So Uk Estate

So Uk Estate
So Uk Estate Cedar House & Maple House
So Uk Estate abandoned Gas Station
So Uk Estate Access
So Uk Estate Open Space
So Uk Estate Mosaic Map

So Uk Estate (Chinese: 蘇屋邨) is an early public housing estate in So Uk, a hillside area of Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The estate is now undergoing redevelopment, and new housing blocks are being built in place of the ones demolished.

History

First generation

The estate was built on the site of squatter areas which were demolished for the construction of the estate of 16 blocks from 1955–1963.[1] The blocks were called "Houses" and named after varieties of flowers. Unlike many highly standardised public housing estates built afterward, the architectural design of the estate was unique in Hong Kong. There were 5,316 flats in the original estate, with areas ranging from 19.5 to 49.1m2, with capacity of 15,200.[2]

Planning of the estate was carried out by Eric Cumine, with buildings designed by Luke Him Sau, Chau & Lee and Leigh & Orange.[3]

The estate was the home of many famous individuals during their youth in Hong Kong, for example, Sam Hui and his brothers, Wong Ka Kui and his brother in the band Beyond, and many others.

Second generation

By 2008, after 48 years, the estate was still in good condition but its estimated high maintenance cost made the Hong Kong Housing Authority decide to demolish the six blocks in March 2012 . The Authority will compensate residents and aid in their move. It has also allowed residents the option of moving into Un Chau Estate Phases 2, 4, and 5 in Sham Shui Po.[4]

A foundation titled, "Farewell So Uk" was established as a historical archive for the Estate and to document its history of its residents. It was sponsored by the Salvation Army of Hong Kong and the Salisbury YMCA.

As of 2015, construction of the new So Uk Estate is well underway. The new estate will comprise 14 blocks ranging from 21 to 41 storeys high with nearly 7,000 flats.[5] The Housing Department won a Merit Award from the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design in 2014 for their community-minded redevelopment approach.[6]

The first phase of the redevelopment was completed in August 2016 and the intake of the first tenants will commence at the end of September 2016.[7]

Blocks

Buildings closed / demolished before 2012

Buildings closed in 2012


New generation

The redeveloped estate will comprise 14 blocks of 21-41 storeys each. The buildings will reuse some of the names of the earlier blocks.

English name Chinese name Building type Floors Phase Completion
Orchid House (Block 1) 蘭花樓 Non-standard block（L-type） 23 1 2016
Marigold House (Block 2) 壽菊樓 Non-standard block（Z-type） 23
Peony House (Block 3) 牡丹樓 22
Cedar House (Block 4) 金松樓 Non-standard block (L-type) 29
Willow House (Block 5) 綠柳樓 29
Cherry House (Block 6) 櫻桃樓 25
Amenity and Community Building 7
Camellia House (Block 14) 茶花樓 Non-standard block 2017/2018
Lotus House (Block 7) 荷花樓 2 2018/2019
Lily House (Block 8) 百合樓
Larkspur House (Block 9) 彩雀樓
Gladiolus House (Block 11A) 劍蘭樓
Carnation House (Block 11B) 石竹樓
Azalea House (Block 12) 杜鵑樓
Begonia House (Block 13) 海棠樓
Commercial centre 2

Transport

The estate is adjacent to the So Uk Bus Terminus, which has remained open throughout redevelopment of the estate. It is served by several Kowloon Motor Bus routes.

So Uk Estate is also within walking distance of Cheung Sha Wan Station of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR).

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Historical Background of So Uk Estate". Hong Kong Housing Authority. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Hong Kong Housing Authority. "So Uk Estate Property Location and Profile". Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  3. ↑ Charlie Qiuli Xue (13 June 2016). Hong Kong Architecture 1945-2015: From Colonial to Global. Springer. pp. 318–. ISBN 978-981-10-1004-0.
  4. ↑ "Memorandum for the Subsidised Housing Committee, Ex-gratia Allowance for Tenants Affected by Housing Authority’s Clearance Programmes Outside the Comprehensive Redevelopment Programme and Re-housed to Public Rental Housing Flats Without Metal Gatesets" (PDF) (Press release). Hong Kong Housing Authority. 2007-08-06. Retrieved 2007-10-27.
  5. ↑ "STH visits So Uk Estate redevelopment site and Hoi Lai Estate (with photos)". Government of Hong Kong. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "HKIUD Urban Design Awards". Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design. 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  7. ↑ "Completion of first phase of So Uk Estate redevelopment (with photos)". Hong Kong Government. 31 August 2016.

Coordinates: 22°20′32″N 114°09′25″E / 22.34222°N 114.15694°E / 22.34222; 114.15694

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