城境: 香港建築 1946-2011

Hong Kong was the last British colony. During the decades after WWII, the people in Hong Kong strived to create a lively and energetic international metropolis in Asia. The dense port city set an example for Greater China, Asia and the world. Contextualizing Modernity: Hong Kong Architecture 1946-2011 focuses on the transformation from colonial to global – the formation, mechanism, events, works and people related to urban architecture. The book reveals hardships the city encountered in the 1950s and the glamour enjoyed in the 1980s. It depicts the public and private developments, and especially the public housing which has sheltered millions of residents. The author identifies the architects practising in the formative years and the representatives of a rising generation after the 1980s. Suffering from land shortage and a dense environment, the urban development of Hong Kong has in the past 65 years met the changing demands of fluctuating economic activities and a rising population. Architecture on the island has been shaped by social demands, the economy and technology. The buildings have been forged by the government, clients, planners, architects, many contractors and end-users. The built environment nurtures our life and is visual evidence of the way the city has developed. The book is a must-read for a thorough understanding the contemporary history and architecture of this oriental pearl.