Grace K.L. Lee

Evaluation of the urban renewal projects in social dimensions

Purpose – The paper is a follow‐up to previous studies conducted by the authors. It aims to develop a set of valid and reliable performance indicators for evaluating the social wellbeing of the urban renewal projects carried out in Hong Kong.Design/methodology/approach – Before identification of the appropriate indicators, the paper briefly introduces the most critical socially sustainable factors that should be considered when planning an urban renewal project. Afterwards, it highlights the criteria for the selection of indicators, and develops appropriate indicators and a corresponding point scoring system for six major social design criteria through a comprehensive literature review and with the help of a number of experts from industry and academia.Findings – By developing relevant indicators, the concerned parties can easily identify whether a renewal project meets pre‐determined planning initiatives and social objectives. Once deficiencies are noted, relevant parties can take immediate action to rec...

Universal design for people with disabilities: A study of access provisions in public housing estates

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the major pieces of statutory control regulating unobstructed access. In order to ensure that all residents including those with disabilities can access places that the public is entitled or allowed to enter or to use, adequate provision of unobstructed access is required.Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive literature review is conducted to identify whether there is room for improvement in the building laws regulating access for people with disabilities (PWDs), in order to achieve universal access design. In order to ascertain that the universal access design is achieved in public housing estates, a set of checklists are prepared and a number of checkwalks are conducted. After completion of the on‐site survey, data analysis is adopted and the results are summarized for future reference.Findings – This study presents the result of a meaningful and beneficial study which has investigated the accessibility of PWDs in public housing estates serving th...

A sustainability evaluation of government‐led urban renewal projects

Purpose – This study is founded on an assessment model derived by the authors in previous studies. It aims to identify the applicability of the model by using it to assess the urban design aspects of two local urban renewal projects against a set of pre‐determined performance indicators.Design/methodology/approach – First of all, a brief on the details of the assessment model is provided. Then, this study introduces how case study can evaluate the effectiveness of the model in assessing the government‐led urban renewal projects in the real world. Afterwards, it identifies the way of selecting appropriate urban renewal projects for the case study, sets out the process of the assessment, and highlights the assessment results and its implication.Findings – The case study conducted here has proved that the assessment model is able to produce reliable and valid assessment results for evaluation of the sustainability performance of local urban renewal projects. In addition to the assessment of the overall perfo...

Indicators for evaluating environmental performance of the Hong Kong urban renewal projects

Purpose – This study is a follow‐up to the previous studies undertaken by the authors. The paper aims to develop a set of valid and reliable performance indicators to evaluate the environmental quality of a project in order to minimise the adverse impacts of urban renewal projects on the environment.Design/methodology/approach – First, a brief introduction to the most critical environmentally sustainable factors that should be considered when planning an urban renewal project is provided. Then this study identifies criteria for the selection of indicators, and develops appropriate indicators and a corresponding points‐scoring system for six major environmental design criteria through a comprehensive literature review and with the help of a number of experts from industry and academia.Findings – This study proposes a set of environmental performance indicators and a corresponding points‐scoring system for the assessment model derived in a previous study. A total of 12 indicators have been developed for six...

Applicability in Hong Kong of London's experiences on urban redevelopment practices

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to: study reviews of the urban renewal practices in Hong Kong and London; compare the perceptions of the design professions in both cities on the importance of different urban design considerations when defining urban renewal strategies; and verify the applicability of Londons experiences in achieving sustainable urban renewal in Hong Kong.Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive literature review was conducted to compare the urban renewal practices in Hong Kong and London. Questionnaires were sent to design professions in both cities who were actively involved in Hong Kongs and Londons urban (re)development projects. ANOVA was adopted to compare the perception patterns in both cities.Findings – The survey and ANOVA analysis revealed that the urban design considerations short‐listed for this study could contribute towards the sustainability of economy, environment and social equity. It was noted that the distinctive features of cities of various locations do have...

A review of refuse collection systems in high‐rise housings in Hong Kong

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the current refuse collection systems available in major conurbations such as Hong Kong and to explore better solutions to alleviate the negative impacts of local domestic waste treatment.Design/methodology/approach – This paper first reviews and evaluates current refuse collection methods in Hong Kong. Second, the social acceptability and financial viability of these alternative systems are investigated by means of a questionnaire survey. After analyzing the data, guiding solutions for local domestic waste treatment are developed.Findings – The literature has shown the characteristics, the strength and the weakness of refuse collection systems commonly found in major conurbations. The questionnaire survey indicated that Hong Kong citizens supported or preferred an automated refuse collection system that could treat the refuse in a more hygienic way. Though the occupants were willing to make some financial contributions, they were unwilling to pay the amoun...

Statutory control of indoor natural ventilation concerning radon level and health

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to review the regulatory framework for natural ventilation design affecting the health of residents, to identify the relationship between the main components of the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and current building designs, and to propose improvements to the design standards or guidelines especially for those related to natural ventilation controls.Design/methodology/approach – Building designs can influence the IEQ and therefore, legislation regulating such designs should be reviewed beforehand. Afterwards, site measurements to vacant residential building blocks on two different sites are carried out to collect radon levels contained in the air within the buildings. The major purpose of this measurement is to find out the relationship between radon concentration and residential building designs.Findings – It is found that there is room for improvement in the building laws in Hong Kong regulating building designs which affect natural ventilation and IEQ.Orig...