SB13 HK Urban Density & Sustainability 13th Sept. 2013

Formulating Social Indicators of Revitalizing Historic Buildings in Urban Renewal: towards a Research Agenda

Dr. Esther Yung and Prof. Edwin Chan

Department of Building and Real Estate The Polytechnic University

1 Content

• Aim of the research study • Urban renewal &revitalization of historic buildings • Research method • Preliminary Results • Discussion & Implications

2 Aim of the Study

Aim of the study • Develop a set of social indicators for the Urban renewal revitalization of historic buildings in urban Revitalization renewal of historic buildings

Revitalization (GRF project - funded by RGC 2011-12) in Hong Kong Research method Results Discussion & Implications

3 Revitalization of Historic buildings in Urban renewal

Aim of the study What is revitalization? Urban renewal - “The process through which the mismatch Revitalization between the services offered by the fabric of the of historic historic quarters and the contemporary needs building Revitalization can be reconciled” (Tiesdell et al., 1996). in Hong Kong Research method Results Discussion & Implications

4 Revitalization of Historic buildings in Urban renewal Historic Buildings Aim of the study ‘Built heritage’ Urban renewal - part of our tangible cultural heritage which can be physically Revitalization touched and stored, including monuments, group of buildings, of historic archaeological sites, religious buildings. It should have building aesthetic, historic, scientific or social value Revitalization (Australia ICOMOS, 1999). in Hong Kong Research - small selected groups of monuments or sites that have method exceptional value” (ICCROM, 2010) Results Discussion & Focus on historic buildings which are designated as monuments Implications or listed as historic buildings

5 Heritage Conservation and Urban Renewal

Aim of the The challenges study •Balance between economic priority and social Urban renewal considerations of the community Revitalization of historic buildings •What is the role of heritage conservation in urban redevelopment? Revitalization in Hong Kong •How to identify the social impacts of heritage Research method conservation? Results Discussion & Implications

6 Revitalization of Historic buildings in Urban renewal

Aim of the study - conservation of historic buildings in urban renewal Urban renewal can embrace the social and cultural benefits Revitalization of historic (Chan and Lee, 2008). building Revitalization in Hong Kong Research method Results Discussion & Implications

7 Revitalization of historic buildings in urban renewal

Aim of the in Hong Kong study Urban renewal (URA) Revitalization of historic -“a process of regenerating decaying buildings by buildings means of Redevelopment, Rehabilitation, Revitalization pReservation, and Revitalization…” in Hong Kong (Towards Urban Renewal 3.0, URA, 2011) Research method Results privately owned buildings, shophouse, tenement Discussion & buildings, markets…etc. Implications

8 Revitalization of historic buildings in urban renewal

Aim of the in Hong Kong study Urban renewal the Development Bureau

Revitalization -government owned historic buildings of historic Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership buildings Revitalization Scheme launched in 2008 in Hong Kong Batch I, II, III Research method Results Discussion & Implications

9 Revitalization of historic buildings in urban renewal Aim of the in Hong Kong study Urban renewal • bundle small scale Revitalization individual historic buildings of historic buildings with large scale Revitalization in Hong Kong redevelopment. Research method Results Discussion & Implications

10 Revitalization of historic buildings in urban renewal

Aim of the in Hong Kong study Social Issues: Urban renewal - displacing the existing local inhabitants creates Revitalization of historic discontinuity of neighbourhood and the social buildings network (Lai, 2010). Revitalization in Hong Kong Research - commercial redevelopment which claims to method subsidize the revitalization of the historic Results buildings, has often destroyed the local Discussion & characteristics of the district. Implications

11 Revitalization of historic buildings in urban renewal

Aim of the in Hong Kong study Social Issues: Urban renewal

Revitalization many traditional trades and businesses had always of historic disappeaed from the streetscape in the past buildings Revitalization history of Hong Kong. in Hong Kong Research preserving local characteristics and social method networks has been increasingly advocated in Results urban renewal (Development Bureau, 2011), Discussion & Implications

12 Revitalization of historic buildings in urban renewal

Aim of the study in Hong Kong Urban renewal Urban Renewal Strategy 2011 Revitalization • initiates a social impact assessment for all the of historic buildings renewal projects Revitalization in Hong Kong Research • assess a list of socio-demographics factors, local method and cultural characteristics and social needs of the Results people affected by the proposed project. Discussion & Implications • However, the impact of preservation and revitalization of historic buildings has yet to be thoroughly investigated. 13 Methodology

Aim of the 1) Identification of major attributes for study Urban renewal social impacts of revitalization of historic buildings in urban renewal Revitalization of historic buildings Revitalization in Hong Kong 2) in-depth interviews with experts panel Research - validate and refine the preliminary list method Results - identify contented issues Discussion & Implications 3) Public participatory approach to develop social indicators - on street surveys 14 4) Case study

