Prof. MO, Kar Him (毛家謙)

Introduction

Prof. MO Kar Him is an Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture and Urban Studies Programme, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research focuses on healthy ageing, intergenerational living, participatory design, and community planning, advocating for an equitable and inclusive built environment for all, especially our ageing population.

His works are primarily community-based and collaborative in nature. Supported by ZeShan Foundation, Ho Cheung Shuk Yuen Charitable Foundation, and previously CUHK Sustainable Knowledge Transfer Project Fund, he has co-founded and been leading Happy Ageing Lab Foundation to promote housing innovation for the ageing population with public housing suppliers, quasi-public/private developers, property management companies, service providers, and design industry. The Lab is a not-for-profit consultancy practice, with an interdisciplinary team, steered by a passionate board and advisors who are local and international experts in the field of gerontology, primary care, occupational therapy, social work, architecture, and urban planning.

Prior to joining CUHK, Prof. Mo was the Head of Research in an award-winning architectural consultancy firm, leading a number of government consultancy projects on policy/ordinance review, fostering sustainable building design in Hong Kong.

Research Interests

Age-friendly Cities
Healthy Ageing/ Ageing-in-place/ Intergenerational Living
Housing Design
Service Design and Integration
Public Space Design
Participatory Design and Community Empowerment
Urban Commons and Commoning

Publications

Peer-reviewed Research Articles (*corresponding author; students’/ RA’s name in italics)

Mo, K.H., Tian, D.C., Jian, I.Y. & Chen, W. (2025). Sense of Security in Age-friendly Cities: Exploring the Trade-off between the Supply and Demand for Elderly-care Services in Hong Kong. Sustainable Cities and Society, 134, 106900. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2025.106900

Mo, K.H., Liang W., Jian, I.Y., Ng, E., Woo, J. & Chen, W. (2026). A good neighbor is better than a distant relative? Understanding the influence of neighborhood cohesion on residents’ intentions for intergenerational co-living. Cities, 170, 106633. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2025.106633

Chen, W., Jian, I.Y., Ng, E. & Mo, K.H.* (2025). “All concerns me”: Collaborative governance in pre-regeneration of public rental housing in Hong Kong from the boundary-work perspective. Land Use Policy, 159, 107819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107819

Jian, I.Y., Mo, K.H.*, Ng, E., Chen, W., Jim C.Y. & Woo, J. (2025). Age-friendly Spatial Design for Residential Neighbourhoods in a Compact City: Participatory Planning with Older Adults and Stakeholders. Habitat International, 161, 103428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2025.103428

Mo, K.H., Ng, E., Woo, J., Jian, Y.I., Chen, W. (2025). Revisiting the Implementation and Effectiveness of Age-Friendly Neighborhood Initiatives in Hong Kong: A Strengths-based Perspective. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2025.2476762

Li, J., Chua, M. & Mo, K.H.* (2025). Before the Plot Ratio: Balancing density through ambiguity in 1950s colonial Hong Kong. Planning Practice and Research, 40(4), 802-822. https://doi.org/10.1080/02697459.2025.2489220

Li, J. & Mo, K.H.* (2025). Exploring the Transatlantic Origins of the Plot Ratio from New York to Colonial Hong Kong. Planning Perspectives. https://doi.org/10.1080/02665433.2025.2582588

Jian, I.Y., Yao, T.Y., Mo, K.H., Chen, P., Chen, W., & Yu, Y. (2025). Inclusive beyond the swings and slides: Exploring access and equity in Hong Kong's playground. Habitat International, 156, 103276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2024.103276

Chen, W., Chen, M., Yu, J., Mo, K.H., Jian, I.Y., Zhang, Q., Heath, T. & Ye, C. (2025). Cultural Preservation, Social Cohesion or Economic Benefits? Unpacking the Motivations of Public Participation in China’s Historical Settlement Regeneration. Codesign, 21(3), 655-676. https://doi.org/10.1080/15710882.2025.2494097

He, S., Jiang, Y. & Mo, K.H. (2025). Planning for Healthy Aging: Addressing Older Adults’ Travel Behavior and Mobility. Transport Reviews, 45(5), 643-649. https://doi.org/10.1080/01441647.2025.2517457

