Too Close to Life: Understanding Historic Urban Landscape in the case of Graham Street Market, Hong Kong

Ref.: 152
Key theme: 02 Functional integrity of historic urban landscapes
Date of reception: 14/11/2008

AUTHORS (*Main author)

LEUNG, Maggie * (China) - Hong Kong Baptist University
LAW, Katty (China) - Hong Kong Baptist University

ABSTRACT

Taking the demolition of a historic street market, i.e. Graham Street Market, in Hong Kong as an exmple, this paper argues that the essence of the term "Historic Urban Landscape" lays in the idea of "urban", which indicates, first, the intimacy between the landscape and life as it is the major site for life and work, and second, the vulnerability of such landscape as it is too mundane, too close to life that people do not find it "old" or "historical" until it is about to be pull down.

Lying in the middle of the oldest part of Hong Kong, the 140 year- old Graham Street Market has been the favorable living and working space for many. Hawker pitches, low-rises in various styles built in different times as well as the slanting terrain typical in early Hong Kong development comprise the unique historic landscape which cradles diverse life forms and styles.

In late 2007, the government organization Urban Renewal Authority (URA) launched a redevelopment project which aims to transform Graham Street into an "Old Shop Street". More than 30 existing buildings will be demolished except four built before Second World War, and four gigantic towers--two domestic, one hotel and one office--would be erected. On street level, present decades-old shops would be replaced by outlets of well-known brands and several hawker pitches would remain on the street, albeit no longer for the provision of daily necessity. A social movement advocating the preservation of the street market began simultaneously with the launching of this redevelopment project. People from all walks of life endeavor to stop this project and carry on the life of the street market.

The hazard of urban renewal project as such is highlighted by not the demolition of old buildings but the street market : it is the very site for all kinds of everyday activities, trivial yet essential, that keep life going. The "history" concerned in "Historic Urban Landscape" challenges and deepens the conventional idea of History : it is about the daily life of laymen, routine that repeats day-by-day and communal practices and sentiments that fasten people to where they live and call "home". In the light of this liberalized "history" , this paper closes with suggestions for the conservation of Historic Urban Landscape.

REFERENCES

DiGregorio, Michael. "Things held in common : Memory, space and the reconstitution of community life". Journal of Southeast Asian Studies. 38(3) : 441-465
Lefebvre, Henri. Translated by John Moore. Critique of Everyday Life. London & New York : Verso, 1991
----. translated by Donald Nichlson-Smith. The Production of Space. Oxford, UK ; Cambridge, USA : Blackwell, 1991
Moran, Joe. "History, Memory and Everyday". Rethinking History. 8(1) : 51-68
----. Reading the Everyday. London ; New York : Routledge: 2005
URA. Master Layout Plan. S.16 Application for Comprehensive Development at Peel Street and Graham Street (H18). 2007