[Video Essay] Disappearing City – Memory in a bottle

Theme Hong Kong is one of the most populated cities in the world. Unlike many cities such as Xi’an or Rome, many of whose historical sites could be preserved entirely. In Hong Kong, architecture preservation needs to consider both cultural value as well as economical effect. The theme of this video is “memory in a bottle”, which could be interpreted as how to choose the most representative and valuable part of architecture to be preserved. Ideally, people should select the minimum set of architecture features that capture most public memoroes. This video mainly investigates three historical sites: Kowloon walled city,

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[Video Essay]: Public City – Pier

  Theme    The accessibility of green spaces in the city demonstrates Hong Kong’s ingenious urban planning. The island is also surrounded by the sea, which makes it perfect for panoramic viewing. Close to the Hong Kong University, along the seaside, is the Central and Western District Promenade. It spans 400 meters with a width of 6.5 meters, covering a total area of 5200 square meters. Its start is marked by a 7.5 meter tower, serving as an icon. The promenade has four piers and is situated next to the Western Wholesale Food Market. The path also is connected to

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[Video Essay] City Outskirts: the self preserving Ecosystem

City Outskirts: the self-preserving Ecosystem Theme and subject matter This video essay focuses on Pok Fu Lam village, one of the last villages in Hong Kong that are at risk of disappearing and is now part of the World Monument Watch list (World Monuments Fund , 2021). The village is unique for its long history of festivals and life that can only be found once you enter through the mazes of lanes and alleyways. Thus a slow life is created, making it distinct from the outside city life that is mainly characterized by its busy and chaotic speed. Through the

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[Video Essay] Contrast City

Theme It was an ordinary Sunday; I took my mother around the Hong Kong since it was her first visit to this city. When we took a walk in Central, we saw a lot of people who are nor local neither from mainland sat around HSBC building and I guessed that they are from Africa. With a watching of a film called Still man, I realized that those people are Filipinos. Central is one of the most prosperous areas in Hong Kong and the HSBC Building is a fascinating architecture in the world. The poor attire and awkward activities of

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[Video Essay] Ecological City: A journey of a ghost

Director: Liu Xinyun Izzy   Theme The theme of the film is “Architecture Integrated with Nature.” It explores the coexistence of architecture and nature in Hong Kong. The film tells the story of a ghost who visits Earth for a day and travels through the city and ecology of Hong Kong. It passes through the forest symbolized by the University of Hong Kong and the coastline symbolized by Tai Long Wan, finally arriving at the intersection of forest, sea, and city, Victoria Peak. It realizes on the mountain that urban ecology is the intersection of human society and nature, and

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Hybrid City: Hong Kong’s footbridges

Director: HE Lok Yiu (uid:3035980120) The short video I make is about three groups of people’s experiences on the footbridges in Hong Kong, and how do these experiences help forming their perception of the city.   The title of my video is Hybrid City. “Hybrid”, referring to Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, is defined as “that is the product of mixing two or more different things”. This description reveals the complexity in the characteristics and users of footbridges, and further suggests the similar nature of the city. The story is narrated by a local Hong Kong person and a tourist, each of

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[Video Essay]: Blue House, Hope for a Disappearing City

HISTORY AND BACKGROUND The Blue House’s story is that of a successful historic revitalization (SCMP Editorial, 2022). It is a 4-storey tenement block located in Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai. Named for its iconic vibrant blue painted walls, it is one of the few remaining examples of tong lau in Hong Kong (Viva Blue House, n.d.; SCMP Editorial, 2022). Although hundreds of them existed, most of them (especially the lower-level ones which were not protected or listed by the Antiquities and Monuments Office) have been demolished (SCMP Editorial, 2022). The Blue House faced constant changes throughout history. Initially a hospital

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[Video Essay]: Slow City | Take a breathe

Theme and content Ma On Shan park is an excellent example of how urban parks can contribute to the slower pace of the city by promoting a more sustainable and conscious way of life. The park provides a green oasis in the fast paced city, offering visitors a chance to slow down and connect with nature. One of the key ways that Ma On Shan park promotes slow living pace is its emphasis on pedestrian-friendly design. The park features wide, well-maintained footpaths that encourage visitors to walk and explore at a leisurely pace. This promotes a more sustainable and healthy

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[Field-Homework 3] Overhead Bridge: Hybrid City

Overhead Bridge: Hybrid City Jiankai Gong 3036086373 Theme As one of the most densely populated cities in the world, Hong Kong has adopted a multilevel urban planning system in order to optimize land use and the convenience of travel. As of 2022, 1,043 overhead bridges have been constructed as a response to accommodate the high-density living style. I will be conducting my research around the hypothesis: Hong Kong is a bridge city and overhead bridges embody hybridity. The video is divided into two parts: Hybrid Urbanism Overhead pedestrian bridges are elevated urban infrastructures segregated from ground-level streets. Being the top

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[Video Essay]: Neon Lights – Disappearing City

[Video Essay] Neon Lights: What now? Theme and subject:  I chose neon lights as the subject of this video. There is a lot of discussion about the de facto demise of the large neon signs of Hong Kong; this is largely indisputable. In Wanchai and Mongkok for example, these monumental signs no longer hang over the streets much like they did a mere 10 years ago. However, I think instead of lamenting the loss of those old school signs, we should be more receptive to more subtle lighting fixtures that still pop at night.  I chose a location that is

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