ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT HINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE PROGRAMME 2008-2009 DESIGN REPORT COMMUNITY IN FOOD OASIS CHAN Shuk Fun Sophie May 2009 COMMUNITY IN FOOD OASIS Thesis Report Thesis conducted by CHAN SHUK FUN, SOPHIE I^EBH Master of Architecture jfiffiMB The Chinese University of Hong Kong hslfl 13th Graduation, 2009 THESIS REPORT advised by Prof. HO PUAY- PENG Thesis conducted by CHAN SHUK FUN, SOPHIE Master of Architecture The Chinese University of Hong Kong 13th Graduation, 2009 Content Introduction _ 5 Section I Research Chapter 1 Background _ 8 Chapter 2 Site Analysis _ 14 Chapter 3 Design Strategy _ 30 Chapter 4 Programmatic Study _ 34 Section II Exploration Chapter 5 Space- programmes _ 50 Chapter 6 Formal Expression _ 52 Section III Design Development Chapter 7 Concept _ 54 Chapter 8 Design Development _ 56 Chapter 9 Architectural System _ 64 Chapter 10 Gallery _ 72 Bibliography _ 77 Introduction I was thinking of working on housings for the Sichuan 512 earthquake in 2008.1 always think that Architecture cannot change the world, just to make it more pleasant to live in. So my aim was to help the victims build their living place for the physical and mental injury in this condition after the disaster. But after a few discussions, J found that this was not the suitable solution which architecture could do at that moment, so I seeked something else which related to community as well. Besides a food- lover, I was also amazed by the variety of dining spaces. A nice space could be a flavor of a meal. This was the beginning of my journey of "Community in Food Oasis". Thanks to Puaypeng, who worked with me throughout the thesis year. He gave me a lot of inspirations and encouraged me to try things I never tried. I would also like to thanks Shiqiao and Wallace, who gave me valuable opinions at the beginning of the semester as well as during our discussion. Those who was fighting hand in hand with me, I will not forget the difficult times they went through with me. Cye, Catherine, Yuki, Andrew, Eric ... Thank you all! I'm glad that we're over it together. Special thanks to Bobby, Ying, Steven, Kathy, Kenneth, Louis, this is really a mission impossible without you guys. Thesis Statement "Community"- 'Condition of sharing, having things in common or being alike in some way'. (- from Oxford English Dictionary Ver. 2008 ) During 50s- 80s, Hong Kong went through the evolution from agriculture to industry, and people shifted their place of work out of their homes. While we are spending more time on work, in pursuit of a better living, some are simutaneously overlooking their family relationships. Survey showed that this is one of the reasons leading to social issues such as cases of unattended family members. One way to avoid consequential social problems is to strengthen family and neighborhood relationship. While it is impossible for us to return to our primitive way of life, the only possible way is to look into our daily living pattern and look for occasions which could happen to serve as foundation of communal activities. Public space is an essential element to activate community. But is it solely a ground or a centre for them to spend their days in? Here the thesis tries to redefine "Communal space" in regard to what neighborhood needs. I simply introduced FOOD as a programmatic catalyst in the Communal Space since it is a mutual need for everyone and involves many opportunities in social contacts. Therefore the process of food making along with different interactions was studied and explored. From the production of food to processing and consumption, architecture takes a position in integratingtheactivitesand inhabitants.lt looks forthe proximity in function and space of programmes aiming to encourage neighborhood bonding and healthy living. In this project, " Community" is created in a longer term of interaction than merely talking to each other occassionally. Through making and learning of food together, the neighborhood could benefit themselves communally, economically and serve as a centre to draw more lives to the area. 當我們都為生活在外忙碌，同時卻會因此忽略了人與人的關係。此 論文旨在研究建築在當今繁忙社會的家庭與鄰里關係中，可以起甚 麼作用。 「食」是所有人生活中不可或缺的元素，而無論是與「食」相關的 活動還是地點時間，都製造了把人拉近的機會。此論文以這前提為 基礎，進而重新定義社區真正需要的「公共空間」。從栽種、處 理、煮食，到買賣、食用，都製造了不同的互動平台’讓建築提供 與揉合這些空間，從而鞏固鄰里和諧與提倡健康的生活。 這諭文以舊區石硤尾為試驗地，利用建築和城市規劃將「食」的互 動帶進區内，使之引進該區人流享用這「公共空間」，―甚至成為生 產食物的一分子。 於是，「社區」在這裡並非單單指偶然下的接觸（如每日買菜的煮 婦們和往茶樓的退休人士）。 這裡，透過合作和學習中長遠以及深 入的互動，才是一個居住環境需要的「社群」生活。居民除了藉此 更能在經濟上互助互惠，也營運著一個「中心」使該區其他的社群 寄生其中。 