hkskyline's 2013 HONG KONG Photo Collection

hkskyline · #1 Posted **Apr 28, 2013, 5:34 PM**

Hong Kong is constantly being redeveloped, and Kowloon City district is under major transformation. Formerly subject to height controls when the airport was nearby, pencil towers started appearing when the airport closed.

A large percentage of the population lives in public housing. These older blocks are not too tall, and have some retail at street level to service the residents. However, this estate will soon be torn down and redeveloped.

Construction is everywhere.

Apple has invested in full-body bus ads. Everyone in town should be well aware of their products.

Hong Kong has a shortage of prime location Grade A office space.

Kowloon Bay and its glassy office buildings are seen in the distance. Many companies have moved their support staff to this area and away from Central district, saving a lot on rent.

Kwun Tong is another district where redevelopment has come in a big way. The town centre will be razed, and part of the project has begun.

If planes take off towards the east, left window passengers will get to see Kowloon and northwards, while right window passengers will see Hong Kong Island. The weather wasn't too good today, but I was able to get a shot of the island of Ap Lei Chau just off Hong Kong Island.

Reclamation works around Victoria Harbour are almost done. What has been reclaimed in Central district is slowly turning green.

Traditional market streets such as this one are getting rarer and rarer. Notice the redevelopment in this picture.

Apparently, Star Ferry is free to ride one day a year.

Some people are lucky to live in lowrises. The villagers here in Pok Fu Lam on Hong Kong Island can enjoy shopping at the highrise development next door but they don't need to cope with the density.

Expensive homes line the slopes below, fighting amongst each other for ocean views.

This is the Bethanie campus of the Academy for Performing Arts. Built by the French in 1875, the building was originally a sanatorium.

Air Seychelles recently launched a new service to their African paradise via Abu Dhabi. They will probably unnerve the Maldives a bit.

Kilgore Trout · #2 Posted **Apr 29, 2013, 9:39 AM**

I find it a real shame that Kowloon City's redevelopment is being so poorly guided. With all that extra density there should be more effort to restrict car traffic in the area and improve pedestrian amenities, but as usual nothing will be done until it's unbearably crowded.

ColDayMan · #3 Posted **Apr 29, 2013, 2:48 PM**

Thanks!

hkskyline · #4 Posted **May 1, 2013, 12:21 PM**

Similar to Kowloon City, Sham Shui Po district was under height restrictions when Kai Tak Airport was still running. Taller redevelopments have since occurred.

The area around Nam Cheong MTR station is busy with construction activity. The new high-speed link with Guangzhou is taking place underground, shared with foundation works of new residentials that will rise on top of the station.

Nam Cheong is only 3 stations away from Central district, but this prime location is affordable to the masses.

Welcome to Sham Shui Po district.

hkskyline · #5 Posted **May 20, 2013, 4:22 PM**

A contemporary art exhibition has turned Hong Kong's skyscrapers into people!

A myopic view of the world.

Swipe your Octopus card to get in, or out.

Taxi!

Skyscraper living

hkskyline · #6 Posted **Jun 6, 2013, 12:28 PM**

The high-speed rail station in West Kowloon is taking shape, although the structure is not clear at this stage.

alps · #7 Posted **Jun 12, 2013, 10:46 AM**

Great photos and commentary.

I find the redevelopment of Kwun Tong town centre a bit sad. I don't know the details but I feel a bit irked whenever I visit and see all the interesting old buildings covered in URA requisition notices. After seeing exclusive projects like Island Crest plonked down in places like Sai Ying Pun I am convinced the work of the URA does not serve the interests of the common people.

Where was/is that exhibition with the MTR turnstiles and maps? Looks fun!

Also, what is that ~five storey structure going up beside Exchange Square?

hkskyline · #8 Posted **Jun 12, 2013, 1:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by alps

Great photos and commentary.

I find the redevelopment of Kwun Tong town centre a bit sad. I don't know the details but I feel a bit irked whenever I visit and see all the interesting old buildings covered in URA requisition notices. After seeing exclusive projects like Island Crest plonked down in places like Sai Ying Pun I am convinced the work of the URA does not serve the interests of the common people.

