Hong Kong must balance profit with open space for public
It is not unusual to see modern buildings demolished and rebuilt to make better use of space, or to fetch more profits. While such decisions are to be respected in a business society, they sometimes are a loss to neighbourhoods, especially when the area holds a special place in people's hearts.
Hong Kong is known for its relentless pace of development. Our appetite for bigger and better means office and residential blocks in use for a short period of time may quickly be deemed old or out of fashion. It is not unusual to see modern buildings demolished and rebuilt to make better use of space, or to fetch more profits. While such decisions are to be respected in a business society, they sometimes are a loss to neighbourhoods, especially when the area holds a special place in people's hearts.
Last month, remaining tenants of Sunning Plaza in Causeway Bay bade farewell to the site after more than a decade. Designed by architect I. M. Pei, the 31-year-old complex featured a lovely open piazza with palm trees, a bar-restaurant and a cake shop. The tranquil ambience made it an ideal place for office workers and shoppers to chill out and provided a backdrop for numerous movies over the years.
Hysan Development will build a new mixed-use office and retail complex on the site by 2018. Whether there will be as much space for public enjoyment is not known. What is clear is that the gross floor area is expanding by about a quarter to create offices for businesses moving out of Central.
That the city may lose another rare urban oasis is disheartening. It underlines the challenge in balancing commercial gains and public use of open space. The shortage of land and the pressure to maximise returns mean even buildings with a big name and in perfect condition cannot escape the wrecking ball. Sunning Plaza was one of the few that did not use its plot ratio to the fullest when built in the 1980s. That allowed the welcoming open space for public use for more than three decades. But in the money-minded business world, every inch of space counts. When the site is up for development again, it is only natural that its potential will be maximised.
The success of Sunning Plaza shows that open space has an appeal to customers. It, therefore, pays when it is provided by businesses as the norm rather than an exception.