藝評
At a Critical Juncture (關鍵時刻)
約翰百德 (John BATTEN)
at 4:07pm on 14th October 2011
Captions:
1. Hong Kong's public viewing a model of the West Kowloon Cultural District.
2.-5. Layout and side views of cultural and infrastructure (parking, restaurants etc) facilities at the WKCD.
© Photo Courtesy: John Batten
The master plan for the West Kowloon Cultural District will be on public display at the Heritage Centre in Kowloon Park and public comments can be made until 30 October 2011. Also see: http://www.wkcda.hk/pe3/en/background/index.html
(Please scroll down to read the Chinese version.)
At a Critical Juncture
by John Batten
STANDFIRST: There’s light at the end of the WKCD tunnel, but now, perhaps more than at any other time, the authorities absolutely must get it right
The final round of public consultations on the project design of Hong Kong’s ambitious West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) were held in October and, after almost ten years of flawed and indecisive government decision-making, the Town Planning Board will soon consider the planning application that, when passed, will finally grant the project’s go-ahead.
Compared to Hong Kong’s other large infrastructure and construction projects, the WKCD has seen, since the scrapping of the original developer-led-and-funded construction model, an unprecedented amount of public consultation, community interest and media attention in getting the WKCD ‘right’.
In contrast, the statutory process for the construction of new highways, railway lines, heritage building preservation, and urban renewal projects is murky and non-transparent, characterized by closed-door discussions and negotiations between government departments and involved others. Input from the public only happens at the very end of those discussions when a project’s plans finally become publicly available as part of the statutory planning process. Plans presented are, in essence, a fait accompli and the public has little realistic chance of influencing their modification – though, to the gall of those that understand these planning processes, a project’s proponents can greatly alter the look of approved projects during the later “design stage” of a project’s construction life.
It appears that the hiccups (read: mistakes) experienced during the planning of the WKCD over the years, has necessitated the unprecedented involvement of the public in planning discussions. This can only be good. It means that the entire community takes decision-making ownership for the future arts and cultural facilities on the site.
Soon, architects will be invited to propose designs for individual buildings: including the M+ museum, theatres and other facilities. The WKCD Board and management will again be tested and should choose bold architectural designs that have practical and usable interiors. I imagine that public input in these decisions will be minimal, but I believe that a mandate from the public has already, almost, been established and – strange as it may seem – decision-makers will choose good architectural designs. But, if they don’t get it ‘right’ and public questioning continues, it will be tedious and disappointing. They, and we – all of us - must get it right!
This article was first published in Perspective architectural magazine, November 2011. See: http://www.perspectiveglobal.com/
西九龍文化區建議發展圖則在尖沙咀九龍公園香港文物探知館展出，市民可於2011年9月30日至10月30日期間提出意見：http://www.wkcda.hk/pe3/tc/background/index.html
關鍵時刻
by John Batten (約翰百德)
西九龍文化區的發展進程終現曙光，如今當局視「搞好」西九為當務之急。
香港「滿」有抱負的西九龍文化區項目，設計的最終階段公眾諮詢剛於十月舉行。回首過去近十年，政府處理西九項目一直優柔寡斷、錯漏百出；現在，城市規劃委員會議決西九規劃申請在即，方案一經通過，項目便可上馬。
自從由發展商主導且斥資興建的原設計報廢以來，西九項目的歷程便與香港其他大型基建和建築項目大不相同，取得多項「突破」：我們舉行過史無前例地多的公眾諮詢，公眾破天荒地熱切關注西九，而傳媒亦鋪天蓋地緊貼報導，眾志成城要「搞好」西九。
相反，有關興建新高速公路和鐵路、保育歷史建築及市區重建的項目，法定程序卻模糊不清，透明度欠奉，政府部門與相關人士往往都只會開閉門會議 。
只有等到商討接近尾聲，根據法定規劃程序公布項目方案之時，公眾才有機會參與其中。事實上，這些方案公開之時也已成定局，公眾能修正的機會其實微乎其微。但是最令人痛恨的，是那些深諳規劃過程的項目「話事人」竟可在項目建築期間的「設計階段」，大幅度修改已通過的項目的設計。
這些年來，西九的規劃歷經許多名為「小阻滯」卻實為「過失」的風波，無意間促使公眾能前所未有地參與規劃討論。這事是值得高興的，代表整個社會都有份決定西九這片土地將來要興建甚麼藝術與文化設施。
不久的將來，建築師便會獲邀為西九的各建築物擬議設計，包括M+博物館、劇院和其他設施。西九文化區管理局會再次面臨考驗：是否應當揀選室內佈局實際可行的大膽建築設計？可想而知屆時公眾意見對決策不會有多大的影響，不過我深信那時候公眾監察已經或幾近成熟，而雖然聽來奇怪，我卻相信決策者會挑選優秀的建築設計。
但是，若果他們還不能「搞好」西九，公眾質詢持續，就未免太冗長乏味、讓人大失所望。無論是他們還是我們，人人都要齊心「搞好」西九！
原文刊於《Perspective》2011年11月 http://www.perspectiveglobal.com/
1. Hong Kong's public viewing a model of the West Kowloon Cultural District.
2.-5. Layout and side views of cultural and infrastructure (parking, restaurants etc) facilities at the WKCD.
