• International conference on construction engineering and project management
• /
• 2011.02a
• /
• pp.389-394
• /
• 2011

In many parts of the world, low cost housing used to be built and maintained by the governments, based on designs and detail specifications prepared by the public sector with construction carried out by contractors. Results vary due to differences in design standards, workmanship and property management, depending also on the neighbourhood's care of the estates and their pattern of usage. In the UK, where Private Finance Initiative (PFI) has been used for infrastructure projects, there have been successful cases of city estate being transformed by PFI. These PFI housing schemes involve new-build, refurbishment as well as facility management. Unlike traditional construction, which is based on prescriptive specifications, PFI housing is based on output specifications. A study has been undertaken to compare the two specification approaches as they are applied to housing estate. Results are enlightening and serve as good reference to cities such as Hong Kong SAR and Singapore, where public housing provisions have been a major concern of their citizens as the building stock gets older.

• Architectural research
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.81-92
• /
• 2014

This study discusses the features of the lighting and ventilation regulations for residential buildings in Hong Kong. Given the compact built environment and public concerns about the environmental quality of housing, various lighting and ventilation regulations have been enacted in Hong Kong. The application of building regulations on the micro scale and incentive systems on the macro scale are present, and the governments' calls for more active participation of the private sector and use of the building environmental assessment tools were also noted. Unlike South Korea, however, Hong Kong was found to adopt more performance-based standards, consider the external factors of the lighting and ventilation conditions together with the indoor elements, and provide specific design guidelines. Notwithstanding the different climatic conditions and socio-political contexts of Hong Kong and South Korea, these findings provide some policy implications for the South Korean government in its efforts to achieve a healthy environment for high-rise, high-density housing. It is suggested that the South Korean government adopt more on-site measurement methods to reflect the environmental conditions accurately and broaden the scope and scale of the implementation of the lighting and ventilation regulations with more specific, practical planning and design guidelines.

• Land and Housing Review
• /
• v.5 no.3
• /
• pp.131-136
• /
• 2014

The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) develops and implements a public housing programme to meet the housing needs of people who cannot afford private rental housing. The HKHA has an existing stock of about 740,000 public rental flats (PRH). According to the 2014 Policy Address, the Government aims to provide an average of about 20,000 PRH units and about 8,000 Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) units per year. We care for the environment. In developing new housing estates, we conduct thorough environmental studies such as microclimate studies and air ventilation assessment, and use passive design to harness the natural characteristics of our sites. We employ environment-friendly design and construction methods, using modular flat design, pre-cast and pre-fabricated construction techniques as well as recycled, green construction materials. We conduct Carbon Emission Estimation for all our projects, conserve the use of natural resources and reduce wastes throughout the life cycle of buildings. We care for people. We adopt the principles of Universal Design and Barrier Free Access for the convenience and welfare of people of all ages and abilities. We carry out Community Engagement to collect stakeholders' views and aspirations, and incorporate them in the design of our projects. We also carry out surveys of residents' views after the occupation of new estates to gauge our success and identify areas for improvement.

• Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.43-48
• /
• 2011

In many parts of the world, low cost housing used to be built and maintained by the governments, based on designs and detail specifications prepared by the public sector with construction carried out by contractors. Results vary due to differences in design standards, workmanship and property management, depending also on the neighbourhood's care of the estates and their pattern of usage. In the UK, where Private Finance Initiative (PFI) has been used for infrastructure projects, there have been successful cases of city estate being transformed by PFI. These PFI housing schemes involve new-build, refurbishment as well as facility management. Unlike traditional construction, which is based on prescriptive specifications, PFI housing is based on output specifications. A study has been undertaken to compare the two specification approaches as they are applied to housing estate. Results are enlightening and serve as good reference to cities such as Hong Kong SAR and Singapore, where public housing provisions have been a major concern of their citizens as the building stock gets older.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.37-44
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study is to analyze the typological characteristics of super high-rise housings in Hong Kong. The results are as follows; 1) Most of the plan types of the residential building in Hong Kong are tower types and they show lots of curves on the external resident blocks so that each resident families can face maximum open air. 2) Each residential unit is arranged symmetrically and systematically around the central core. 3) The most of core types are central core types which are usually planned to place void light well to improve lighting and ventilation. 4) Rooms are arranged in line from entrance to kitchen, to living & dinning room, and finally bedroom and bathroom. Dinning area is arranged together with living area. 5) At least, more than two sides of the each unit were facing the open air; one side is for the view from a bedroom or a livingroom, the other side is for the ventilation of a kitchen or a bathroom.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.53-62
• /
• 2014

