Title: Mishmash city: Staircase, 39 Yin Chong Street, Mongkok, Kowloon
The theme
In the vibrant city, an inconspicuous picture comes up as the mishmash of the old and new, gives rise to the confusing sight as a sense of time travel across eras. This interesting blend of old-new fashion is caused by the acquisition and preservation of the historical relic, named as “Tong Lau”, which creates a visual impact as the new and old intertwine. When Hong Kong is moving into a new epoch, in which the captivating skyline of the city is dominated by the tremendous skyscrapers that are embracing their future, while the old ones are living on borrowed time.
In the past, usually there were no exact name assigned to the “Tong Lau” buildings, 39 Yin Chong Street is indeed the name of building, it is a typical old building that showcase the distinct features of “Tong Lau”. The 39 Yin Chong Street is located at Mongkok, Kowloon. The date of occupation begins in December 1954, which has 70 years history until now. The original address of the building should be 38-39 Yin Chong Street, which consists of 3 stories on 2 sides with an internal staircase in the middle as the common passage.
In 2001, the developer of Legend Court had adopted the acquisition of 38 Yin Chong Street, which half of the building had been demolished and rebuilt to the new building, and the other half was then reinforced by the installment of steel rebar to ensure it had enough support and balance. However, the laws of building regulation stated that the staircase which acted as the common passage, could not be demolished due to the infringement of easement, though part of the building number 38 was occupied by the staircase. The residents and owners of the upper stairs were protected by the “right of way”, such that they could use the staircase to get back to their respective units.
Though it is not a common phenomenon in the city, this unintentional architectural style is captivating by its visual contrast in terms of the height, outlook, and level of advancement in furnishing technique between the new and old. Walking up the stairs, the uniqueness of this building in the entire area is portrayed by its weathered bricks and faded paint with a dark and worn-out staircase where creaking floors follow your steps. Compare to the new apartment where you can find your neighbors right beside your unit, only concrete walls with dust and cracks are left to accompany. The old seems to be relying on the new to muddle through the years, it travels across eras and still stands firmly in strong winds and heavy rains. Even the old ones are not as sharp as the skyscrapers, not noticeable as the high-rise building, their presence gives stability to every single brick and tile that comes after them.
Researching and filming
I first come across with this special architectural style when I have once watched a review on Hong Kong special social phenomenon. Though it seems to be uncommon, there are indeed a lot of cases similar to my investigation, especially in the older district where the government has still not yet implemented any projects on urban reconstruction. The reason that I choose 39 Yin Chong Street is because it has a longer history and the contrast shown between itself and the other is more obvious and prominent.
I have been focusing on two main elements regarding the building, one is the staircase, and the other one is the line of demarcation between the 2 buildings. First one is the staircase. Due to the demolishment of the half, the structure of the staircase was most affected. The entire wall had once been emptied, thus rebar is added across floors to maintain the whole and structure and give extra pulling force to the right side of the building. On the other hand, the sharp contrast is given by the line of demarcation between the old and new. The clear line of separation acts as a visual representation, which shows the transition from the past to the present. However, even though the visible boundary gives a stark contrast between the two structures, the past and present coexistence creates an unexpected harmonious blend of characteristics of the old and new.
In the video, I have been using several elevation angles from different ranges to first disclose the appearance of the 39 Ying Chong Street, and highlight the line of demarcation towards the new building, showing the contrast between the two. Also, I usually pan slowly across the scene, in order to show the difference between the past and present. To portray the sense of traveling through time and space, first-person angle is used to bring the audience into a ‘time-travel’ while walking up the staircase. I have also used lower and closer view towards every single steps of the stairs, as well as direct straight light beam from the ventilation gap, representing the glimpse of hope for the conservation of the old history in the city.
Bibliography and references
Bloszies, C. (2013). Old Buildings, New Designs: Architectural Transformations. Princeton Architectural Press.
Removing internal staircase: infringement of right of way: encumbrance? (2013, June 17). Hong Kong Land Law Blog. https://hklandlaw.wordpress.com/2013/06/17/removing-internal-staircase-infringement-of-right-of-way-encumbrance/
Chan, D. W., & Choi, T. N. (2015). Difficulties in executing the Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme (MBIS) for existing private buildings in Hong Kong. Habitat International, 48, 97–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2015.03.015
Hong Kong e-Legislation. (n.d.). https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap123F?pmc=0&m=0&pm=1
Recent decisions on compulsory sale applications in Hong Kong in relation to 100% owned lot and calculation of ownership threshold. (2024, January 10). Insights | Mayer Brown. https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/insights/publications/2023/04/recent-decisions-on-compulsory-sale-applications-in-hong-kong-in-relation-to-100-percent-owned-lot-and-calculation-of-ownership-threshold
A list of 39 Yin Chong Street (Mongkok) Properties for Sale & Rent: Midland Realty. A list of 39 Yin Chong Street (Mongkok) Properties for Sale & Rent | Midland Realty. (n.d.). https://www.midland.com.hk/en/estate/Kowloon-39-Yin-Chong-Street-E000009270
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