Jian, I.Y., Mo, K.H., Chen, P., Ye, W., Siu, K.W.M., & Chan, E.H.W. (2024). Navigating between private and public: Understanding publicness of public open spaces in private developments in Hong Kong. Journal of Urban Management, 14(4), 787-799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jum.2024.08.003

Mo, K.H.*, Lei, D., Woo, J. & Ko, R. (2023). Housing preference for ageing-in-place: Are there differences among emerging-old, young-old and old-old adults living in Hong Kong’s private housing estates? Journal of Aging & Environment, 39(2), 138–165. https://doi.org/10.1080/26892618.2023.2291762

Mo, K.H.*, Ng, E., Woo, J. & Ko, R. (2023) Perceptions of intergenerational living among older adults residing in subsidized housing developments in Hong Kong. Journal of Aging & Environment, 38(4), 425–451. https://doi.org/10.1080/26892618.2023.2245797

Woo, J., Ko, R., Yu, R., Chan, S., Lo, R., & Mo, K.H. (2023). Healthy Ageing should be a key component of ageing in place: Case study from Hong Kong. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20, 5779. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20105779

Books & Book Chapters

Mo, K.H.*, Chen, F. & Barresi, G. (Forthcoming). Robotics for Aging Populations. In G. Barresi & S. Wischniewski (ed.). Ergonomics in Robotics: Advances and Innovations. Springer.

Woo, J, Ko, R., & Mo, K.H. (2025). Curating Homes: A Guide to Residential Design for Ageing-in-Place. CUHK JC Institute of Ageing. https://www.ioa.cuhk.edu.hk/images/residential_design_guide/Curating_Home.pdf

Mo, K.H.*, Ko, R. & Sin H.L. (2022). 森耕細作: 連結社區的在地實驗 (Cultivating places, community, and relations: Connecting community through Neighborhood Experiments). Humming Publishing, 1-201.

Research Projects

Research Projects/Grants – PI/Co-PI

2024-2026 Mo, K.H. (PI), Impacts of the Design of In-Between Spaces in High-Density Living Environment on Older Adults’ Activities and Social Lives: a Case Study of Subsidised Housing Estates in Hong Kong, Early Career Scheme, Research Grants Council, Hong Kong (HK$1,448,720).

2025 Mo, K.H. (PI), Jian, Y.I. & Chen, W.X., Design Engagement Workshops for Wah Fu Estate Redevelopment, Housing Authority, Hong Kong SAR Government.

2025-2026 Mo, K.H. (PI) & Jian, Y.I., Consultancy Services for Design Standardization for Public Rental Housing Projects of Hong Kong Housing Society, Hong Kong Housing Society.

2025-2026 Mo, K.H. (PI) & Jian, Y.I., A Pilot Study of the Impacts of Neighbourhood Open Space Design in High-density Living Environment on Older Adults' Physical Activity, Quality of Life and Mental Health: a Case of Hong Kong, Direct Grant for Research, CUHK (HK$100,000).

2025-2026 Mo, K.H. (PI), Chen, W.X., Jian, Y.I. & Woo, J., Social Integration of Older Adults in Cross-border Ageing from Hong Kong to Mainland China, CUHK Knowledge Transfer Project Fund (HK$ 399,630).

2025-2026 Mo, K.H. (PI) & Jian, Y.I., Building Our Age-friendly Home, CUHK-ASK Social Innovation Grant (HK$200,000).

2024-2025 Mo, K.H. (PI) & Jian, Y.I, Support Age in Community: a Study of Spatial Equity of Day Care Centres in Hong Kong, Direct Grant for Research, CUHK (HK$100,000).

2024-2025 Mo, K.H. (PI), Jian, Y.I., Woo, J. & Ko, R., Hou² Living Gallery: Co-Creating Age-friendly Neighbourhood in Hong Kong’s Private Housing Estate, CUHK Knowledge Transfer Project Fund & Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund (HK$399,730).

2024-2025 Mo, K.H. (PI) & Jian, Y.I., Building Our Age-friendly Home, CUHK-ASK Social Innovation Grant (HK$200,000).

2024-2025 Mo, K.H. (PI) & Jian, Y.I., Preparing for an Inclusive Future: An Age-Responsive Learning Framework for Adapting to Rapid Population Ageing, CUHK Teaching Development and Language Enhancement Grant (TDLEG) (HK$611,895).

