The Blue H ouse Cl uster H eri tage Working with Community, Government, Professional and Revitalization Partnership Scheme Business Stake-holders: Knowledge Exchange in the Living (Deve lopment Bureau) is thfihe first Preservation of the Blue House Heritage Cluster public-private partnership project of its kind i n H ong K ong i n whi ch th e original grassroots inhabitants are not Mirana M. Szeto ([email protected]) evidicted to gi ve way to h hieritage Assistant Professor, Comparative Literature, School of Humanities, HKU preservation and development, but can contiiiinue to stay as active participants The Knowledge Exchange Conference: Knowledge Transforming Society in the revitalization of their community. 5-620116 Dec. 2011
Blue House
Government’s original plan announce on 31 March 2006
• To turn Blue House & Yellow House into Chinese Medicine & Tea Museums plus commercial facilities. • Demolish Orange House. • Evict all residents ($ or public housing compensation.)
low House Orange House ense Political Climate during the Blue ow can ouse Community Preservation Movement inter-disciplinary academic research Persistent preservati(ion movements (e.g. inter-cullkldltural knowledge Wedding Card Street, Star Ferry and professional know-how Q’Queen’s Pier ) pushdthhed the governmen ttt to assist reconfigure its urban development affected community policies to include heritage preservation . non-government organizations The government needs to react to new the government pblicalesinatimelmannerpublic values in a timely manner. generate together better policy development and execution nd do something Hong Kong people actually like?
Knowledgg(ye Transfer (one way flow) or Cultural-Social Innovation: Knowledge Exchange (two-way flow)? Our introduction of participatory research, policy making, planning and design have helped in creating a new alternative: a bottom-up, community-led and sustainable “living heritage preservation” mod ole of the scholars: which integrates culture and heritage into the development of an as expertdit adviser f or all parti es existing community. It can become a beacon for sustainable as organizer of relevant knowledge & people communities to come and a demonstrative research and educational tool. It preserves not only the architecture and cultural landscape , as facilitator among all parties. but also the Hong Kong Tonglau ( ) habitual way of life. Its Knowledge Exchange (two-way flow) rather than innovative social enterprises and creative financial model are self nowledge Transfer (one way flow). sustainable while offering at the same time affordable rental homes and services as well as relevant job opportunities for the community. ur research also learns & imppproves in the process. promotittiitites community participation and generatltes local lkld knowledg transfer and cultural production. How is this possible? tage 1: Community Participatory Research, Planning & Polic Development on “Living Heritage Revitalization”: demonstrate how PPP should happen ShlScholars i itntrod uce bttbottom-up, communitity parti ci pat ory Set up the Blue H ouse P reservati on Group: DlDevelop planning to the heritage revitalization project Knowledge & Protocols of Cross-sector Partnership: PfProfess iona ls, schlholars &ihliidi& artists help in introducing: • underpinned by the will of social-changers to new methods & skills (e.g. community participatory planning “trickle-up” their alternative policy & plan: anddd desi gn, arc hitectural experti se) these people are knowledge of funding& art of grant applications – exiiisting resid ents, nei ihbhghborhood vol unteers, l ocal process, techihnical l&b & bureaucrati c k nowh ow community socio-economic networks for fund raising – ad&ilidvocacy & social service ngos (St. James ’ Sett lement, access to iidkinsider knowl ldedge and connecti ons Community Cultural Concern, Heritage Hong Kong) relevant credentials, lend credibility, demonstrate, mobilize – progressive schlholars, prof essi onal s,& lllocal artists support ofhf the w ider communi ty.
Set up the Blue House Resident Group
Personal commitment of stakeholders ensures identification with & ownership of the project, community responsibility, high consensus & acceptance of democratically generated result (despite disagreements) - essential to effective collaborative management. The local people took ownership & sought to develop how democratisation of community decision-making ca work. True community participatory planning takes time, but less time, hassle and cost than a militant community fighting the government on all fronts. • Heritage preservation trains Synergy: organizing Knowledge architects, urban planners, Outcome 1: New Policy Tool engineers with cultural and social Creation,,g Building and Exchange knowhow and sensitivity ChiComprehensive ItAt(CIA)Impact Assessment (CIA) • Cultural programs , exhibitions & tours train cultural curators, cultural managers, artists, cultural AdAcadem i&NGOllbic & NGO collaborati ve process iiinnovation: entrepreneurs with social and business knowhow • R&D: evaluate existing impact assessment process reform • Social Innovation projects train social entrepreneurs and innovative • more comprehensive scope in evaluating impact of project: professionals with cultural on residents AND nearby community businesses & residents sensitivity; train social workers with cultural sensitivity and business (wider scope than government’s Social Impact Assessment) knowhow • R&D: build & transfer knowledge • consolidate the opinions and solidarity of residents who want on Hong Kong culture & heritage; to leave AND who want to stay: mobilize them to petition integrate cultural studies, cultural policy, industrial policy , urban together for the right to a leaving plan AND a staying plan. planning for traditional and new Solve the divide and rule loophole. creative industries; build theory base and archive; provide research, Community shares tacit knowledge; empowered & • PdProcedures partially ll ad opt ed by b th e URS revi ew internship, experimentation trained up by knowledge transfer & exchange. opportunities.
