Description of the theme and subject matter
Hong Kong is a densely populated metropolis in which a ginormous amount of human and urban activity can be observed on a daily basis. Sadly, ever since the COVID-19 pandemic has rampaged through this land, our lives have been changing drastically and continuously since then. Barring ourselves in our homes, retaining from daily activities, isolating ourselves from social groups, the novel virus is severely impacting every citizen in Hong Kong up to this date. At the same time, the virus is causing the city to undergo drastic and continuous changes, so that city dwellers are able to adapt to current situations. In this dead calm but ever-changing city, when strolling through public spaces, are there any possible ways for us to redefine the city? Using the overhead bridge as an example, are there any possible ways for us to look at our surroundings from a different perspective, for example, define public spaces as personal spaces serving specific functions?
Overhead bridges can be found everywhere in Hong Kong. They come into existence due to the fact that they are great tools to connect one place to another. Especially in a place like Hong Kong, where population density is high and every urban segment has its own specific function, these installations can make the city more defined and more mobile, at the same time minimizing the degree of obstruction of traffic flow. However, due to the existing pandemic, rarely we can see pedestrians bypassing the bridge. This public space, in a sense, becomes abandoned at present. Under the current situation, do public spaces like overhead bridges serve little to no function at all?
Method of research and making of the video
The overhead bridge, situated near Yau Ma Tei Wholesale Fruit Market, was the site where I had visited. I stayed there for a long period of time and documented an array of videos, photos, and time-lapses. I observed every detail of the bridge and the surroundings closely in an attempt to find out what purposes did the bridge actually serve. I also tried to document both the human flow and traffic flow in an attempt to discover relations between the bridge and the neighborhood. Eventually, I integrated some of the clips and photos are taken into a two-minute video to explain my findings, with the aid of voiceover.
Reflections
Water stains can be observed near the columns within the overhead bridge. These stains are actually formed by dogs urinating in the same place over and over again. Dogs tend to do such things due to ‘urine marking’, a unique behavior demonstrated by animals like dogs when facing social situations or being stimulated by other factors (e.g., the smell of other dogs’ urine). The columns, originally used for supporting the bridge, have a specific function in the eyes of pet dogs.
In fact, from my perspective, the overhead bridge does not only have one sole function. The slope of the bridge can serve as an obstacle during jogging practice. The bridge itself is also a great place for gathering and it can serve as an observatory to spectate components of the city, such as urban geometries and building aesthetics. Using the overhead bridge as an example, I would like to conclude that architecture is not solely defined by its designer. Architecture can also be defined by users like every single one of us as well. Amidst the hard times, we should paint our daily life with colors. By looking at every little detail from our surroundings, we can find out what is interesting or what is exciting around us. The pandemic vacates time and space for us to slow down and redefine the city. Therefore, we should grant ‘life’ to seemingly mundane public areas and make them become private – let these spaces become ours.
– Ng Terence 3035791696
References
- E. Hagen. (2017). Impacts of Urban Areas and Their Characteristics on Avian Functional Diversity. Frontiers.
- Urine Marking in Dogs. Healthy Pets Center. https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/urine-marking-in-dogs#1
Hi, firstly, I really enjoyed your video. It was great to see how Hong Kong has lots of overhead bridges and the way you approached it from different perspective. I agree with the fact that there are less pedestrians these days due to the pandemic, but I never thought about others’ perspectives at all. At the end of the video I could clearly understand what you mean by architecture being defined by users, not creators. From now on I think I will be able to view the city differently than just space with architectures with its primary functions.