Where was/is that exhibition with the MTR turnstiles and maps? Looks fun!

Also, what is that ~five storey structure going up beside Exchange Square?

Thanks for your comments.

The URA is in the business of making money. The redevelopments are not affordable to the original owners, and flat-for-flat exchanges are rare these days.

The exhibition was Hong Kong Eye, featuring contemporary art from 24 local artists : http://www.hongkongeye.org/en/exhibitions

The Exchange Square extension thread : http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=197902

boden · #9 Posted **Jun 19, 2013, 1:38 AM**

Excellent thread hk.

hkskyline · #10 Posted **Jun 24, 2013, 4:38 PM**

Tai Kok Tsui is an old district that has seen redevelopments lately due to its great location in Kowloon. Several banks have relocated support staff here and it is only 1 metro stop from the gleaming offices at ICC.

This duck caused quite a stir in town for a month. The sculpture by Florentijn Hofman wanted to spread joy around the world through this duck.

hkskyline · #11 Posted **Jul 13, 2013, 4:02 AM**

Yuen Long is a new town in the northwest New Territories that was first settled in the Song Dynasty. In 1972, the government decided to build a new suburb here and the district now has some 580,000 people.

hkskyline · #12 Posted **Aug 9, 2013, 5:43 AM**

hkskyline · #13 Posted **Aug 20, 2013, 4:03 PM**

Central District is seeing a few redevelopments to add office space. Vacancy rates here are very low.

Tung Chung is a new town about 40 minutes from Central. It's not so dense, but in the middle of nowhere. At least the views are decent and unlikely to be blocked out.

Sham Shui Po is one of the city's poorest districts, and home to many cage homes for the poor. Redevelopments are rife here as well.

Wan Chai used to be a red light district for American sailors to seek fun whilst on port call.

Lego exhibitions seem fairly popular lately. Here is one featuring various international attractions.

hkskyline · #14 Posted **Aug 28, 2013, 5:09 PM**

Land is a valuable commodity in Hong Kong, and there will be a flurry of construction activity over the next few years as the government pushes for more residentials to be built and quell a housing price bubble.

Old and new co-exist in these neighbourhoods.

Non air-conditioned buses were retired last year. I was happy to see this one parked at the depot and available for viewing through the fence.

hkskyline · #15 Posted **Sep 14, 2013, 3:59 AM**

Quarry Bay is a mix of new posh homes for the lite and traditional lowrises for the poor.

Pedestrian bridges take people off the streets to criss-cross the city from above.

The eastern stretches of Hong Kong Island are developed and the waterfront promenade is quite nice.

The fishermen were a bit annoying though.

ChiTownCity · #16 Posted **Sep 15, 2013, 12:31 AM**

Nice thread. So are the outdoor markets being replaced with indoor malls or something? It would suck in a major way if they were just erasing them from the city's fabric....

hkskyline · #17 Posted **Sep 15, 2013, 1:04 PM**

There are some outdoor markets, many selling groceries, that are still alive and well. Otherwise, people prefer shopping in air-conditioned luxury.

hkskyline · #18 Posted **Nov 13, 2013, 3:14 AM**

Summer in the city - clear, blue skies!

As the train network expands, some bus routes have been rendered redundant. This express route has become history.

L1011driver · #19 Posted **Dec 9, 2013, 8:19 AM**

Stunning. The only letdown comes when you run out of photos to view.

hkskyline · #20 Posted **Dec 9, 2013, 4:05 PM**

Tap Mun is located on the eastern fringes of Sai Kung. It is a fishing village, but has developed into an eco-tourism day trip destination for city dwellers in recent years.

Surrounded by countryside, the seas are calm and the waters are very clean.

Locals dry seaweed in the open.

They pray to the gods for safe passage.

I expected seafood to feature prominently on the fresh menu. This noodle was delicious and costed a cheap 30 HKD (3.5 USD).

With fuel, I could enjoy hiking the trails.

Camping is a popular activity on the southern part of the island, which is accessible via a well-paved hiking trail. There is no need to make appointments with the park agency, but just get there early to secure your own piece of nature.