Approaches to Keep Hong Kong’s Shek Kip Mei Park Fountain Virtually Alive

A unique piece of architecture is located within Hong Kong’s Shek Kip Mei Park: a fountain with an artificial waterfall. Obviously, its æsthetic links to a past in which a style of futuristic architecture was anticipated, when completed in 1980. Pastel pink and light blue tiles enhance the construction, expanding over three storeys. Residents of the nearby estates feel well connected to this environment as it provides shelter for rain and sun during their physical exercise and some have fond memories as they spend their art lessons drawing the waterfall on paper. Now, as time has passed, the waterworks are not active any longer, the tiles fall apart and new plans are made for this area. Like the destiny of most inconspicuous urban furniture, they might only be remembered on some family photographs after they are revamped or removed. Therefore, we are currently exploring methods to create a digital twin of the environment. The challenge lies in capturing the expansive dimensions accurately. This paper outlines our approach—from data acquisition and 3D reconstruction to crafting a Virtual Reality experience. Considerations such as lidar scanning and Gaussian Splatting are explored, presenting a holistic strategy to conserve the fountain’s essence. Through these endeavours, we aim to safeguard the legacy of this architectural gem, ensuring its timeless presence in the digital realm.
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