With the sight of stairs, you may let out a big sigh. It is strenuous to go from one step to the other, with most people trying to conceal their hyperventilation once they reach the top. The steep topography of Hong Kong has led its presence to being ubiquitous in outdoor spaces(Stair Culture, 2018).
Over time, stairs in architecture had evolved from simply being a medium to navigate vertically to becoming a design aspect of a space. Andrea Palladio, an Italian architect in the 16th century led to stairs being less steep for comfort and Michelangelo expanded the art form of stairs through the use of columns, pediments, and corbels(Kallisto, n.d.). From then on, stairs played an important role in guiding us on our experience in space and time. Here, I explore the use of stairs in public spaces and how they spatially direct our attention and impact the visual experience of the spaces they occupy.
To conduct research, I took a field trip and observed how people spent their time on the stairs and conducted literature reviews on stairs in architecture. I decided to take on 3 locations, Pottinger Street, Central–Mid-Levels, and the path to Westwood. Starting with Pottinger Street, one of the oldest streets made of these uneven cobblestone steps that now carry countless stalls on top of it(Discover Hong Kong, n.d.). Rather than simply being a means to get to the elevated streets of central, you are made to experience the lively shopping experience of Hong Kong. The stairs being uneven made me more careful with my steps and steered my attention to the space surrounding me. There were ice-cream shops, and stalls selling cheap costumes and jewelry, enabling the slowed tempo for such an experience.
Nearby Pottinger Street was the Central-Mid-Levels escalator, the longest of its kind in the world. It was built in 1993 in hopes to ease traffic congestion, which was considered to have failed its purpose after its opening. However, now, it allows for the commute of over 78,000 people every day and is a spot for sightseeing(Hong Kong extras, n.d.). Both sides of the escalator and stairs were left open for viewing the bustling streets around it, decorated with antique stores, museums, historic buildings, and never-ending restaurant selections. With technological advancements and the hustle culture of Hong Kong, it is no surprise to see the evolution and integration of escalators outdoors. With that, I noticed differences in the experience of riding the escalator and walking along the stairs. Stairs evoke a sequential experience, allowing us to contemplate, observe and interact with the surroundings with every step taken(Erickstad, 2012). Whereas, the escalator was simply a route to get to the other side quicker as I noticed most chose not to stand still on the moving escalator. It was a quick diagonal movement through space instead of incremental progress or pause(Sörensen, 2018). This was what the moving escalator removed from the narrative.
Finally, I went back to the spiral staircase near HKU which triggered this train of thought. From Exit C of HKU, there is this long spiral staircase that descends to Westwood Mall, and right beside it is an escalator doing the opposite. While walking along those stairs, I was surrounded by the ordinary views of Hong Kong, tall buildings with small glowing windows, schools surrounded by trees, and small markets along the busy street. I brought out my film camera to capture the view whilst noticing other people slowing down to observe their surroundings and realized the functional purpose of stairs being beyond just vertical transition. Not to mention, but the escalators were placed next to a wall, rendering the purpose void.
Scenes were cinematically shot with 0.5x and 1x to capture a wider background and consisted of still shots and long shots while walking up the stairs. IMovie was used to compile a montage and shots were slowed down, frozen, and sped up to emphasize the way people spent their time on the stairs. The film starts and ends with my view of the film camera to tie in the origin of the idea. Finally, calming background music was used to accompany the purpose of stairs in space and my message, which is to slow down.
Hong Kong is notorious for its fast-paced lifestyle and I believe these outdoor stairs provide a glimmer of hope in slowing down its pace. The city remains in flux with constant renovations and with modernization, there is worry surrounding the disappearance of stairs. However, I believe they are irreplaceable as they give unique vantage points from which we can observe our environment.
Resources:
Stair Culture. (2018, February 9). About. Hong Kong Stair Archive. https://stairculture.com/archive/about/
What’s the role of the staircase in architecture? Kallisto. (n.d.). https://www.kallistostairs.co.uk/interior-architecture-hub/the-role-of-the-staircase-in-architecture/
Pottinger Street: Hong Kong tourism board. Discover Hong Kong. (n.d.). https://www.discoverhongkong.com/uk/interactive-map/pottinger-street.html
CENTRAL – MID-LEVELS ESCALATORS . Mid-levels escalators – Hong Kong extras3. (n.d.). https://www.hongkongextras.com/_midlevels_escalators.html
Erickstad, Samantha (2012): A Subconscious Ascent: Exploring the Architecture of the Metaphoric Staircase. Open Access Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington. Thesis. https://doi.org/10.26686/wgtn.17000098.v1
Sörensen, M. (2018). There’s something about stairs. Degree Project 2018. http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1215548/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Nafisa Humayra 3035781495
Your video investigates how the urban levels of Hong Kong negotiates with its steep topography via stairs and escalators. I enjoyed some shots of your videos that show different stair conditions around Central- you can perhaps use a more rigorous approach in documenting the different types of stairs so as to show the different uses of them- some are meant to serve as shortcuts while others are at a leisurely pace. A clearer structure in how you present these conditions will help clarify your argument.