Validate and refine the list of Aim of the study social indicators through Revitalization applying to two cases. of historic buildings in urban renewal 1. Cluster, WanChai Research method Case Study Results Discussion & 2. Lui Seng Chun, / Implications Yau Tsim Mong

15 Results

Table 1 Profile of the expert’s panel Name Field of expertise Affiliation Prof. A Urban design and Professor, The University of YY, Hong Kong Aim of the architecture study Prof. B Heritage Conservation Professor, The University of YY, TPB Rehabilitation Dr. C History Associate Professor, The University of ZZ, AAB and TPB of historic Dr. D Planning, urban renewal Research Institute on Sustainable development, The districts and social impact University of WW, Hong Kong,, Concept of assessment Prof. L Architecture, Urban The University of WW, Hong Kong , TPB social Planning and urban sustainability renewal Rehabilitation Mr. E Heritage conservation Member of Heritage and Conservation Committee of a Professional Institute, AAB, active critics and journalist in China Mr. F Town Planning and Senior manager, Community development, Urban Renewal Research heritage conservation Authority method Mr. G Social work Senior manager, Community development, Urban Renewal Case Study Authority Dr. H Urban Design and urban Professor, The University of WW, Hong Kong, Results renewal Discussion & Mr. J Urban development CEO of an NGO- Designing Hong Kong Implications Mr. K Architecture and Architect of several revitalization of historic buildings16 sociology in Hong Kong Results Social impacts 1. Sense of place

Aim of the 2. Collective Memory study Urban renewal 3. Cultural identity 4. Local characteristics and Uniqueness Revitalization of historic 5. Educating the present and future generation buildings Revitalization 6. Cultural diversity in Hong Kong Research 7. Community interaction and social cohesion method 8. Accessibility of use Results Discussion & 9. Social inclusion and gentrification Implications 10. Developing skills in heritage restoration and related activities 11. Public involvement opportunity

17 Results Developing indicators requirements as shown below should be fulfilled (Sors, 2000; Blair et al., 2004; Häkkinen, 2006). Aim of the study 1. Significant –reflecting the major characteristics of individual social impacts Urban renewal 2. Relevant –to the local conditions Revitalization 3. Valid –meaningful, credible, conceptually sound and theoretically valid. of historic buildings 4. Representative –represent important concerns, and reflect the interests Revitalization and views of different stakeholders. in Hong Kong Research 5. Reliable –provide information that can be trusted. method 6. Understandable –clear, simple, unambiguous and easily and readily Results understandable to everyone Discussion & Implications 7. Measurable –even the qualitative ones should be able to be measured systemically with reference to an appropriate scale,

8. Flexible –adaptable to future political, economic, environmental, social changes; 18 Issues of assessing social

Aim of the impacts study Urban renewal

Revitalization • ambiguity and difficulty in defining of historic buildings sense of place and cultural identity Revitalization in Hong Kong - whose heritage, whose identity? Research method Results - propaganda for heritage conservation Discussion & Implications

19 Issues of assessing social impacts

Aim of the study • integrating the historic buildings into the Urban renewal new context after urban renewal Revitalization of historic buildings -diversity of streetscape and townscape Revitalization in Hong Kong -fast changing development Research method Results Discussion & Implications

20 Issues of assessing social impacts

Aim of the study • the controversies of gentrification Urban renewal

Revitalization of historic - Forced eviction, change of social buildings composition of the existing community Revitalization in Hong Kong Research - A natural and necessary process in method urban development Results Discussion & Implications

21 Issues of assessing social impacts

Aim of the study • effectiveness of public involvement Urban renewal - Depends on the future reuse Revitalization of historic buildings - Accessibility Revitalization in Hong Kong Research - Structural bias of participants method Results - Inadequate understanding on the concept of Discussion & heritage conservation and heritage value Implications - Deriving consensus among different stakeholders 22 Preliminary Implications

•Advocate conservation of a broader context, setting Aim of the rather than a single building study Urban renewal •Education, communication and mechanisms for effective public participation Revitalization of historic -How to educate the laymen about the values of heritage? buildings -How to involve the public in the planning and decision-making Revitalization process? in Hong Kong Research method •Who should be involved? Results - Assessed by different groups of people Discussion & Implications • the final list of indicators should be used as a template, the list of social indicators will vary slightly among different projects in different districts 23 Ongoing progress

Aim of the study • Structured questionnaires has Urban renewal conducted on streets since July, Revitalization of historic 2013 in WanChai buildings Revitalization in Hong Kong Research • Developing an appropriate point method Results scoring system for each indicator Discussion & Implications

24 Thank you! [email protected]

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