Shared facilities eyed for space-starved Hong Kong residents in redevelopment projects
Urban Renewal Authority is examining feasibility of providing community storage spaces and laundry rooms so residents can enjoy more space at home
The Urban Renewal Authority is studying the feasibility of installing more shared facilities in buildings it redevelops as a way to free up space in small flats.
The facilities include “community storage spaces” on podiums and in basements to keep items that are not frequently used, and laundry rooms so residents do not need washing machines, the authority’s managing director, Wai Chi-sing, wrote in his online blog on Sunday.
Micro-flats are becoming more popular in the city. The number of private units under 215 sq ft rose 154 per cent to 206 last year from 2013.
“Given the reality that living spaces are becoming smaller, my team and I have been thinking about how to utilise the limited space with innovative designs and to add new elements to our redevelopment projects,” Wai wrote.
My team and I have been thinking about how to utilise the limited space with innovative designs
He said some sites acquired by the authority were not big enough for large-scale development, with restrictive plot ratios at some allowing the construction of only a single block.