Vernacular Solution for Architecture [Teacher Notes]

Design and Applied Technology Teaching kit for Senior Secondary Curriculum Visit : Yau Ma Tei Vernacular Solution for Architecture [Teacher notes] Organizer Sponsor Research Team 1 Contents Preamble | Design and Applied Technology Teaching plan i Visit: Yau Ma Tei- Vernacular Architecture 1.1 Itinerary 01 1.2 Brief History of Yau Ma Tei 03 1.2.1 What is Localization? 04 1.2.2 What is Vernacular Architecture? 04 Solution for Architecture - Vernacular Ma Tei Yau Visit: 1.3 Checkpoints 1 Public Square 05 2 Temple Street 06 3 Mido Cafe 08 4 Yau Ma Tei Car Park Building 09 5 Man Wah Sun Chuen, Man Shing Street 10 6 Prosperous Garden 11 7 Shanghai Street No. 313-315 12 8 Wholesale Fruit Market 14 9 Yau Ma Tei Theatre 16 Discussion, Key Words and References 18 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 Solution 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 Interdisciplinary teaching areas Solution for Architecture - Vernacular Ma Tei Yau Visit: 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 Teaching plan Lesson Contents Lesson 1 • Understand the background of Yau Ma Tei Visit: Yau Ma Tei - • Learn more how do the life and cultures of locals influence the Vernacular Solution for architectural 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 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 Solution 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 Proposed Route Design and Applied Technology — Yau Ma Tei — Vernacular Architecture Points of interest 1, 2. Public Square • Introduction of vernacular influence on architecture and public space (Temple Street) • Temporary portable structure • Local craftsmanship • Home-based secondary industrial sector 3. Mido Cafe • Social and cultural life in an old district • Vernacular architectural style • Historical craft and cultural influences on architectural materials and structure • Vernacular design for natural lighting and ventilation Design and Applied Technology | Design and Applied Technology 4. Man Wah Sun Chuen • Evolution of housing typology (Taikoktsui) High-rise • Development of housing due to social needs buildings • Health and Safety controls on private housing by the Government 5. Carpark Building and • Design strategies for high-dense urban development Gascoigne Road • Appropriate structure for the spatial requirement • Innovation and Technology Flyover Visit: Yau Ma Tei - Vernacular Solution for Architecture - Vernacular Ma Tei Yau Visit: 6. Prosperous Garden • Evolution of housing typology • Improvement of housing due to economic growth • Government’s ‘Urban Improvement Scheme’ • Health and Safety controls on public housing by the Government 7. Wholesale Fruit • Historic building built in 1913 (Grade II) Market • Historic architectural style • Use of materials and structure • Design consideration for wholesale fruit market 8. Yau Ma Tei Theatre • Conservation and revitalization of historic buildings (Grade I and Grade II) Complex • Historic architectural style • Use of materials and structure • Renovation for historic buildings 9. (Optional) • Vernacular Architecture — Tenement houses Shanghai Street • Conservation and revitalization of historic buildings (Grade I) Tenement Houses • Historical craft and cultural influences on architectural materials and structure • Vernacular design for natural lighting and ventilation 02 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 fishing village in 1880s tion projects. Piers were built to serve fisherman as 1900 well as for boat access. Early 20th century Local Business Local business began to grow along the shore in early 20th century. Trading of fish, fruits and mer- Solution 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 p Shanghai Street (1960s) Mix of Commercial and Residential 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) 03 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 Solution 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 had 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’. Teaching Tips For further information, can refer to Liberal Studies Topic 03: ‘Globalization and Localization of Architecture and Urban Planning ’ 04 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 Design and Applied Technology | Design and Applied Technology • In the early days, Yau Ma Tei was a small Chinese 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

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