This course is in collaboration with Hong Kong NGO "SoCO" specialize in helping low income family. The result of this project lead to a furniture upgrade project for the families with funding supported by The South China Morning Post.
In recent years, the phenomenon of subdivided units [tong fong 劏房] has emerged in Hong Kong as a result of continuous high rent and an increasing group of low income people who are not eligible to apply for public housing. By having their specific physical, social and legal characteristic, these subdivided units has become the informal living solutions and it represents various invisible social layers in Hong Kong. This course emphasis the ground approach which is through direct contact and interview with the households. Students will document both the physical and the social form of these living environments and will be asked to provide their own reflection on any possible solution or intervention.
This course has enabled students to gather firsthand experience in the living condition of these two realities in Hong Kong which have been forgotten. Through in-depth documentation, and investigation from the perspective of the users, together with looking into the current policy, this has allowed students to formulate their own standpoint on this current affair both as an architect and a citizen.
