香港建解 CityUnseen.hk

在香港，「nullah」一字通常被譯作明渠。不過，這個字其實是殖民地時期的工程產物，源於印地語nala，最初是指間歇有湍急水流的天然溝渠，傳入香港後演變為人工排水道的名稱。

和城市中的天然溪流一樣，這些人工排水道大多都被加蓋成暗渠，但也仍然影響著城市街道，大至佈局，小至花槽中的植物。

In Hong Kong, "nullah" usually refers to open drainage. The word is a legacy of colonial-era engineering. Derived from the word “nala” in Hindi, it originally referred to natural gullies with fast-flowing intermittent streams, but evolved to mean man-made drainage channels in Hong Kong.

Like many natural streams in the city, most of these nullahs are covered as underground culverts, but they still influence the appearance of our streets today, from the overall layout to the plants in the flower beds.
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新文章《香港失落的河溪（一）：都市溪流的消失》已經上線！撳入 https://cityunseen.hk/hong-kongs-lost-streams-part-1-the-disappearance-of-urban-streams/?lang=zh-hant 閱讀全文。

New story “Hong Kong’s Lost Streams - Part 1: The Disappearance of Urban Streams” is now published! Click on https://cityunseen.hk/hong-kongs-lost-streams-part-1-the-disappearance-of-urban-streams/ to read the full article!
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#香港建解 #香港 #香港河流

你有想過走在擠迫鬧市，腳下可能有溪水汨汨流過嗎？
翻開香港的舊地圖，往往最先映入眼簾的是一條條沿着山坡蜿蜒而下的溪流，如藍色的絲網般匍伏在大地上。時至今日，在九龍和港島市區，除了幾條小型人工河道外，大部分溪流早已被埋在街道之下。雖然如此，我們仍然可以在地名中找到這些地下溪流的蹤跡。

Have you ever considered that beneath the bustling streets you walk on every day, there are streams flowing all the way from the hills to the sea?
If you look at an old map of Hong Kong, one of the first things you will notice are the streams undulating their way down the hillsides, blanketing the land in a web of blue filaments. In today's urban Kowloon and Hong Kong Island, apart from a few small artificial channels, streams are no longer visible at all. They have been buried beneath the pavement. These subterranean streams have nevertheless left traces of their existence in place names.
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新文章《香港失落的河溪（一）：都市溪流的消失》已經上線！撳入 https://cityunseen.hk/hong-kongs-lost-streams-part-1-the-disappearance-of-urban-streams/?lang=zh-hant 閱讀全文。

New story “Hong Kong’s Lost Streams - Part 1: The Disappearance of Urban Streams” is now published! Click on https://cityunseen.hk/hong-kongs-lost-streams-part-1-the-disappearance-of-urban-streams/ to read the full article!
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#香港建解 #香港 #香港河流

時間回到七十多年前，佛光街和培正道是兩條互不相干的街道，中間隔了大片山丘。

隨著政府在60年代開始開發何文田山一帶，這些曾經是墳場的山丘被夷平，然後興建私人住宅，學校以及公共房屋，佛光街也因而延伸至與培正道相連。

佛光街也從原本僅200米長的街道，變成了我們今天所知來往何文田和紅磡的主要道路。

Over 70 years ago, Fat Kwong Street and Pui Ching Road were unrelated streets separated by hilly terrain.

In the 1960s, as the government began developing the Ho Man Tin area, these hills, once designated for cemetery use, were levelled to make way for the construction of private residential units, schools, and public housing. Fat Kwong Street also extended until it linked up with Pui Ching Road.

Fat Kwong Street, which started out as a 200-metre-long local street, is today a key route connecting Ho Man Tin and Hung Hom.
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新文章《半途換名的街道》已經上線！撳入 https://cityunseen.hk/the-streets-that-change-their-names-midway/?lang=zh-hant 閱讀全文。

New story “The streets that change their names midway” is now published! Click on https://cityunseen.hk/the-streets-that-change-their-names-midway/ to read the full article!
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#香港建解 #香港 #香港街道

一條街上兩個名字不同的路牌

根據街道地圖，和富道與城市花園道以保良局余李慕芬紀念學校為界，前者向東面延伸，以西則是後者。

這兩條街道的出現相距近30多年，兩者的命名更相差40年，各自標誌著北角的工業重鎮歲月和後來的經濟轉型，反映出區內土地用途的改變。

Two street signs standing side-by-side on the same road

According to Geoinfo Map, the dividing line of Wharf Road and City Garden Road is at the Po Leung K*k Yu Lee Mo Fan Memorial School, with the previous extending to the east and the latter to the west.

