Editors’ Choice

2023 Skyscraper Competition
Ho Sze Yin

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a densely populated city. As of 2023, the population density of Hong Kong has amounted to 110.98 times more than that of the world?s average. Moreover, its total population is forecasted to increase by 7% to 8.1 million by the year of 2030. However, most of the developable lands are already urbanized. Therefore, land supply shortage for new development has become a major problem.
In response, the HKSAR government has put-forth the proposal of a Northern Metropolis Development Strategies (NMDS) as part of the 2030+ Development Plan. It explores the possibility in acquiring additional land for housing in the Northern New Territories, where these lands mainly consisted of natural reserves, fish ponds, farmlands and small indigenous villages. It is important that while developing these rural villages, the natural and environmental conservations, and the preservation/ integration of the qualities of village life could be thoroughly addressed. The new tower development in these rural villages faces two main challenges:
1. The negotiation between high-density housing and the conservation of natural ecology;

2. The integration of ?village qualities? with communal and environmental responsiveness within the tower.
As a result, Tower Village is proposed for redeveloping rural villages in response to the 2030+ Development Plan.
Process – Tower Vs. Village
As outlined in the NMDS, the area of ...