2024-2025 Mo, K.H. (PI), Jian, Y.I., Wang, W.X., & Lo, S., Future Imagineer Academy for Re: Tai Kok Tsui (Urban Renewal Fund Project), Hong Kong Arts Centre (HK$520,000).

2023-2024 Mo, K.H. (PI), Building Our Age-friendly Home, CUHK-ASK Social Innovation Grant (HK$200,000).

2023-2024 Mo, K.H. (PL), Ko, R., Sin, H.L., Fan, N. & Mui, S.W., Capacity Building for Happy Ageing Lab Foundation, ZeShan Foundation and Ho Cheung Shuk Yuen Charitable Foundation.

2019-2024 Woo, J., Mo, K.H. (Co-PI) & Ko, R., Study of Residential Design Guide for Healthy Ageing in Hong Kong, Chinachem Group (HK$6,646,375).

2023-2024 Mo, K.H. (PI), Research and Advisory Service for Theme-based Improvement Works in Public Rental Housing Estates, Housing Authority, Hong Kong SAR Government.

2023-2024 Mo, K.H. (PI), Pilot Study of Age-friendly Neighbourhood: Participatory Action Research with Older Adults, Other Age Groups and Professionals in the Private Housing Estate in Hong Kong, Direct Grant for Research, CUHK (HK$100,000).

2023 Mo, K.H. (PI) & Ko, R., Feasibility Study of Senior Living Business Models at the Mount Anderson Development, Chinachem Group.

2022 Mo, K.H. (PI), Fan, N., Mui, S.W., Ko, R. & Sin, H.L., Study of the Implementation of the Intergenerational Residential Development at Yuen Long, Sun Hung Kai Properties.

2022-2023 Mo, K.H. (PI), Impacts of the Design of In-Between Spaces in High- Density Living Environment on Older Adults' Activities and Social Health: a Case Study of Tailor-Designed Elderly Housing Estate in Hong Kong, Direct Grant for Research, CUHK (HK$100,000).

2022-2024 Mo, K.H. (PI), Study of a Neighborhood-scale Assessment Tool for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Residential Housing Projects in Promoting Healthy Ageing in High Density Built-up Area, RGC Research Matching Grant (HK$200,000).

2022-2023 Mo, K.H. (PI), Woo., J., Fan, N., Mui, S.W. & Ko, R., Study of the Implementation of the Intergenerational Housing Model at Hong Kong Housing Society’s Hung Shui Kiu Development, Hong Kong Housing Society.

2021-2022 Mo, K.H. (PI), Woo., J., Fan, N., Mui, S.W. & Ko, R., Study on a Pilot Intergenerational Residential Housing Project at the Hong Kong Housing Society, Hong Kong Housing Society.

2021-2023 Mo, K.H. (PL), Ko, R. & Sin, H.L., Happy Ageing Lab, CUHK Sustainable Knowledge Transfer Project Fund (HK$600,000).

2019-2020 Mo, K.H. (PL), Ko, R. & Sin, H.L., Prototype Study of Empowerment Programme for Promoting Elderly Community Participation in Built Environment Design, Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Fund, Hong Kong SAR Government (HK$200,000).

2020 Mo, K.H. (PL), Ko, R. & Sin, H.L., Urban Design Lab @ Via North Point: Co-creation of Urban Charter for North Point District (Urban Renewal Fund Project), Hong Kong Arts Centre (HK$85,000).

Research Projects/Grants– Co-I/Co-L

2024-2025 Chen, W.X., Mo, K.H. (Co-I), & Ye, C.D., Impact of In-between Space Regeneration on Older Adults’ Activities in High-Density Neighbourhoods: Evidence from Shui Pin Wai Estate in Hong Kong, CUHK IdeaBooster Fund (HK$100,000).

2026-2027 Jian, Y.I. (PI), Mo, K.H., & Chen, W.X., Reimagining Landscapes of Care: A Stakeholder-Driven Framework for Equitable Planning in Hong Kong, Dean’s Research Fund, EdUHK (HK$150,000).

2025-2027 Jian, Y.I. & Mo, K.H. (Co-I), Age-friendly Playful Environments in Hong Kong’s Public Housing Estates: A Student-Senior Collaborative Research, EdUHK Faculty Funding Support for SDG initiatives (HK$150,000).