The time gap between the construction of Wharf Road and City Garden Road was almost 30 years, and the gap between their naming was almost 40 years. They each symbolize the industrial past and economic transformation of North Point, reflecting the area’s changing land uses.
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新文章《半途換名的街道》已經上線！撳入 https://cityunseen.hk/the-streets-that-change-their-names-midway/?lang=zh-hant 閱讀全文。

New story “The streets that change their names midway” is now published! Click on https://cityunseen.hk/the-streets-that-change-their-names-midway/ to read the full article!
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#香港建解 #香港 #香港街道

文咸東街14號是一個躋身於樓與樓之間，只有百餘呎的單層建築，所屬地段原來已有120年的歷史？要解釋它的出現，就要從文咸街（今文咸東街）的來由說起。

1851 年，一場大火燒毀了上環大約450棟建築物，災後的頹垣敗瓦連同填海物料被傾倒入海，沿著海岸線建成了文咸街，也在這條街和原本的海岸線皇后大道之間，填出了一片形狀不規則的陸地，是香港首個公共填海項目。這片土地被劃成幾個形狀不一的街區，這些街區再被細分成不同的地段出售，於是就出現了文咸東街14號，一個像是擠進樓宇夾縫間的小店。

14 Bonham Strand is a single-storey building with just 145 square foot that wedged into a triangular gap between two other buildings. However, its lot boundaries have existed for over 120 years! To explain its existence, we must delve into Bonham Strand's origin.

In 1851, a fire devastated some 450 buildings in Sheung Wan. The rubble, plus some additional fill material, was dumped into the sea, constructing Bonham Strand as the new coastline. An irregularly shaped patch of land was formed between this street and Queen's Road, the previous coastline, as part of Hong Kong's first major public reclamation project. The area was divided into several irregularly shaped blocks, which were divided into land lots for sale, some of which were tiny and triangular. 14 Bonham Strand is one of them.

📸: & City Unseen
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新文章《文咸東街的微型三角茶店》已經上線！撳入 https://cityunseen.hk/the-tiny-triangular-tea-shop-of-bonham-strand/?lang=zh-hant 閱讀全文。

New story “The Tiny Triangular Tea Shop of Bonham Strand” is now published! Click on https://cityunseen.hk/the-tiny-triangular-tea-shop-of-bonham-strand/ to read the full article!
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#香港建解 #香港

【🧐 城市景觀問題徵集 Call for curiosities of urban scenes】
(English version below)

走在香港的大街小巷和城市郊野，有沒有遇過令你覺得好奇的景觀？歡迎你將問題交給香港建解，讓我們一同發掘城市不同角落所隱藏的故事！

由即日起至2024年7月19日，將令你好奇的城市景觀相片連同問題發給我們，更有機會贏取價值港幣50元的咖啡換領券 ☕

參加辦法：
1️⃣ Follow 香港建解 Instagram 或 page (香港建解 CityUnseen.hk )。
2️⃣ 從日常出發，拍攝令你好奇的香港城市景觀。
3️⃣ 將相片連同問題以 FB/IG DM發給我們 或 電郵至 [email protected]

🎁 香港建解會從中挑選出9位參加者，送出可於太子指定咖啡店換領價值港幣50元或以下的飲品coupon！

請注意：
- 活動截止日期為2024年7月19日23:59（香港時間）；
- 得獎者將收到FB/IG DM或電郵通知，屆時請於收到通知後的兩天內回覆相關資料以作登記和安排領獎，否則當作放棄得奬資格；
- 未被選中者，恕不另行通知；
- 每位參加者只可登記一次，不接受雙重登記。如有重複提交，將以最新提交的為準；
- 如有任何爭議，香港建解將保留一切最終決定權。

Have you ever encountered urban scenes that arouse your curiosity while walking through the city of Hong Kong? Share your questions with City Unseen, and let us uncover stories hidden in different corners of our city!

From now until 19 July 2024, send us a photo of the urban scene that piques your curiosity with your question for a chance to win a coffee voucher worth HKD 50 ☕

HOW TO ENTER:
1️⃣ Follow City Unseen on Instagram and Facebook (.hk).
2️⃣ Discover an urban scene in Hong Kong that piques your curiosity and take a picture or two of it.
3️⃣ Send us the photo along with your question via FB/IG DM or email to [email protected] by 19 July 2024.

🎁City Unseen will select 9 submissions and give away a voucher for redeeming a drink priced at HK$50 or below at designated coffee shops in Prince Edward (valid till Dec 2024).

Rules:
- The deadline for submission is 19/7/2024 at 23:59 HKT.
- Winners will be notified via FB/IG DM or email. Please provide the requested information for registration and prize arrangement within 2 days of the date the notice is sent. Failure to respond within the applicable time period will result in forfeiture of the prize.
- Non-selected participants will not be individually notified.
- All unselected participants will not be notified individually.
- One entry per person, duplicate accounts will be disregarded. In the case of multiple submissions, the latest submission will be considered.
- In case of any dispute, the decision of City Unseen shall be final.

後山小徑通常坐落在郊野公園範圍以外的政府空置土地上，山徑的管理和保養傾向欠缺協調和較為分散。居民往往會按照自己的需求，使用和改造這些空間。主教山（窩仔山）就是一個典型的例子。

作為被頻繁使用的都市綠洲，這裡有著可觀數量與密度的民間自製設施，更促成一個聯繫緊密的社群。

Typically located outside of country parks on unoccupied government land, the management of backyard trails tends to be uncoordinated and sporadic, giving local residents the leeway to use and modify the space to their own needs. Bishop Hill (Wo Chai Shan) is one typical example.

It is an intensively used urban oasis, boasting a tight-knit community and a remarkable concentration of do-it-yourself structures and facilities.

📸: & City Unseen
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想了解主教山民間自製設施背後的故事？歡迎到 https://cityunseen.hk/the-hidden-life-of-an-urban-oasis/?lang=zh-hant 閱讀文章《都市綠洲的隱秘生活》！

What's the story behind DIY structures and facilities on Bishop Hill? Read our article “The Hidden Life of An Urban Oasis” via https://cityunseen.hk/the-hidden-life-of-an-urban-oasis/ !
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#香港建解 #香港 #主教山 #屋企後山

一座因為歷史悠久的配水庫重見天日而變得廣為人知的小山，有著怎樣的日常呢？

2022至2023年期間，本地非牟利機構 Parks and Trails進行了一項有關人口稠密地區附近的後山小徑的研究，主教山就是其中一個研究地點。

研究團隊在2022年7月至8月，以及2022年12月至2023年2月，於主教山的四個出入口安裝了紅外線人流感應器。研究發現自清晨4時到入夜，都持續有人到訪主教山，早上8時至9時更是高峰期，每小時人流量達100人。

為了補充這些數據，香港建解的團隊在2024年3月的兩個平日到訪主教山，觀察此處的日常景象以採集素材。觀察結果發現這座民間「晨運樂園」幾乎全天都有人在此鍛鍊或消閒。訪客也並不只是老人家，下午放學時份會有小朋友在此嬉戲，是一派和樂景象。

What is a typical day like on this small hill, which only gained wider public attention after the discovery of a historic service reservoir?

In 2022-23, local non-profit organisation Parks and Trails conducted a study of backyard trails on hillsides near densely populated areas. Bishop Hill is one of the study areas.

The research team installed infra-red people-counting sensors at 4 key locations and found that visitors continue to arrive at Bishop Hill from as early as 4am until nightfall. The peak hours are between 8am and 9am, with over 100 people an hour.
To supplement these statistics with real-life observations, the City Unseen team visited Bishop Hill on two weekdays in March 2024. Observations have revealed that this place is more than a “morning exercise paradise”. People of all ages engage in various exercises or leisure activities throughout the day, and children play here after school, creating a harmonious and joyful scene.

📸: & City Unseen
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想了解主教山的浮生半日景象？撳入 https://cityunseen.hk/the-hidden-life-of-an-urban-oasis/?lang=zh-hant 閱讀文章《都市綠洲的隱秘生活》！

Want to know what a day in life is like in Bishop Hill? Read our new story “The Hidden Life of An Urban Oasis” via https://cityunseen.hk/the-hidden-life-of-an-urban-oasis/
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#香港建解 #香港 #主教山 #屋企後山

2020年末以前，主教山（又名窩仔山）是九龍市區一座不太起眼的小山丘，多年來都是附近居民的消閒樂園。
明明被多個市區發展項目包圍，為何主教山沒有被夷平？這就要從配水庫的出現說起...

Before late 2020, Bishop Hill (also known as Wo Chai Shan) was relatively unknown to many, but for years it served as a leisure destination for residents nearby.
Despite being surrounded by multiple urban developments, Bishop Hill was not flattened. Why is that? The story begins with the reservoir...
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新文章《都市綠洲的隱秘生活》已經上線！撳入 https://cityunseen.hk/the-hidden-life-of-an-urban-oasis/?lang=zh-hant 閱讀全文。

New story “The Hidden Life of An Urban Oasis” is now published! Click on https://cityunseen.hk/the-hidden-life-of-an-urban-oasis/ to read the full article!
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#香港建解 #香港 #主教山

【太子的奇異日常 Delving into the curiosities of Prince Edward】

早前香港建解首次舉辦導賞團，與一眾參加者和街坊探索太子。我們從鬧市街頭走到都市綠洲，討論各種奇異城市景觀的故事因由：為什麼樓與樓中間有個窿？為何太子有這麼多三角地？地下河流流經哪些街道？

隨著荔枝角道和太子道將深水埗、旺角和九龍城串聯起來，太子一帶在1920-30年代逐漸成形。作為不同地區之間的過渡地區，太子是在1982年地鐵在此開通車站才成為一個地區概念。這個區域雖然佔地不大，卻有著多樣的城市面貌。街與街之間的風格氛圍截然不同，令太子成為一個讓我們探索城市發展各種奇趣軌跡的地方。

各位Follower如果在日常留意到有趣、奇異的城市景觀，不妨用手機影低，將感到好奇的問題連同照片DM或者email給我們，我們的下一篇建解故事或許就會為你的疑問提供答案！

Recently, City Unseen held our first walking tour, exploring Prince Edward with our followers and local residents. We walked from bustling streets to the neighbourhood's green oasis, discussing questions such as: Why is there a hole in this building? Why is this area full of triangles? Where does a subterranean river still flow under its streets?

Prince Edward was formed in the 1920s and 1930s when the construction of Lai Chi Kok Road and Prince Edward Road linked up Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok, and Kowloon City. As a transition zone between districts, it only acquired an identity as a neighbourhood in its own right after the MTR opened a station there in 1982. Prince Edward contains diverse facets of the city within a small area; the vibe can change completely from one street to the next. This makes it a great place to explore the fascinating and curious traces of our city’s growth.

If you encounter intriguing urban scenes in your daily life, feel free to send us a photo along with your question via DM or email. Your contribution could be featured in our next blog article, where we will share our discoveries and answers to your questions!

山在何處？ Where is the hill?

「紅磡」的「磡」，有「山崖」的意思，也可以指崖下之地。附近海傍也有以「大環山」命名的公園和游泳池。不過，這座原本有75米高的山丘早已被夷平，而山體則變成附近多次填海工程的材料。今天走在紅磡一帶，除了和黃公園內保留的部分山體痕跡，已難以察覺山的蹤影。

“Hung Hom” means “Red Cliff”. The character “Hom” (磡) could also refer to the land below the cliff. At the waterfront nearby, there is a park and a swimming pool named after a hill called "Tai Wan Shan". The hill, originally 75 meters high, has been flattened and used for various reclamation projects in the Hung Hom area. Today, there are hardly any visible traces of the hill except for remnants found at Hutchinson Park.
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#香港建解 #香港 #地名

誰是愛秩序？ Who was Aldrich?
相信每一個看到「愛秩序灣」地名的人，都會疑惑這個名字的來由。

香港開埠之初，英國皇家工兵團的愛秩序少校（Major Edward Aldrich）就被派駐香港。都市傳聞都說他熱愛紀律，所以才有此名。

翻查資料後，我們發現這位軍官不但身兼多職，而且比起維持秩序，這名軍官更喜歡建立屬於他的新秩序，事蹟包括：

1. 不顧上司港督砵典乍的意見，堅持提交16頁報告建議將金鐘設為兵房重地，不惜為此徵用民房和政府建築。

2. 自行決定自己的薪金是原本的三倍，因為他認為自己身兼三職：總工程師、工務司及總測量師。導致他在1847年離港返英三個星期後，就被殖民地部指控多領薪金，要向他討回部分金錢。

Have you ever wondered about the origin of "Aldrich Bay"?

Major Edward Aldrich was posted to Hong Kong when the British first claimed Hong Kong as a colony. The story goes that he was an advocate of discipline, which is why his name was translated into Chinese in such a way.

However, after digging into some old documents, we found that there is something more to his story. Aldrich’s conduct in Hong Kong gives the impression that he thought discipline was for other people. Some notable stories include:

1. He defied the first governor, Henry Pottinger, over where to build a military base. Aldrich completely ignored him, submitting a 16-page report that not only recommended locating the base in Admiralty, but requisitioning existing civilian and government buildings in the area for military use.

2. He decided to pay himself 3 times more than the original salary. He thought he deserved it because he had been doing the equivalent of 3 jobs—chief engineer, head of public works, and head of surveying. As a result, 3 weeks after his return to England in 1847, the Treasury accused him of overpaying himself and demanded the money back.
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#香港建解 #香港 #地名

【昔與今：尖沙咀 Then & Now: Tsim Sha Tsui】
中文通常會將半島地形稱為「嘴/咀」或是「角」，前者的字面意思是嘴唇或鳥喙，後者是「角落」。因此，「大角咀」指的是從前深水埗南面一處狹長多石的岬角；「牛頭角」曾經是一個多山的半島，上面有一塊突出的岩石，形似牛角，因而得名。而「尖沙咀」則是源自於此處未填海時，有個狀似尖嘴的沙灘。

20世紀初，尖沙咀南岸因為興建九廣鐵路而開始填海。想像一下，當時的火車一路沿著與漆咸道平衡的東岸岸線，駛進現時尖沙咀鐘樓所在的火車總站會是怎樣的一番風景呢？

In Chinese, peninsulas are called “tsui” (嘴/咀), literally meaning lips or beak; or “kok” (角) meaning corner. Hence, Tai Kok Tsui (“Big Corner Beak”) was once a narrow rocky promontory just south of Sham Shui Po. Ngau Tau Kok (“Cow Head Corner”) was a hilly peninsula with a prominent rock said to resemble an ox horn.

Reclamation in Tsim Sha Tsui first began in the early 20th century due to the construction of the Kowloon-Canton Railway. Imagine back in the days, when the train ran along its eastern shore parallel to Chatham Road down to the rail terminus, where the clock tower remains. What a sight it would have been!
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新文章《香港地名與其失落的地理特徵》已經推出！撳入 https://cityunseen.hk/the-forgotten-geography-of-hong-kong-place-names/?lang=zh-hant 閱讀全文。

New story “The Forgotten Geography of Hong Kong Place Names” is now published! Click on https://cityunseen.hk/the-forgotten-geography-of-hong-kong-place-names to read the full article!
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#香港建解 #香港 #地名 #尖沙咀

香港有不少地方都是因自然地理特徵得名，不過在經歷了170年的填海造地之後，這些特徵早已不復存在。如今，這些地名除了地鐵沿線站名外，或許未必能喚起太多聯想。

與170年前相比，香港的海岸線已經變得更直、更平坦。不過有些地方仍然保留著年代久遠的地名。讓人不禁想像，400年後，人們又會怎樣解讀「奧運」、「康城」這些地名的出處呢？

Many places are named after Hong Kong’s natural landscape features, which, after 170 years of reclamation, no longer exist. Today, these names do not evoke
much beyond stops on the MTR,

Hong Kong’s coastline is much straighter and flatter than it was 170 years ago, yet some places have retained much older names. It makes you wonder if in 400 years’ time, people will be wondering about the origins of place names like “Olympic” and “LOHAS Park.”
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新文章《香港地名與其失落的地理特徵》已經推出！撳入 https://cityunseen.hk/the-forgotten-geography-of-hong-kong-place-names/?lang=zh-hant 閱讀全文。

New story “The Forgotten Geography of Hong Kong Place Names” is now published! Click on https://cityunseen.hk/the-forgotten-geography-of-hong-kong-place-names to read the full article!
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#香港建解 #香港 #地名

租金管制竟意外變成重建推手？

香港的租金高昂並非新鮮事。100年前的香港曾實施過租金管制，凍結住屋租金水平。然而，為了鼓勵興建更多的房屋，新建築物被豁免於此限。怎料卻引發了一股重建熱潮。

When rent control unexpectedly became a catalyst for reconstruction...

High rental prices have always been an issue in Hong Kong. A century ago, the government implemented rent control measures to freeze house rents. However, to encourage the construction of more housing, new buildings were exempted from this. Ironically, this had sparked a wave of reconstruction.
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撳入 https://cityunseen.hk/where-did-all-the-first-generation-tong-lau-go/?lang=zh-hant 閱讀《第一代唐樓芳蹤何在？》全文。

Click on https://cityunseen.hk/where-did-all-the-first-generation-tong-lau-go/ to read “Where did all the first generation tong lau go?” full article!
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#香港建解 #戰前唐樓 #唐樓

自香港城市發展的最早期，房屋就被視為生財工具，而非永久居所，這種觀念令建築物的消失與更替變得過於輕易。許多早期唐樓是給華人苦力提供廉租居所，因此建築質量都差強人意。

