Landscape – Great Idea! X-LArch III - Department für Raum ...

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Fig. 1: Buiding height profile and ridgeline (adapted and revised from Urban Design Study for the New Central Harbourfront, 2008)
of interviewees wanted to see more greening around the
harbour. Many organizations such as Society for Protection
of the Harbour played an important role in pushing
the government to reduce reclamation. Presently, there
are no plans for reclamation in the future along the Victoria
Harbour except three projects which are already in
progress. These projects can only be conducted because
of significant ‘over riding public needs’.
Victoria Harbour as a valued public heritage can be seen
as a perfect combination of mountain, sea and city. There
are many high-rise and high-density modern skyscrapers
along both shores of the Harbour, in sharp contrast to the
mountains behind them. However, the skyline is in harmony
with the mountains, for the skyline is deliberately
preserved by limiting the height of the high-rise buildings
that are constructed in front of the mountain ranges. This
is the concept of ridgeline protection, which was first
proposed in Metroplan (1991). A 20% to 30% building
free zone below selected sections of ridgelines was recommended,
while at the same time allowing flexibility for
relaxation on individual merits and for special landmark
buildings to give punctuation effects at suitable locations.
In addition, the control of building height and building
design will avoid potential “wall effect”, enhance vista and
improve ventilation.
Experiencing Hong Kong’s Landscapes
Mapping Hong Kong’s landscapes
In order to gain a better understanding of the existing
landscape condition of Hong Kong, a comprehensive
landscape assessment entitled “Landscape Value Mapping
of Hong Kong” was conducted from 2001 to 2005.
The report (2005) examined 943 landscape character
areas from a whole-of-territory scale showing that 83% of
Hong Kong’s landscapes are rated as highly valued areas.
The outcomes of the study include a Landscape Character
Map with a significant database which will provide
essential references and will function as a key instrument
for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment. This can
work in association with the Environmental Impact Assessment
Ordinance to control future developments.
Greening the city
Apart from vast well-protected areas in the rural areas,
the government devoted more effort to promote greening
in the urban context. The old and cramped city
form gives many challenges and constraints to greening
works, such as insufficient space, bad soil condition etc.
To overcome these problems and to uplift the quality of
the living environment, the government set out a series
of greening policies and measures to guide and create
more greenery for the city. For example, chapters 4, 10
and 11 of Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines
provide holistic principles and insights on open space,
greening, conservation, landscape and urban design.
In addition, many government departments carried out
more specific studies and practices on greening works at
different levels and scales.
Since 2004, Hong Kong Civil Engineering and Development
Department (2008) started to develop Greening
Master Plans (GMPs) for urban areas. The Plans aim
to define the overall greening framework by identifying
Fig. 2: Broad Landscape Character Types [1]
(adapted and simplified from Landscape
Value Mapping of Hong Kong, 2005)
Papers