2025-2027 He, S.Y., Luo, S., Mo, K.H. (Co-I), Zheng, Q., Liu, F., Qin, H. & Ma, J., Building a Collaborative Hub for Advancing Urban AI Education at CUHK and CUHK (Shenzhen), “1+1+1” Joint Collaboration Fund (HK$300,000 and RM$ 300,000).

2024-2025 Jian, Y.I. & Mo, K.H. (Co-I), Ageing Playfully: Public Spaces, Playfulness, and Well-being for Older Adults in Densely Populated Cities, EdUHK Start-up Research Fund (HK$150,000).

2022-2023 Ameijde, J., Mo, K.H. (Co-I) & Tieben, H., Data-Driven Urban Studies – Advanced Techniques for Analysing Complex Urban Data and Processes, CUHK TDLEG (HK$495,600).

2021-2023 He, S.Y., Kwan, M.P., Mo, K.H. (Co-I), & Cheung, Y., Enabling a healthy ageing city: Built environment, out-of-home activities, and well-being of older people in Hong Kong, CUHK Social Science Research Impact Fund (HK$500,000).

2021-2023 He, S.Y. & Mo, K.H. (Co-I), Developing a Virtual Field Trip with Modules and Mixed Reality Technologies to Complement a Physical Field Trip, CUHK Funding Scheme for Virtual Teaching and Learning (HK$300,000).

2021-2023 Woo, J., Yu, R. & Mo, K.H. (Co-L), Healthy Ageing x Ageing in Place, CUHK Knowledge Transfer Project Fund (HK$400,000).

2021-2022 Ameijde, J., Mo, K.H. (Co-I) & Tieben, H., Data-Driven Urban Studies - A Computational Toolkit for Analysing Complex Urban Data and Processes, CUHK TDLEG (HK$333,000).

2020-2021 Ng, M.K., Tieben, H., He, S.Y., Mo, K.H. (Co-L) & Li, V., Sustainable Communities Lab for People's Multifaceted Well-being, CUHK Knowledge Transfer Project Fund (SIE-Fund) (HK$400,000).

2019-2021 Woo., J., Mo, K.H. (Co-L), & Ng, M.K., Nutcrackers: Empowerment Research Project Fostering Elderly Well-being in Built Environment in Hong Kong, CUHK Knowledge Transfer Project Fund (SIE-Fund) (HK$400,000).

2018-2020 Ng, M.K., Lee, J., Li, V., Shen, J., Tieben, H., Mo, K.H. (Co-I) & Wu, K.M., A Multi-dimensional ‘Point-Line-Plane’ Approach to Industrial Heritage Conservation in Hong Kong: A Case Study of Ma On Shan (MOS) Iron Mine, Built Heritage Conservation Fund, Development Bureau (HK$2,000,000).

PhD Students

Li Junwei (Graduated; https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8548-7767)

Lei Danyang (PhD Candidate, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4735-5493)

Gong Yidan (PhD Candidate)

Peng Sining Emma (Pre-candidacy, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2899-5962)

Liang Wanying (Pre-candidacy)

Honours and Recognitions

2025 Finalist, HKIA Special Award (Research & Publication) (as Co-PI)

2025 Finalist, “Community-Making Award” in the 3^rd City for Humanity Awards, Lifeweek (as PI)

2025 Champion - Age Friendly Community, Smart Ageing Award 2025, Golden Ageing Foundation (Individual Award)

2025 Champion - Golden Age Marketing Strategy Award (SME), Smart Ageing Award 2025, Golden Age Foundation (Organisation as Chairperson)

2025 Second Place Paper Award for Junior Scholars, The Urban China Research Network (UCRN) Conference (as Co-Author)

2024-25 Exemplary Teaching Award in Service-Learning 2024-25, Chung Chi College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

2024 Winner, Innovation of the Year in the Category “Active Ageing Community Programme” in the 12th Asia Pacific Eldercare Innovation Awards in the World Ageing Festival 2024 (as PI)

2024 Winner, Promising Practices Awards 2024, Mather Institute (as PI)

2022 Merit Awardee, Hong Kong Institute of Planners Award (as Co-I)

2019-20 Awardee, The Silver Innovators Competition, The Hong Kong Council of Social Service (as PI)

2012-16 Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong