ARCH4331A A Year in Hong Kong
Target Students BSSc4
Course Term 1
Course Type Electives
Teacher HAN, Man
This course investigates Hong Kong's post-war architectural and urban history through a focused examination of a pivotal year, serving as a cross-section of the city's urban development at multiple scales. Using a variety of archival sources, we will investigate the key projects, principal actors, policies, regulations, among other factors that shaped the buildings and urban forms. Most critically, we will analyze the causal relationships between these various forces and their material manifestations in the built environment, while assessing their lasting impacts on Hong Kong's urban fabric.
Examining a singular year in history through a variety of sources offers a unique lens to establish connections between various urban processes that are typically viewed in isolation in conventional historiographies. By focusing on a specific year, this method encourages students to explore how different aspects of society, such as architectural production, political developments, and economic histories, are interconnected and influence one another. This concentrated analysis prompts a more integrated and nuanced comprehension of the multifaceted forces shaping urban environments.
