Stairwell—Public City
Directed and narrated by Zhu Runze Leon 3036075130
Theme and aim:
The theme of the video essay is “Stairwell—-Public City ” and I aim to investigate the role of stairwells in daily lives, particularly in buildings or apartments in Hong Kong. I did not put much of my focus on stairwells seen in public sites and spaces, as exterior public functions such as MTR passages and emergency evacuation sites. However, I focus on how buildings and apartments serve as semi-public places that are public to private residents but at the same time private to public citizens. Hence, through discovering the usage of stairwells as an interior communal function, I can sort out the relationship between the residents and buildings from a public scope and perspective. And such a relationship contributes to the importance of stairwells as an essential as well as vital element in architecture and ultimately the city.
Research and methodologies:
Before the actual filming, I had undergone a series of research and proposed a few questions to consider to prepare myself for a better understanding and acknowledgment of stairwells in Hong Kong. “A stairwell is a structure that consists of a set of steps or several flights of steps that are intended to link vertical distances. An interior stairwell is most commonly found in a building as an opening in the floor, and it lets an individual move upwards or downwards in the building” (Delich, 2023). Moreover, stairwells within buildings are regarded as a public spaces used for interaction with the neighborhood as well as boosting residents’ belonging and connection with the building (Sample, 2000).
In Hong Kong, every building has its stairwell that is unique from one another. The practices and activities of the residents can change stairwells over time as it is a passive space. It is a question of how people’s habits affect the usage and function of stairwells. Meanwhile, stairwells in different buildings have completely different functions. Some are solely used for emergency exits under crisis that are forbidden to enter while some can be used for daily access to levels in buildings. Why are there such differences? Is it only important for crisis response in buildings? How about movement and continuity as a method of traveling in the building? The fact is, stairwells show interesting extensions of diversities and complexity regarding their role in buildings (Illidge, 2018). Therefore, I targeted my site of filming and fieldwork in the old areas in Hong Kong where stairwells are seen as equal importance to elevators, or in some subdivided flats where elevators are absent, people travel solely using stairwells, it would best help for me to achieve my aim. Hence, my site of focus falls on Sheung Wan and Sham Shui Po.
Producing the video:
To make it an authentic and immersing experience for audiences to encounter, I first introduce some common examples of stairwells in public spaces to gain resonance. Then, I tried to point out some of the common characteristics of stairwells inside buildings. I also applied several montage and scene-switching effects throughout the video. For instance, the lift and the cigarette box on the stairwell; the switching scene of going on the stairwell and packed stairwells; The warning signs of no smoking and cigarettes left on the floor. Through the transitional scenes, I hope to emphasize what a stairwell really looks like inside a typical public estate or even subdivided flats, and how such visuality links with the role and function as a public space in the building.
Results and reflection:
The filming process is an indulging and captivating process to learn and enjoy. I visited many buildings in the areas stated above, mainly public estates and subdivided flats as well as one private apartment of my friend, figuring out how to show the authenticity of the interior space. It is shocking to unravel a space that we notice but seldom access in our daily lives, especially when elevators are taking up the role of traveling in a building. I had come up with a few responses regarding the questions raised before and developed some deep insights regarding architecture and space.
1) Stairwells can be used for connection with households and small-scale businesses (mainly tertiary industries in the old areas). It is popular in buildings with special formations and arrangements where both residentials and shops exist in a building and the lower levels are utilized for the shops;
2) In contrast with the elevator which consists of only a limited amount of space, stairwells extend through every level, and residents at that level can utilize such space without influencing the daily lives of their neighborhoods. But when the situation moves to buildings where stairwells are solely their method of traveling in building, the importance and hygiene condition of the stairwell is placed top priority concern. Stairwells are strictly under supervision and regulation to give a clean and hygienic image to the public. However, it does not apply to many of the buildings where stairwells pile up with garbage and abandoned furniture, even a sealed up and poorly ventilated place for smoking;
3) Hong Kong as a vertical city (Urban Planning, 2015): Imagine why stairwells cannot ever extend in one direction- this is because of the limited amount of space and land in Hong Kong. The supply of land cannot meet the demand of the population, construction of space can only be extended upwards and vertically. Stairwells in a twisted manner, being a vertical access to a higher level in a horizontal way, reflects Hong Kong people’s compromise with space. In older estates, due to limited amount of living space, stairwells as public purposes are even used for private purposes such as storage, etc, this explained what is shown in the video piling up of personal items;
4) It is ironic in the sense that, the ones used for daily public access are in disrepair and dilapidated manner. However, the ones not in use (for emergency exits) are in a well-preserved and rather clean manner. It can be seen that although both serve as important tunnels and functions in a building, due to the difference in their basic functions in the building, they get to appear in completely different visuality. This further reinforces my argument that human practices and activities in a space largely contribute to the formation of the environment and atmosphere of the space, hence residents as a vital sector in the building who utilizes and even change their space of living cannot escape their close relationship with the stairwell and building.
To sum up, when the age of elevators gradually takes over the importance of stairwells, we shall not overlook the importance of stairwells in the city— as an indispensable public space connecting the residents and the building.
References:
1. Christie, O. (2023, April 27). Resident brands stairway ‘full of litter and urine’ as a safety hazard. Yahoo! News. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/resident-brands-stairway-full-litter-150000977.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANQn746pXnJhJjjWCixcNfeFBH7eBE1qE-UqsssDlCNC3AtarFLdU8svqWnezQW1tXnL2X35gq8qe1OvJXR0g5T3dmg2Po3mn5_KLaC9gw_GOOBvkExsqKaVn4ysSS3n2P5NoY82Kv3tlpCX2hPQkJ1x78SXEq7Sy1XDbqHoLCfO
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7. Sample, H. (2020). Notes on Staircases. e-flux Architecture. https://www.e-flux.com/architecture/housing/333722/notes-on-staircases/
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Name: Zhu Runze Leon
UID: 3036075130