Since Hong Kong’s earliest days of urbanization, housing has been seen as an investment tool rather than a permanent home. This attitude has led to a rapid pace of building disappearance and replacement. Many early tong laus were poorly built because they were cheap rental housing for workers and coolies.
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撳入 https://cityunseen.hk/where-did-all-the-first-generation-tong-lau-go/?lang=zh-hant 閱讀《第一代唐樓芳蹤何在？》全文。

Click on https://cityunseen.hk/where-did-all-the-first-generation-tong-lau-go/ to read “Where did all the first generation tong lau go?” full article!
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#香港建解 #戰前唐樓 #唐樓

【奇異太子免費步行遊覽體驗】
點解依棟樓咁奇怪？點解太子有咁多三角形呢？咁多點解...等香港建解話你知！

日期｜2024年5月15日（星期三，為公眾假期）
時間｜上午10:00-上午11:30（1.5小時）
活動語言｜廣東話（少許英語翻譯）
名額｜20人（如報名反應熱烈，香港建解將於2024年5月18日星期六上午10:00再舉辦一場免費步行遊覽體驗）

集合地點｜港鐵旺角東站C出口
解散地點｜主教山遊樂場

報名表｜https://forms.gle/wPEBFrwTXpKiBcpB7
截止報名日期｜2024年5月12日（香港建解將透過電郵與成功報名人士確認活動詳情）
查詢｜[email protected]

[Prince Edward Curiosities FREE Walking Tour ]
Why is this building so weird? Why are there so many triangles in Prince Edward? Join City Unseen for a free walking tour on the upcoming public holiday on 15 May 2024 (Wed) at 10AM to learn more!

Date: 15 May 2024 (Wed; Public holiday)
Time: 10:00AM-11:30AM (1.5 hours)
Tour Language: Cantonese (with limited English assistance)
Quota: 20 people (If registration response is overwhelming, City Unseen will host one more free tour on 18 May 2024 Saturday at 10:00AM.)

Assembly Point: Mong Kok East MTR Station Exit C
Dismissal Point: Bishop Hill Playground

Application Form: https://forms.gle/wPEBFrwTXpKiBcpB7
Application Deadline: 12 May 2024 (Applicants successfully registered will be contacted by City Unseen via email.)
Enquiries: [email protected]

#香港建解 #香港 #香港好去處

沒有正規消防隊的城市？

消防隊可說是現今城市不可或缺的緊急服務之一，但原來在香港開埠之初近30年間，這個城市並沒有正規的消防隊。在1868年消防處成立以前，當時救火工作是由英軍和地區商會如南北行、絲綢行等資助的各種志願救火隊負責，但卻成效不彰。

當時城市中房屋密集、部分建築物更是以木材建成，一旦起火，火勢迅速蔓延，燒毀大量房屋。遏止火勢的唯一辦法往往是用炸藥炸毀建築物，形成防火帶。而這也只是戰前唐樓面對的其中一個挑戰。

A city without a formal fire brigade?

Firefighters are now regarded as one of the essential emergency services in contemporary cities. However, it was surprising that the city did not possess a formal fire brigade for nearly 30 years since the colonial rule established in Hong Kong. Prior to the establishment of the Fire Services Department in 1868, firefighting was handled not very effectively by the British military and various volunteer forces funded by local business associations.

Back in those days, the city was densely packed with partially wooden buildings. Flames spread quickly and regularly wiped out tens or hundreds of buildings. Often, the only way of stopping them was to demolish buildings with explosives to create fire breaks. This was just one of the many challenges tong laus needed to overcome to survive.
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新文章《第一代唐樓芳蹤何在？》已經推出！撳入link in bio閱讀全文。

New story “Where did all the first generation tong lau go?” is now published! Click on link in bio to read the full article!
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追蹤我們的Facebook和Instagram以獲取最新資訊✨🌱
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates✨🌱
同時可參閱簡介內網址，閱讀更多有關香港城市建築環境的故事 🤓
To explore more the unseen corners of Hong Kong, visit our website to read more stories 🤓
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#香港建解 #戰前唐樓 #唐樓

舊樓拆除後的痕跡仍然在城市裡飄零，但完整的戰前唐樓在今天的香港越來越罕見，每拆一幢都令人嘆息...你又是否知道，戰前唐樓的建築風格可以分成三代？

雖然目前沒有完整的唐樓樓齡統計數據，不過古物諮詢委員會（「古諮會」）的歷史建築評估名單列入約 100 幢唐樓，當中大部分是屬於第二、第三代。目前所知仍然屹立不倒的唯一一幢初代唐樓建成於19世紀晚期，正是中環威靈頓街120號的永和號雜貨店。它是市建局一項大型重建計劃的一部分，目前正在進行大規模活化工程。

在探討為何第一代唐樓芳蹤難尋之前，讓我們先認識一下三代戰前唐樓有何特徵 🧐

Although traces of long-demolished buildings can still be found across the city, pre-war tong laus are rare finds these days. Every demolition leaves us with a heavy heart...Do you know that pre-war tong laus can be classified into three generations according to their distinct architectural styles?

