Happiness within the Uncanny: Revitalizing the Street Level in Hong Kong's New Town

Abstract

Hong Kong is the physical embodiment of neoliberalism at all levels of society, and the city itself is seen as a domain for private corporations to generate profit, creating spaces that are purely functional and generic. This top-down design approach disregards the organic aspect of human social behavior and has generated disconnected communities. Without unique identities and without places that allow for unplanned encounters, the new towns become places that lack humanity. Socio-economic segregation seeps its way into many aspects of the new towns, such as their infrastructure or demographics, and is a direct result of years of neglect towards human-centric urban design. These design problems are deeply rooted in the urban fabric and are not easily resolved. This thesis has two objectives: to study how people adapt to the uncanny living environment within the densely built area; and to encourage space appropriation through a range of architectural interventions, from feasible to visionary, within the site. By creating an environment that fosters human connections, people will be able to take ownership of the spaces around their neighborhood. With a strong sense of community, we will be able to reject the uncanniness, bringing back happiness and humanity to the streets of Hong Kong’s new town.