Nov. 1st, 2010
Just a brief research on Kowloon Walled City...
Kowloon Walled City
-dense population(in 1987: 33,000 residents within 6.5 acre)
-largely ungoverned settlement in Kowloon, Hong Kong
-originally a Chinese military fort; became an enclave in 1898
-dramatic increase in population following Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during WWII
-high rates of prostitution, gambling, drug use(1950s – 1970s)
-demolition of the city(March 1993 – April 1994) by Hong Kong government
-an anti-architectural entity(abnormal density & living condition)
History
-outpost set up to manage salt trade during Song Dynasty(960 – 1279)
-city improvement plan in 1842 to limit British influence : included the defensive wall around the city
-Kowloon city was eventually claimed by Britain. The Protestant church established an old people’s home in the Yamen(city’s social center)
-not much development by the British
-by 1940 only the Yamen, the school and one house remained(after the demolition)
-Japan occupied the city during WWII and demolished the city’s wall to use its stone
Urban Settlement
-after Japan’s surrender, refugees poured in to take advantage of Chinese protection
-British adopted ‘hands-off’ policy
-no government enforcement
-high crime rate
-massive construction during the 1960s and 1970s
-eight municipal pipes provided water to the entire structure
-few streets were provided with fluorescent lights(sunlight rarely reached the lower levels)
-an attempt by the government in 1963 to demolish some shacks in a corner of the city gave rise to an "anti-demolition committee"
Architecture
-the original fort consisted of a 6.5 acre plot(210m by 120m)
-stone wall(4m tall, 4.6m thick) surrounding the city had four entrances
-due to the Kai Tak Airport near the city, buildings did not exceed 14 stories
-alleyways were only 1-2m wide with poor lighting and drainage
-construction went unregulated
-maximized spaces by adding: wider upper floors, caged balconies, rooftop additions
Population
-10,004 in 1971
-14,617 in 1981
-33,000 in 1987 = population density of 1,255,000/km2
-the rest of Hong Kong had a population density of about 6,700/km2