While complete statistics on the ages of surviving tong laus are unavailable, the Antiquities Advisory Board’s (AAB’s) list of graded buildings, which includes about 100 tong laus, indicates that most are second and third generation tong laus. The sole known first generation example still standing is the Wing Woo Grocery Store at 120 Wellington Street, which was built in the late 19th century and is currently undergoing extensive renovation works by the Urban Renewal Authority as part of a large-scale redevelopment scheme.

Why are there so few first generation tong lau left? Before proceeding, we should first identify the features of three generations of pre-war tong lau 🧐
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新文章《第一代唐樓芳蹤何在？》已經推出！撳入 https://cityunseen.hk/where-did-all-th…tion-tong-lau-go/?lang=zh-hant 閱讀全文。

New story “Where did all the first generation tong lau go?” is now published! Click on https://cityunseen.hk/where-did-all-the-first-generation-tong-lau-go to read the full article!
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追蹤我們的Facebook和Instagram以獲取最新資訊✨🌱
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates✨🌱
同時可參閱簡介內網址，閱讀更多有關香港城市建築環境的故事 🤓
To explore more the unseen corners of Hong Kong, visit our website to read more stories 🤓
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#香港建解 #戰前唐樓 #唐樓

無主之牆 A Wall Lost In Time

西營盤是開埠初期最早發展的住宅區，一代代人在這個山勢陡峭的地方築起了一個個家。

從戰前唐樓到玻璃幕牆的新樓，你可以在西營盤找到落成於不同年代的住宅樓宇，有如香港住屋歷史的寫照。雖然不少舊樓已被拆除，但仍然留下絲絲縷縷的痕跡。

這一面牆座落在高街上，有點殘破但仍然精緻的浮雕紋飾藏著它的身世，應該是某幢三層高戰前唐樓的共用牆，在一次又一次的重建中倖存下來。

X型支撐結構並非亦拆卸樓宇原有的部分，而是後來添加以確保啡色建築的穩定性。因為左邊粉紅色建築是較高和窄的住宅樓宇，啡色建築無法再依賴旁邊的樓宇作結構支撐，所以政府要求新樓的發展商負責裝上外牆的支撐結構。

Sai Ying Pun was among the first residential areas in Hong Kong to be developed in colonial times. Generation after generation built their homes on this steep terrain.

From pre-war tong lau buildings to modern glass curtain-wall structures, you can find residential buildings in Sai Ying Pun completed in different eras, reflecting Hong Kong's housing history. Although many old buildings have been demolished, they have left faint traces.

This particular wall stands on High Street, slightly worn but still adorned with delicate decorative mouldings that conceal its origin. It is likely a shared wall of a three-story pre-war tong lau building, surviving through multiple rebuilds.

The X-shaped bracing was not original to the demolished building but was added afterwards to ensure the brown building's stability. Since the pink building on the left was built as tall, narrow towers, the brown building could no longer rely on its neighbour for structural support. Therefore, the government required its developer to add the bracing.
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追蹤我們的Facebook和Instagram以獲取最新資訊✨🌱
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates✨🌱
同時可參閱簡介內網址，閱讀更多有關香港城市建築環境的故事 🤓
To explore more the unseen corners of Hong Kong, visit our website to read more stories 🤓
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#香港建解 #戰前唐樓 #唐樓

獨腳柱的前塵往事 The Curious Story of Orphaned Pillars

街頭漫步時，你有否遇見過一條孤零零、沒有明顯用途的柱？留心看看，可以從柱面上的紋飾推斷，它們柱比旁邊風格平實，建於1950年代或以後的唐樓更為古老。這些獨腳柱正是戰前唐樓的遺跡。

1955年，政府制定新的《建築物條例》，放寬樓宇高度和密度的限制，引發一股重建潮。「懸臂式」的唐樓取代「騎樓式」成為主流。然而，一些舊有的柱子卻留下來了。不過這並非是為了結構支撐，而是因為地權分界。

香港的社會發展與法例演變如何影響唐樓的設計形態呢？到此 https://cityunseen.hk/ghost-buildings/?lang=zh-hant 閱讀《舊樓還魂記》全文一探究竟！

Walking down the street, have you ever encountered a lone pillar with no apparent purpose? Take a closer look, their decorative moulding is a clue that they are older than the plain 1950s-or-after tenement buildings on either side. They are the remnants of pre-war tong laus.

