[Field-Homework 3] Moulting City: Lee Wai Building, Pok Fu Lam Rd, Sai Wan

Moulting City: Lee Wai Building, Pok Fu Lam Rd, Sai Wan

1.1 Subject Matter

The subject of my video essay is a tenement building adjacent to the University of Hong Kong. It is the Lee Wai Building, my family home.

The building is a typical tenement building that features commercial tenants on the ground floor and residential apartments in the higher floors, totalling in six floors. As with most tenement buildings, it has no elevator and tenants must use the stairwell for transportation.

My grandmother began construction of the building in the early 70s, and our family lived there for more than 40 years. The apartment now lies vacant since my grandmother can no longer walk up the six flights of stairs due to her age. Now its only visitor is myself, as I go clean and look out for concerning signs of deterioration.

1.2 Theme

My goal is to record and preserve the image of the building through the filmic medium. Due to its age and state of disrepair, it is doubtless that Lee Wai Building will eventually face demolishment and reconstruction. Therefore, I wish to capture Lee Wai Building’s features and textures, silhouettes that can be encountered when it was still our home.

With the inevitable demolishment of Lee Wai Building, the title of the project was initially a “disappearing” city. But this didn’t sit well with me, thus I came up with the eventual title: “moulting” city, which aligns with my hope for the future of Lee Wai Building. What the future holds for Lee Wai Building is a metamorphosis, a process of urban renewal that brings improvement in both accessibility and capacity, like the symbolic moulting of an old shell that allows for growth.

The video celebrates my family’s life in the building by inviting the audience to immerse themselves into the experience of visiting Lee Wai building, presenting a collage of pictures and videos that form a journey from the entrance, up the stairwell, into our apartment and the roof.

2.1 Research Method

Background information for this project was mainly collected through academic papers and books. The general situation of tenement buildings in Hong Kong, their age, distribution, and common features were points of interest. I also conducted a personal interview with my grandmother, who built Lee Wai Building. She was able to reveal aspects of Lee Wai Building’s history that I did not previously know, such as the financial challenge faced during it construction, or the problems with unauthorised building works that led to the demolishment of several structures on the roof.

2.2 Cinematography

I observed that a lot of research and attention were put into the function of tenement buildings, so I intentionally focused on capturing the form of Lee Wai Building. Due to the lack of lighting fixtures, I chose to film on a day that was sunny, as sunlight effectively illuminates the building’s various features and conveys a sense of positivity and vitality. Additionally, the shadows cast by direct sunlight also present interesting visual imageries that highlight the silhouette of certain architectural features that are iconic to tenement buildings, such as the window frames and railings.

Growing up in the building, I am familiar with the textures and surfaces around the building, so I chose to include some macro and close-up shots to present these details. For example, the video contrasts the textures of the tiles and floorboards, presenting the audience with tactile imager that increases their immersion.

2.3 Reflection

With the acquisition of the building imminent, the process of filming for the video was a personal and emotional one. Although the apartment has been vacant for a few years by now, the memories flood back in once I step foot into the flat. It is an interesting perspective to have after taking CCHU9034. While we often analyse vast and notable structures in class, Lee Wai Building, despite its normality, holds a great significance to me and my family. I hope my memories of Lee Wai Building will not be ones shadowed by melancholy, but rather one of gratitude, a gratitude to Lee Wai Building for being my home.

 

By Matthew See

3036050257

 

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