New Strategies of Outcome 3 : New Strategies of Heritage-based Community Building Heritage-based Communityyg Building utcome 2: Scholar & Community Participatory Planning: organize workshops with ollaboration in Cultural Research: deliverables: residents, neighboring stakeholders, supporters, Oral History, Cultural Tours, Program Content possible future tenants: designing future alternative DlDevelopment plan Finding & Building the Heritage Justifications Collaborative Procedural Negotiations: lobbying the from community pov Development Bureau, Town Planning Board, Urban Public Education & Media Campaign: Renewal Authority, Housing Society, District Council. Community stories pppopularized in the public memory. Innovative new content attract frequent Planni ng &Tr ia l-run of free full -age press coverage: build public future alternatives: understanding & good-will about the alternative plan. collective innovation to Bottom-up research ensures content quality & ensure financial timeli ness. sustainability of plans. Outcome 4: Collaborative Research on New Alternatives & Isokon Building, Hampstead, London. Rental community homes. Early Innovative Solutions (scholars & professionals) famous residents: Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer, Agatha Christie (1940-46), László MhlMoholy-NAdiSkNagy, Adrian Stokes, Egon Riss... Global comparable cases we learn from & improve on Casa Milà, Barcelona, Spain,1906 . Both people & the house can stay. We want to do better in terms of the democratization of community participation in its management & development through cross-sector collaboration & “living preservation.” We want to do better in terms of the democratization of participation through cross-sector collaboration & “living preservation.”
Research Findings: Existence of vibrant traditional craft-based creative industries in the district (production chain analyzed). utcome 5: Scholar & Community Collaborative Research The vvtuesoteogauspatairtues of the Tong Lau spatial layout f or co-eestecexistence he Problems and Opportunities of the Craft-based Industries in of new and traditional creative industries. Wan Chai District for the patial needs of new creative industries similar to spatial needs Wanchai District Council. f old Tong Lau communities. he mixed-use Tong Lau spatial design enables new creative sole oprietors to interact with customers on the ground floor front hop while maintaining easy access to the customized product little trainee of traditional craft- oduction or sample/prototype production area at the back or on sed industries. Source: The Public ecords Office (PRO), HKSAR. See e upper floors. The mixed-use design also allows them to work & so The Problems and Opportunities ve in close proximity, & thus, allows them maximum flexibility the Craft -based Industries in Wan hai District efficiency. . 2 yrs of research + community participation policy & planning The Secretary of Development, Mrs. Carrie Lam visited proposal submitted to the Development Bureau on 18 October 2007. the Blue House Cluster in mid Dec 2007 to hear residents present without the help of any professionals.
The ‘Wan Chai Castle Plan ( Brochure. Presentation to Secretary of Development Carrie Lam, 16 Dec., 2007. Courtesy of Laurence Lam.
2 yrs of effort leadinggg to a First Stage Success
Outcome 6: Policy Innovation adopted by the In February, 2008 , the Develo pment Bureau invited Expressions Development Bureau: succeed in getting of Interest (EOI) for the Blue House Cluster Preservation projec Government Policy Change in Response based on a more pppeople-oriented approach, which includes tenants who opt to remain within the Cluster becoming an Revitalizing Historic Buildings through Partnership integgpral part of the social network in the future revitalization pla Scheme (l(Development Bureau): The team is proud to have been public private partnership = gov + business reinterpreted part of the effort that helped as initiate this new policy agenda. public pritivate parthitnership=community it+bi+ + business + gov to rebuild communityyp capacity & build cross-class coalition for sustainable development 2 more yrs Victory during 2nd & 3rd Stage Competition: 2009-2010 We won the bid for The Blue House Cluster Heritage Revitalization New Cultural Infrastructure Building: Partnership Scheme (Development Bureau). Objec tives Viva Blue House is the first project of its kind, a constantly evolving story VIVA on local cu ltu re, a demonstrativ e research and edu cational tool, a beacon fo BLUE HOUSE sustainable communities to come. Better living Conditions– imppgrove the living standard of the stay yging tenan We of the Blue House cluster and to promote community participation. Share & Exchange -encourage residents and stakeholders to share their time, skills and experience to benefit both themselves and others . awarded HK$56.9 New “Living Heritage Preservation” Model– preserve integrated living tangible and intangible heritage of mixed use Tong Laus, and to share its million ()(approx.) architecture, living culture and history with the next generation. Sustainable Development – economic & social network capacity building offer job opportunities to the deprived; self -sustaining in the long run SELECTED ORGANIZATION through the operation of the two innovative social enterprises. St. James’ Settlement Demonstrative Model & KE– proposes a bottom-up, community-led and andhd the co-applicants, C ommuni ty C ul tural C oncern (CCC) , H eri tage H ong sustitainabl e regenerati on mod dlels whi hihitch integrat es cult ure and dh herit age i itnto Kong Foundation (HHKF), Blue House Resident Right Group research and development (R&D).