In 1955, the government passed a new Buildings Ordinance allowing for higher densities, setting off a wave of redevelopment.

Cantilevered-style tong laus gradually replaced the "verandah-style" ones. Yet some old pillars survived—not for structural reasons, but because of property boundaries.

How did the social development and building codes in Hong Kong affect the design of tong lau? Check out the article “Ghost Buildings” via https://cityunseen.hk/ghost-buildings/ for the full story!
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追蹤我們的Facebook和Instagram以獲取最新資訊✨🌱
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates✨🌱

同時可參閱簡介內網址，閱讀更多有關香港城市建築環境的故事 🤓
To explore more the unseen corners of Hong Kong, visit our website to read more stories 🤓
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#香港建解 #戰前唐樓 #唐樓

👏👏 感謝各位參與評選「最不友善公共座椅」！這個不幸的頭銜最終落在「鍛鍊核心肌群式」這一款長凳上 🥲 你又認唔認得這張座椅的所在地呢？

這次參與評選的公共座椅，設計、物料各有不同，卻或多或少帶有些不舒適的元素，讓人只能正襟危坐之餘，也不便在此久留。當中反映出以便於管理為先的設計考量，但更值得反思的是，到底我們的城市需要怎樣的公共空間？

公共空間設計需要同時服務多個持份者群體向來是一項棘手任務。當不同持份者的需求相互抵觸時，應該如何取捨呢？在減輕維修保養的負擔與為使用者設想之間，要如何平衡？比起阻嚇或防止，又能否通過較溫和的方法來化解矛盾？

👏👏 A big thank you to everyone who participated in our recent poll on the most unfriendly public seating we found across the city! The unfortunate title goes to this “core muscle training” bench 🥲 Can you recognise where it located?

This range of seating comes in various designs and materials, but they all possess somewhat uncomfortable elements, restricting individuals from sitting in a certain way and discouraging people from staying too long. While these designs prioritise the ease of management, it’s still worthwhile to ask what kind of public spaces our city needs.

Public space design is asked to serve many stakeholders at once, which is a tricky task. When different stakeholders have conflicting needs, it's challenging to determine which one should be prioritised. How do we strike a balance between reducing the maintenance burden and accommodating the needs of all users? Can these conflicts be managed through softer methods instead of deterrent or hostile measures?
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撳入簡介內網址閱讀《香港的敵意建築》全文吧 🤓
Click the link in the bio to read the full article “Hong Kong’s Hostile Architecture” 🤓

追蹤我們的Facebook和Instagram以了解更多有關香港城市建築環境的故事✨🌱
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to explore more unseen corners of Hong Kong✨🌱
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#香港建解 #香港 #公共空間

地區收入如何，公共長凳的友善度也必如何？
Does how wealthy a neighbourhood is affect how friendly the public benches are?

敵意建築較常見於低收入社區和環境狀況較差的地區；而舒適、可靠背休息放鬆的座椅，往往可見於高檔購物區和繁華的旅遊景點附近，為何會有這種現象呢？

首先，這類地點令相關公共空間管理者較有信心可以吸引更多理想用家。其次，這些地點大機會是由私人發展商管理的公共空間，所以有較多資源和人力去管理保養公共設施，未必會如一般公共空間那樣，為求減輕維修保養的負擔而嘗試阻止人使用設施。這種做法暗示場所有著更密切的監管和護理，對無家者和其他不想被密切「關顧」的使用者有威懾作用。

While hostile architecture is more frequently found in low-income neighbourhoods and areas with poor environmental conditions, comfortable seating is usually found near high-end shopping areas and busy tourist attractions. Why is that?

Firstly, these locations allow public space managers to be reasonably confident of attracting more desirable users. Secondly, these spaces are likely to be managed by private developers, who could allocate more resources and manpower for upkeep, which signals that the place is well-supervised and cared for. This deters homeless people and others who wish to avoid close scrutiny.
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追蹤我們的Facebook和Instagram以了解更多有關香港城市建築環境的故事✨🌱

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to explore more unseen corners of Hong Kong✨🌱
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#香港建解 #香港 #公共空間