designinghongkong waterfront survey media presentation

A Survey of the Waterfront of Victoria Harbour

Michael Hyde Sean Seymour Dan Tennant Minh Truong

Four Tourists and Hong Kong’s Harbourfront

Eight Weeks on the Waterfront

Getting Lost…

Getting Dangerous!

Confusion…

…and Comedy!

…and Comedy!

Good

Adequate

Substandard

Not Rated

Survey Overview

What We Rated: Access

• Signs?

• Safe sidewalks and crosswalks?

• Handicap-accessible?

• Short and direct?

What We Rated: Activity

• Are people doing things on the waterfront?

• Variety?

• Prohibited activities?

• Nearby venues?

What We Rated: Quality

• Clean and well-kept?

• Attractive walkways and railings?

• Greenery?

What We Rated: Popularity

• How many people are on the waterfront?

• Are they staying awhile, or moving on?

Our Rating System

--

Excellent

Okay

Poor

Bad / None

Understanding the Maps

Promenades

Public Transportation

Accessibility – Good

Accessibility – Adequate

Accessibility – Substandard

Alternate Routes

Kowloon Promenades

Tsing YiAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

Tsuen WanAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

• Promenade clean but empty and under construction

• MTR station close by, but no major attractions

• Promenade lightly busy, most visitors passing through, no activity

Tsuen Wan

Cheung Sha WanAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

--

--

--

Tai Kok TsuiAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

--

West Kowloon Cultural DistrictAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

• Large, beautiful, well- maintained promenade

• Inconsistent signage on access routes, and then only from the MTR station

• Promenade mostly empty during the week

West Kowloon Cultural District

Tsim Sha Tsui

Tsim Sha TsuiAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

• Excellent promenade, best waterfront in HK

• Access under / over the Salisbury Road barrier can be very confusing

• Promenade constantly busy with tourists and photographers

Tsim Sha Tsui

Hung HomAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

• Several beautiful promenades, but they are disconnected and hard to get to

• Much of waterfront is fenced off and vacant

• Little to do in area, very few visitors

Hung Hom

Kwun TongAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

--

--

--

Lei Yue MunAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

• Small promenade, good as a cultural attraction, not for leisure

• Seafood market and viewing area only moderately busy

• Access route has few signs, unsafe crossings

Lei Yue Mun

Hong Kong Island Promenades

Shau Kei WanAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

• Attractive promenade & park

• Straightforward routes with zebra crossings

• Few people except for restaurants at end

Shau Kei Wan

Quarry Bay

Quarry BayAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

• Beautiful park and view

• Long, confusing access

• Several people exercising, fishing

Quarry Bay

North PointAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

--

--

--

• Little waterfront to enjoy

• Very close to MTR

• Unused except for ferry transportation

Causeway BayAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

• Mix between attractive promenade and concrete walkway

• Extremely out of the way, difficult to access

• People only come to the Noon Day Gun

Causeway Bay

Wan Chai

Wan ChaiAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

• Excellent promenades, poor access in between

• Best access is through buildings

• Popular monuments, sight-seeing, and dog- walking

Wan Chai

Central

CentralAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

Sheung WanAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

--

Kennedy TownAccess:

Activity:

Quality:

Popularity:

• Promenades are very short and of poor quality

• Access only by bus or tram, no nearby MTR station

• Only a few residents take advantage of the small waterfront access

Good

Adequate

Substandard

Not Rated

The Results

Instead of many different signs…

…create Universal Signage

Attract more people…

…by adding Everyday Necessities

Turn ugly waterfronts…

…into Beautiful Promenades

Connect promenades together…

Connect promenades together…

..to avoid Obtrusive Barriers

And use maps to get the word out…

…about Victoria Harbour’s Waterfront

Our sincere thanks to…

Paul Zimmermanand Designing Hong Kong, Ltd.

Ciara Shannonand the Harbour Business Forum

Professor Poon, Chung Ling In Kirby,and Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Professors Kevin Clements & Paul Davisand Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Questions?