Now - Mix of Commercial and Residential p Shanghai Street (1960s) Today Yau Ma Tei remains a popular place of local 2000 culture. It retains a number of heritage sites, with some of them under preservation and revitalization schemes, for example the Prince Edward Road West and Yuen Ngai Street Project and the Shanghai Street Argyle Street project. Among the 310,000 people currently living in Yau Tsim Mong district can be found a rich mixture of ethnic groups. New arrivals from mainland China live alongside minority groups from southern Asia in a relatively dense environment. p Shanghai Street (now) 02 1.2.1 What is Localization? Localization is a development process guided by the customs, culture, social and economic conditions of a particular geographical area. The outcomes from the process reflect the cultural characteristics of the place and answer to regional needs. Reasons for localization in architecture and urban development: 1. Regional traditions and preference 2. Nearness to building materials | Design and Applied Technology 3. Local skills and technology 4. Physical and climate conditions 5. Availability of capital Visit: Yau Ma Tei - Vernacular Solutions for Architecture - Vernacular Ma Tei Yau Visit: 1.2.2 What is Vernacular Architecture? Usually, buildings designed by professional architects are not considered vernacular. Some would simply define vernacular architecture as ‘architecture without architects’. In The Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World, Paul Oliver defines vernacular architecture as: ‘...comprising the dwellings and all other buildings of the people. Related to their environmental contexts and available resources they are customarily owner - or community-built, utilizing traditional technologies. All forms of vernacular architecture are built to meet specific needs, accommodating the values, economies and ways of life of the cultures that produce them.’ American architect Frank Lloyd Wright defined vernacular architecture as ‘folk building growing in response to actual needs, fitted into environment by people who knew no better than to fit them with native feeling’. 03 1.3 Checkpoints 1 Public Square（「眾坊」） Tin Hau Temple + Yung Shue Tau （榕樹頭） Built in : Tin Hau Temple, 1840s Use : Public open space, social and cultural Significance Historical: Temple and Square - remnant of fishing traditions • In the early days, Yau Ma Tei was a small Chinese | Design and Applied Technology community and most of the daily activities centered p Yung Shue Tau（榕樹頭） around the Tin Hau Temple. • The temple and square is deemed the heart of the Yau Ma Tei and the remnant of fishing traditions. • The Tin Hau Temple, previously a Grade II historic building, has been listed as a Grade I historic building since May 2010. Social: Temple and Square - hub for trade and activities • The Tin Hau Temple is an important social venue in a Visit: Yau Ma Tei - Vernacular Solutions for Architecture - Vernacular Ma Tei Yau Visit: traditional Chinese community. Not only has it provided a place for worship to the nearby boat people, but it is also the focus of the community where people from surrounding p Tin Hau Temple（天后廟） areas gather and socialize. • The nearby Temple Street was named after this temple. [Observation] Could you name a few traditional Chinese architectural elements found in Tin Hau Temple? p Aerial view of Tin Hau Temple complex. [Discussion] Today’s shore Today’s Reclaimation St. Ferry St. Old shore While harbour reclamation has made Yau Ma Tei a landlocked neighbourhood, it began as a waterfront village, with a large Tin Hau Temple serving as a hub for trade and activity. Reclaimation 1990s 1900s 1 What are the landmarks which indicate the locations of Public Square old shorelines? New YMT YMT Typhoon West Kowloon Police 2 Compare to Statue Square in Central. Shelter Station p The land reclamation at Yau Ma Tei 04 2 Temple Street（廟街） Built in : Unknown Use : Street market for cultural and commercial activities Design and Applied Technology | Design and Applied Technology Street Stalls in Hong Kong Solutions for Architecture - Vernacular Ma Tei Yau Visit: Temple Street is a flea market that operates from late afternoon (3-6pm) to midnight (11pm-1am) and becomes vibrant every evening. Similar to many other street markets in Hong Kong (e.g. Graham Street in Central, Fa Yuen Street in Mong Kok), the street stalls are distinctive vernacular structures which create some of the most unique public spaces in Hong Kong. [ Open 朝行 ] When the stall is opened, the entire structure is unfolded and extended to the street, maximizing shop frontage to attract customers. The overhanging roof structure is usually covered by corrugated zinc or polycarbonate (translucent plastic) panels. The nylon canvas provides an extended roof to shelter the goods when stall is opened. Light and flexible, the canvas is supported by bamboo or thin metal poles, sometimes stabilised by just rope and nylon straps. [ Close 晚拆 ] When the stall is closed, the metal structure at the back provides storage to all merchandise (e.g. garment, accessories, gadgets, dried food, etc.) Significance Historical: Famous open-air market • Named after the nearby Tin Hau Temple.

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