Building Hong Kong: Environmental Considerations

14. Building Control To Enhance The Environment

04 Building ControlTo Enhance The Environment Wong Wah Sang I INTRODUCTIO N Le Corbusie r (1927 ) advocate d regulatin g line s i n architectur e t o serv e 't o make very beautiful things' . An orderly control is important, but now building regulations in Hong Kong as the prime legislative control have no such equal intent. Greenstreet (1996) investigated building codes in the United States and found tha t statutory control added heavy responsibilities on to designers and tended t o discourag e innovativ e design s fo r buildings. Though al l societie s exert control to attain standards for the common good, excessive sophistication often become s heavy legislative obstacles to achieving innovative designs . As stated by Alan Downward (1992), building control was developed fro m concerns rangin g fro m fea r o f fire to the health o f occupants . I n the UK, concern wa s from poo r sanitatio n an d drainage t o provisio n o f air space s around buildings. The development has been still under British standards for 312 1 W.S.Won g health, safety and quality. In Hong Kong, the urban context is characteristic of a high-densit y fabri c wher e people ar e alway s competin g fo r spac e to buil d different physica l forms to accommodate various activities in order to sustain the city. Anson Cha n (1999) , the Chie f Secretar y fo r Administration , state d tha t the 'challeng e i s to provid e saf e an d well-manage d accommodatio n fo r ou r community in a very crowded environment! Architects and related professionals as wel l a s propert y developer s generall y follo w th e government' s rule s fo r design an d developmen t o f th e buil t environment . Occasionally , som e modifications ar e allowed, provided tha t they do not contraven e the genera l provisions contained in the Building Code. However, as society progresses, the underlying principles behind the Code have to be adjusted to aim at a sustainable environment. In view of the above, it is the objective of this chapter to explore and discus s deficiencies i n the present system of building contro l in order to make positiv e suggestion s fo r improvemen t o r alteration s t o cop e wit h th e advancement o f the modern metropolis of Hong Kong. I BACKGROUN D O F RESEARCH Buildings i n Hong Kong usually confor m t o the provisions o f the Building s Ordinance and Regulations, reflecting a physical interpretation of the Code on the external facade . The Code in Hong Kong concentrates o n density, safety , health and environment as well as other allied legislation. As stated by Gordon Siu (1999) , the Secretar y fo r Planning , Environmen t an d Lands , 'on e o f th e Government's principal policy objectives i s to ensure that buildings in Hon g Kong ar e functionall y designed , ar e environmentall y friendl y an d ar e safe ! Each of these aspects is addressed by various Building Regulations or Codes of Practice t o affec t bot h th e interna l environmen t an d externa l expressio n o f buildings. Due to the high property prices in Hong Kong, these regulations are often exploite d directl y o r indirectl y t o achiev e maximu m developmen t potential. I n suc h desig n process , othe r architectura l issues , suc h a s environmental concern , cultura l expression , sit e context , an d othe r creativ e and innovative ideas, may become factors o f secondary importance . In lin e wit h this , Lun g (1998 ) commente d tha t Hon g Kon g ha d bee n developing with 'borrowed time' and a 'borrowed place'. People worked mainly out of greed and self-profit . However , new aspects of development migh t b e opened up after the return of sovereignty of Hong Kong to China in 1997 . Not mentioned by Lung was the possibility of improving building control to cater for cultural vibrancy as well as environmental consciousness . Building Control To Enhance The Environment 131 3 Hall (1996 ) state d that people were concerned abou t the qualit y...