Mong Kok faces severe heat waves during the summer and is one of the major urban heat islands in Hong Kong. Through on-site research, it has been found that Mong Kok suffers from a severe lack of green spaces, especially in the back alleys where greenery is scarce. The lack of green spaces, coupled with the proliferation of air conditioning units and low albedo road and wall surfaces, exacerbates the climate injustice in the area. The project aims to turn negative leverage points of old system into positive factors, in high-density built-up areas of low-income compact cities, activating back alleys as open spaces that provide greenery while reducing the heat island effect and promoting climate justice. The green, regenerative and interactive new back alley system will be formed in the future.

The design of the project will utilise systems thinking by building on the existing service system, starting with 'accommodation' for homeless people, informal spaces are designed to improve the poor living conditions they currently experience in informal spaces, and to integrate with existing services to develop and train homeless people to serve and work in the community. While making the city streets clean and tidy, homeless people will be empowered to return to the community.


Academic Supervisors: Dr Sky Lo, Dr Sunny Choi, Prof. Laurent Gutierrez

Contributing to SDGs: 3 Good health and well-being,10 Reduced inequalities, 13 Climate action, 15 Life on land