Outcome: Blue House’s process-oriented model to Previous heritaggpe preservation models in HK: overcome the 3 limit ati ons Only involved vacated historical buildings. The pppeople: the heart and soul of those communities gone. Three disadvantages 1. Minimum commoditization, yet sustainable that we avoid: through process-innovation: 1. Over-commoditization: Focus on finance high-end • Business and management model innovation: restaurants, shopping malls & boutique hotels. Accessibility often limited to paying consumers. Instead of relying on wealthy paid customers , we will offer affordable rental spaces to existing tenants 2. History disjointed & displaced: Maximum profit results in ‘over-alteration’ of heritage physical & cultural integrity. andktd market-rattltte rental spaces to new t ttenants. Decontextulization destroys meaningful interpretation by • Financial buffer through two innovative social viiisitors. enterprises, which will generate income & provide 3. No participation of residents in the neighborhood. Local jobs for the residents & kaifongs. quotidian heritage becomes alienated space operated by an intimidating new culture out of reach to the local community. 2.Historical continuation and compatible usage: tiltypical ‘i‘mixed -use’t’ tenement tT Tong L au si nce th e 1920s: residential, commercial, cultural & educational 1950s: taken over by Chinese martial institutions (fishmongers’ union, temple, martial arts artist of Hung Kuen ( , ), Lam school, bone-settinggp) clinic, wine shop etc.). Chun Hin ( ), who operated a martial arts school. became a traditional Continue the co-existence of multifunctional Chinese ‘bone-setting’ medical practice, spaces -ftreprogramsdemonstratehistoricalfuture programs demonstrate historical 1960s: continued until t od ay bLby Lam continuity & usages compatible with existing Chun Hin’s widow (Master Luk ). ecology.
BH epitomizes the best local Chinese Confucian tradition of social responsibility and philanthropy • Mid 1920s-WWII, King Ham Free School ( ), a traditional Chinese private school ( ), free schooling. Unit is now occupied by Wah Jie ( ) & her son. • Yat Chong College ( ): only English school in Wan Chai. • The continuation of this tradition of community education service is carried by the future Community Classroom in the License plaque of Len Hing Chinese Wine & Spirit Shop , 1930s-1978) now House of Stories. on the wall of the Wan Chai Livelihood Place in Blue House. G/F, 72, Grocery Store Kwong Wo Store ( ) 1930s-1978. Continuation of the small shop tradition with hand-crafted-goods in the future project. Vintage car repair shop on Hing Wan St. Cradle of local traditional craft- based industries continuing until 3.Strong participation in planning and design: today. • Since Mar 2006: involve & mobilize stakeholders to participate in We will help to preserve & pass the planning, design &future management of the BH heritage cluster. on such local skills & traditions. • Resident advocacy: The BH Resident Group set up in Oct 2006 to advocate for their right to make an informed choice whether to stay or (Le ft be low ) An o ld pri nti ng sh op i n W an tdtlttiti&fllto move; adequate consultation, compensation & follow-up serviiices in Chai. Many of its customers come from a transparent & humane manner. After rounds of advocacy, the Dev Central, Wan Chai business districts (Right below) A car repair shop on Hing Wan Street . Bureau finally agreed with the demands of the residents. • Participation in the Wan Chai Livelihood Place: kaifongs provide ideas, set themes, locate & donate artifacts & act as tour guides. • Participation in cultural tourism, research & curation: residents & kaifongs equipped with concrete experience & proper training success • Participation in planning & future operation: Residents & kaifongs activel y parti ci pati ng i n th e pl anni ng & d esi gn of all programs & spatial uses.
“Value of Smaller and Mundane Heritage Places” for postcolonial cities • Age maybe short for world standards but such sites reflect who we are and what we have become on our own terms: “mundane sites often reflect the lives of most people” whose agency are left out of official/dominant/colonial histories . Grimwade, G. & Carter, B. (2000) “Managing Small Heritage Sites with Interpretation and Community Involvement” • unillifique collection of 3 tenement bildibuildings:1920’s & 50’s • a paradigmatic mixed-use tenement cluster, a well integrated living a Tong Lau ( community. It radiates the best spirit of Tong Lau neighborhood & way of life. Old Wan Chai urgentldly needs new ways to stay vibidhfibrant amidst the fast urban redevelopment. Blue House has the vision of this ftfuture.