This paper investigates whether the use of Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RWHSs) to provide water for washing machines in Hong Kong residential buildings would be financially attractive. In such systems, rainwater is accumulated and reused for doing laundry, garden irrigation, flushing toilets, and even drinking. Thus, the analysis of RWHSs' financial feasibility is essential for construction projects. RainCycle is used to validate financial feasibility, considering particular circumstances and data relevant to the Hong Kong context. A range of different scenarios by adjusting three factors are evaluated: catchment area, water demand, and discount rate. It is suggested that $2,000m^2$ would be a suitable catchment area in a typical Hong Kong residential building and it is demonstrated how water demand and discount rate influence the financial performance of RWHSs. In particular, the financial performance of RWHSs is sensitive to discount rates. The results suggest that the RWH system would be worthwhile for buildings with a lower number of floors, but would barely achieve financial validation in Hong Kong's super high-rise residential buildings.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.1-10
• /
• 2015

In line with the recent public concern on the environmental issues in building industry, there has been a rise in demand for a healthy, sustainable housing environment in South Korea. In order to achieve a healthy environment in residential buildings, considerable efforts have been made in a wide range of sectors. Among others, the development of the certification schemes to promote environment-friendly planning and building construction is remarkable. In urban South Korea, recently built houses tend to be significantly high-rise, high-density buildings. Global warming has brought about drastic climate change and continued to increase the average annual temperature year by year. These changes should be well reflected on the government's implementation of the building environmental assessment system. For guidance, therefore, this study looks to the case of Hong Kong which is well known for high-density housing development and subtropical climate conditions. It compares the features of the green building certification schemes for newly developed multifamily housing in two regions, namely HK-BEAM in Hong Kong and G-SEED in South Korea. Based on the findings, it argues that the G-SEED implementor should have expanded roles in providing training programs and follow-up services in collaboration with the certification authorities. It is also argued that G-SEED professionals should be involved in the early stages of design processes, and training programs and licence systems to produce green building professionals should be developed. Finally, it points out that the assessment indicators should be more detailed and diversified.

• Proceeding of Spring/Autumn Annual Conference of KHA
• /
• 2004.11a
• /
• pp.43-48
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this study is to analyze the typological characteristics of super high-rise housings in Hong Kong. The results are as follows; 1) The Plan types of the residential building in Hong Kong are mostly tower types and they show lots of curves on the external resident blocks so each resident families can face maximum open air. 2)Household arrangements or resident families form are shown as symmetrical and systematic type of structures that centers around the core. 3)The core types are mostly central core types and a portion of central core is planned to place void and alight garden for improving the lighting and ventilating problems. 4)If we review our room arrangements, they are arranged from entrance kitchen, livingroom bedroom to bathroom to the end. Livingrooms and dinning rooms are normally formed together. 5)If external resident blocks are facing the open air, one of the surface is on view axis, kitchen or bathroom are symmetrically located on the other side which faces the units for the purpose of ventilating.

• Journal of the Korean housing association
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.21-31
• /
• 2002

The purpose of this study is to find the architectural characteristics of Verbena Heights, super high-rise complex housing, which has been most highly evaluated as a new town development model in Hong Kong, as a successful case of new housing type and sustainable design. The analyzed features of Verbena Heights are as follows; 1) Formation of various open spaces by a creative layout. 2) Enhancement of natural ventilation and daylighting by a linear plan instead of conventional cruciform plans. 3) Applications of integrated facade design for noise mitigation and for sunlight shading. 4) Adoption of energy-efficient devices, use of recyclable materials, and improvement of livability by a sustainable design process. These architectural characteristics provide the high-density high-rise housing with more efficient and comfortable environments for residents. And it is proved that the sustainable design can enhance the quality of dwelling environment.

• Proceeding of Spring/Autumn Annual Conference of KHA
• /
• 2006.11a
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 2006