In the reading, Abba explores different reasons behind the architecture disappearance in Hong Kong and its impact on the disappearance of its identity and culture. According to him, the disappearance relates to several aspects, such as the economic aspect, the architectural style, and the people living in the area. In my understanding, first, the author provides an example of the Ritz Carlton Hotel to explain the impact of the economic market, wherein the building was sold due to the fact that the newly built building would produce more income. Second, the architectural style of Hong Hong is highly influenced by Western culture, which makes the buildings in Hong Kong have less of their local identity and culture, contributing to its building disappearance. Third, the attempt to settle the hyper-density situation in Hong Kong through building more public housing contributes to Hong Kong buildings having limited characteristics as more buildings with different characteristics disappear. In addition, the selective desire to preserve buildings with historical importance to Hong Kong makes the colonial architectural culture disappear. For example, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Flagstaff House were used to demonstrate the reasons behind the disappearance, as the preservation of these buildings damaged Hong Kong architecture that possessed its own identity. With the abovementioned causes that contribute to the disappearance of its buildings, I believe that the text emphasizes the importance of establishing our own local identity and finding its own uniqueness, as Hong Kong’s urban space has been highly influenced by other cultures and identities over time.
Name: Hur, Rin
UID: 3036084492
Your response demonstrates a good understanding of Abbas’ text and an overview of his main ideas. A more nuanced read into Abbas’ text and his interpretation of how disappearance is the identity of Hong Kong architecture will help clarify your thoughts on building a local architectural identity, as it is a proxy of British and Chinese rule and representative of the local identity in itself.