The prize presentation ceremony for the Design Ideas Competition of the "Pilot Study on Underground Space Development in Selected Strategic Urban Areas" was held at the City Gallery today (August 16). A roving exhibition showcasing about 30 entries for the proposed planning and design of underground space development at Kowloon Park was also launched.

     Addressing the ceremony, the Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Lam Sai-hung, said he was delighted to see that the entries demonstrated creativity and integrated artistic elements and sustainable development into their design. The design ideas have also outlined the development concept for creating a coherent, connected, high quality and vibrant network of underground space.

     The Director of Planning, Mr Raymond Lee, said at the ceremony that the innovative ideas and creative designs from the community would help inspire urban planners to think from a new perspective and find new directions in urban planning. The design concepts of the winning entries would be used as references in enhancing the overall design concepts for future underground space development.

     The panel of judges commended the winning entries for being able to effectively make use of simple and innovative design to integrate underground space with the ground environment, and have at the same time improved pedestrian connectivity and created additional space for the public.

     Jointly organised by the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Planning Department, the Design Ideas Competition of the "Pilot Study on Underground Space Development in Selected Strategic Urban Areas" set Kowloon Park in the Tsim Sha Tsui West Strategic Urban Area as the design framework. The panel of judges consisted of representatives from various professional bodies including the architectural, engineering, surveying, planning, urban design and landscape architecture sectors. For more information about the roving exhibition on the competition entries, please visit www.urbanunderground.gov.hk/DesignComp.php?locale=en.

Ends/Thursday, August 16, 2018
Issued at HKT 18:45

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