DENSIFICATION

“There is a myth that high population density is undesirable and often associated with social pathologies and problems. However, only studies on animals have proven this association. There is little correlation between density and social pathology – deviant behaviour, crime, and suicide – when other socioeconomic variables are considered. There are many factors affecting social pathology in which density is just one. Other factors such as socioeconomic background, educational background and the health of individuals are more important variables than density in explaining social pathology.” - Anthony G. O. Yeh [Urban Age]

This project investigates Hong Kong and how it portrays the high-density characteristics of the housing units and how the architecture allows the city to flow within the mountains allowing traffic and pedestrians to traverse the mountains as well as the city.

“The negative effects of density can be mitigated by the design, layout, open spaces, traffic, and community facilities of both external and personal spaces. For external space, with a fixed density, people will have a sensation of less crowdedness if there is more open space, less traffic congestion, and more community facilities.”

The exhibition model can be interpreted in many ways: how we as humans relate space with form and design the same way the palm of the hand is used to represent so much more. One main aspect that is portrayed are the residential buildings that relate most to Hong Kong’s architecture in the form of densification. Hong Kong demonstrates how a large population can be accommodated in a small area (palm of the hand) without impairing quality of life.