This chapter has introduced the development of the multilevel city. I appreciate this concept because it can help relieve the problem of insufficient land in Hong Kong. The three-dimensional urban design has been a prerequisite element in city planning nowadays. Footbridges and tunnels can connect buildings and facilities. However, it may also create a problem of discrimination at the social level. As stated in the reading, “downtown streets belong to the poor, the homeless, and the politically disenfranchised” (p261).
Hong Kong is a successful multilevel city as all lands in Hong Kong are owned by the government and it does not have many historic conservation agendas. Hong Kong is building a bridge network in on-demand planning instead of planning a sustainable urban network. From my point of view, the city may therefore do not have good urban planning but it may also cater to the current need of the city.
Suet Ying Teresa, Wai (3035933397)
You have mentioned that Hong Kong does not have many historic conservation agendas, could you explain a bit more about how it leads to the success of Hong Kong as a multilevel city? How does ad-hoc planning lead to its success as well? It would be great if you could further elaborate.