© Photo Courtesy: John Batten
The master plan for the West Kowloon Cultural District will be on public display at the Heritage Centre in Kowloon Park and public comments can be made until 30 October 2011. Also see: http://www.wkcda.hk/pe3/en/background/index.html
(Please scroll down to read the Chinese version.)
At a Critical Juncture
by John Batten
STANDFIRST: There’s light at the end of the WKCD tunnel, but now, perhaps more than at any other time, the authorities absolutely must get it right
The final round of public consultations on the project design of Hong Kong’s ambitious West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) were held in October and, after almost ten years of flawed and indecisive government decision-making, the Town Planning Board will soon consider the planning application that, when passed, will finally grant the project’s go-ahead.
Compared to Hong Kong’s other large infrastructure and construction projects, the WKCD has seen, since the scrapping of the original developer-led-and-funded construction model, an unprecedented amount of public consultation, community interest and media attention in getting the WKCD ‘right’.
In contrast, the statutory process for the construction of new highways, railway lines, heritage building preservation, and urban renewal projects is murky and non-transparent, characterized by closed-door discussions and negotiations between government departments and involved others. Input from the public only happens at the very end of those discussions when a project’s plans finally become publicly available as part of the statutory planning process. Plans presented are, in essence, a fait accompli and the public has little realistic chance of influencing their modification – though, to the gall of those that understand these planning processes, a project’s proponents can greatly alter the look of approved projects during the later “design stage” of a project’s construction life.
It appears that the hiccups (read: mistakes) experienced during the planning of the WKCD over the years, has necessitated the unprecedented involvement of the public in planning discussions. This can only be good. It means that the entire community takes decision-making ownership for the future arts and cultural facilities on the site.
Soon, architects will be invited to propose designs for individual buildings: including the M+ museum, theatres and other facilities. The WKCD Board and management will again be tested and should choose bold architectural designs that have practical and usable interiors. I imagine that public input in these decisions will be minimal, but I believe that a mandate from the public has already, almost, been established and – strange as it may seem – decision-makers will choose good architectural designs. But, if they don’t get it ‘right’ and public questioning continues, it will be tedious and disappointing. They, and we – all of us - must get it right!
This article was first published in Perspective architectural magazine, November 2011. See: http://www.perspectiveglobal.com/
西九龍文化區建議發展圖則在尖沙咀九龍公園香港文物探知館展出，市民可於2011年9月30日至10月30日期間提出意見：http://www.wkcda.hk/pe3/tc/background/index.html
關鍵時刻
by John Batten (約翰百德)
西九龍文化區的發展進程終現曙光，如今當局視「搞好」西九為當務之急。
香港「滿」有抱負的西九龍文化區項目，設計的最終階段公眾諮詢剛於十月舉行。回首過去近十年，政府處理西九項目一直優柔寡斷、錯漏百出；現在，城市規劃委員會議決西九規劃申請在即，方案一經通過，項目便可上馬。
自從由發展商主導且斥資興建的原設計報廢以來，西九項目的歷程便與香港其他大型基建和建築項目大不相同，取得多項「突破」：我們舉行過史無前例地多的公眾諮詢，公眾破天荒地熱切關注西九，而傳媒亦鋪天蓋地緊貼報導，眾志成城要「搞好」西九。
相反，有關興建新高速公路和鐵路、保育歷史建築及市區重建的項目，法定程序卻模糊不清，透明度欠奉，政府部門與相關人士往往都只會開閉門會議 。
只有等到商討接近尾聲，根據法定規劃程序公布項目方案之時，公眾才有機會參與其中。事實上，這些方案公開之時也已成定局，公眾能修正的機會其實微乎其微。但是最令人痛恨的，是那些深諳規劃過程的項目「話事人」竟可在項目建築期間的「設計階段」，大幅度修改已通過的項目的設計。
這些年來，西九的規劃歷經許多名為「小阻滯」卻實為「過失」的風波，無意間促使公眾能前所未有地參與規劃討論。這事是值得高興的，代表整個社會都有份決定西九這片土地將來要興建甚麼藝術與文化設施。
不久的將來，建築師便會獲邀為西九的各建築物擬議設計，包括M+博物館、劇院和其他設施。西九文化區管理局會再次面臨考驗：是否應當揀選室內佈局實際可行的大膽建築設計？可想而知屆時公眾意見對決策不會有多大的影響，不過我深信那時候公眾監察已經或幾近成熟，而雖然聽來奇怪，我卻相信決策者會挑選優秀的建築設計。
但是，若果他們還不能「搞好」西九，公眾質詢持續，就未免太冗長乏味、讓人大失所望。無論是他們還是我們，人人都要齊心「搞好」西九！
原文刊於《Perspective》2011年11月 http://www.perspectiveglobal.com/
|
|
|
|
|
|