Chapter I- Background Study e s s k j 7 quic & r m alternativ toward s d fo Religion d f an g o t lunchroo appere attitude e ' for'Community d eatin n & h d Developmen influence definitio foo Self-servic lunc 8000 B.C. 1876 'Automats r e g 1920s 5-i6thC s (Middle Ages) large e d resultin , stor an Agricultur t e f Age o e n s stabl e Ston unit w g Departmen n mor Ne Luneonettesforshopper i n n Introductio i i livin A brief history of relationship between food and life pattern in the world Case Study I: Lan Kwai Fone. Hong Kong In 1980s, German-Canadian businessman Allan Zeman, also known as the father of Lan Kwai Fong, invested 32 million Hong Kong dollars to buy a whole building and renovate it as Western restaurants. The place soon became a meeting place for foreigners in Hong Kong due to spontaneous development. It was a successful catering "experiment" to put foreign bar cultures into local fabric since HK is a cosmopolitan city. Case Study II: Clarke Quayf Singapore A revitalization project in i97o-8o's and was opened in late 1993. Interior and exterior rennovation were made to existing residential buildings along the Singapore River# and were turned to restaurants and nightclubs. This commercial and entertainment development has attracted tourist from elsewhere of the world as well as become a gathering place for local community as leisure. Open cafes appeared conductive 1930 to Social Interactions s WWII: A big leap in instant and frozen food technology. Government participation in food 1940 investigation s McDonalds' 31,000' Speedeej Service' while provideingj 194 'playland' in Suburb areas I 8 I 1 : | A Architectur A What' A A Slow Food Movement: contributio memor mer symboli 198 foo Against McDonaldization community A d e th 6 Gimmick s an shelte th e U1 y Centur city d c o e What's the next 'Food 21s imag drinks f Rol n e a ? r Revolution' tomorrow? here t place fo t o ? ? TIM y e loca r e th o ? o E ? ? f e f l Production Process Consumption - Farming/Grazing/ - Kitchen - Market/ Fishing /Cooking Dining 1. Production & Selection 2. Preparation e.g.l Communal gardens in HK e.g. Chinese Cuisine Training Institue - raise the environmental awareness - Create one more interface for communal - Learning as an interface activities, for people come together e.g.2 Food Markets - Encourage skilled labor force in old districts - Daily routine promotes regular interactions - Raise the awareness of healthy food • In the form of Learning & Synergy TIME (NTS) Recycle - Decompose/ Nutrients to soil Cycling of Food: Before filling our stomach, food has gone through a series of procedure from production to finally consumption. 3. Dining out e.g. Street-side eating/ Dai Pai Dong - Develop sense of neighborhood and sense of belonging through sharing of food at a common space In the form of Consumption In the Food cycling process, each phrase involves different interactions among people like synergy in production or learning in cooking. There is a potential that Food is a tool for community. Thus, this thesis takes this as a hypothesis to integrate food and architecture. 0000 0600 1200 1800 0000 Gardening i Market_ | Cooking workshop" Dining Living pattern has been closely related to food processing. Intensity of activities related of food processing versus time of a day has been recorded. 0000 0600 1200 1800 0000 Learning Synergy Consumption The Intensity-Timegraph has been rearranged in accordance to 3 different natures of interactions. Chapter 2- Site Analysis Site Map 1:5000 Site selection Criteria: 1 Vibrant area with different kinds of people. 2. Unemployment and aging rate being high, (meaning long time Shep Kip Mei spent in the area and low economy) 3. Lack of public space. Site Observations: The only public space around the area is along Nam Cheong Street, which is one of the busiest road in Sham Shui Po. There's a 1-storey high retail market at the corner of Shep Kip Mei, which is a rather centralised place of 'exchange' for surrounding residents. Conversely, Widened pedestrian as open space being underused in the area Existing park surrounded by 3 schools on one side and 3 residential blocks Existing playground on podium of Shek Kip Mei Estate being underused during daytime | ! [ Existing pocket space J on ground of Shek Kip I Mei Estate of older (generation there're only a few visitors to the Cooked Food Stalls on the roof floor as well as to the playground. Meawhile, there are many schools located at the back of Shep Kip Mei Estate and there is not enough communal facilities provided for them. So, where do they go after school? Opportunity: Since the area contains activities of people of different generations (teenagers, housewives, elderly) who only interact with their peers on streets, it has a potential to draw them together and prompt more interaction among them. 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% 5.00% 0.00% 0-14 15-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 >=60 Age distribution in Sham Shui Po, 2001 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% Fulltime students Home-makers Others Economically