Title

History

Kwun Tong Garden Estate: Beyond Housing Functions

Clara Chan, Vice President of The Hong Kong Institute of Architectural Conservationists

Today, Kwun Tong stands as Kowloon’s largest industrial district, filled with numerous factories and serving as a well-connected commercial and residential hub. However, it would have been challenging for Hong Kong residents 80 years ago, shortly after World War II, to envision the thriving Kwun Tong of today. At the time, districts as Central, Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui on both sides of Victoria Harbour, were already densely populated and bustling. Kwun Tong, on the other hand, remained a remote and desolate bay area in eastern Kowloon, with quarry sites in the northern mountains and scattered villages along the southern coast. Development was limited to landfill areas and stone quarries. 

It wasn’t until 1954 when the government planned and developed Kwun Tong into an industrial area, giving rise to iconic establishments such as the Kowloon Flour Mills and the Crocodile Factory Building that would become crucial drivers for Hong Kong’s post-war economic takeoff. The success of this endeavor can be partly attributed to residential planning in areas behind the concentration of factories, ensuring ample housing for the substantial workforce. As the earliest large-scale low-cost housing constructed specifically for factory workers, “Kwun Tong Garden Estate” emerged as a pioneering project, and stands as a witness to Kwun Tong’s early development and prosperity.

A Housing Experiment on Dormitories for Workers

In the initial planning of Kwun Tong, the government’s advisory committee hoped that factories could build dormitories to address workers’ housing issues at the time1. Later on, however, the government considered that this approach was impractical. In 1956, the Hong Kong Housing Society (“HKHS”) proactively proposed to the government to assist in the construction of public housing for factory workers in this emerging industrial area2.

Providing worker dormitories in the form of low-cost housing was a brand new idea at the time. Against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s post-war economic transformation, the societal demand for this type of housing skyrocketed, and HKHS rose to the challenge by conducting innovative “housing experiments” at Tsuen Wan Four Seasons Estate and Kwun Tong Garden Estate simultaneously. However, the development pace and location of these two districts differed. Extensive surveys were conducted with factory managers to learn about the actual needs, and Kwun Tong Garden Estate eventually adopted the conventional low-cost housing model for low-income families to apply for residency. As an additional experimental initiative, 10 units were allocated for worker dormitories, each offering 10 beds for single workers to rent at a rate of 12 dollars per bed. These units were equipped with tables, chairs and water taps, as well as a shared game room for both male and female workers.

10 units in Kwun Tong Garden Estate were allocated for worker dormitories, each offering 10 beds for single workers to rent at a rate of 12 dollars per bed.

Previously, HKHS documents still referred to the estate as “Kwun Tong Estate”. It wasn’t until 1960 that the name “Garden Estate” first appeared on the map.

Simple Yet Thoughtful Design Prioritising Quality of Life

Construction works including rock blasting and site formation commenced on the Kwun Tong site in 1958. The contruction of the low-cost housing estate was divided into two phases, and residents began moving in after the completion of the first of the seven blocks in the first phase the following year. At the time, HKHS documents still referred to the estate as “Kwun Tong Estate”. It wasn’t until 1960 that the name “Garden Estate” first appeared on the map. As the blocks in the first and second phases were named after flowers and birds respectively, they are known endearingly as “flower blocks” and “bird blocks” among the residents.

HKHS’s public housing estates are uniquely designed based on geographical and community needs. Kwun Tong Garden Estate was constructed in two phases and designed by two different architects. The first phase, designed by J. E. March, comprised 7 residential buildings primarily characterised by a straight rectangular structure approximately 6 stories high. A central yard design was adopted, with a shared staircase for the four rooms on each floor. The second phase was led by renowned Chinese architects Chau & Lee Architects, consisting of 5 blocks with heights varying from 8 to 13 stories, and the majority adopt a central corridor layout. As the structures were situated on a hill, the architects had to consider terrain elements in the second phase by lowering the blocks at the foot of the hill to ensure unobstructed views and create a sense of openness in the living environment.

Taking into account that the intended residents would be factory workers, the architects made every effort to minimise the rental burden and reduce construction costs through various means. Despite this, the overall design of Kwun Tong Garden Estate did not neglect the residents’ quality of life. Playgrounds designed for children were planned from the outset, and spaces for planting trees were reserved within the estate. Later on, efforts were made to lay a large lawn area.

According to the HKHS Annual Report of 1961, outside Kwun Tong Garden Estate, there were no pedestrian crossings and bus stops along Ngau Tau Kok Road, which was filled with hawkers.

Among the shops in the “bird blocks”, eateries, butchers, hair salons and grocery stores were the most popular, as residents relied on these shops for their daily necessities at the time.

Growing with Kwun Tong

Creating a good living environment was far from a primary focus given the social conditions, especially considering the numerous challenges faced by post-war Hong Kong, and Kwun Tong remained an inconvenient and sparsely populated area. In the Kwun Tong Garden Estate community documentary project, our recording team interviewed many newcomers and long-time residents. A resident who moved into Garden Estate in the 1960s described the people living there at the time as pioneers in the area (refer to Dr Luk Che Chung’s interview for more details). The HKHS Annual Report of 1961 also stated that outside Kwun Tong Garden Estate, there were no pedestrian crossings and bus stops along Ngau Tau Kok Road, and was filled with hawkers. Examining an old Kowloon map from 1966 reveals that there was only one bus route connecting Kwun Tong to Kowloon City along Ngau Tau Kok Road3. Residents commuting to and from the city mainly relied on the ferry pier in Kwun Tong and Ngau Tau Kok4. It wasn’t until the late 1960s, with the introduction of more bus routes and the development of nearby communities, that Garden Estate gradually transformed into a “quiet yet flourishing” housing estate.

This 1956 planning shows that the Public Works Department reserved the residential land north of Kwun Tong Road for HKHS to construct low-cost housing. At the time, the HKHS annual report described this plot as situated on a hillside, primarily composed of weathered rocks, estimating that substantial leveling would be required before construction could commence. (Source of image:《城傳立新:香港城市規劃發展史(1841-2015)》, P.177)

The overall design takes into consideration of the residents’ quality of life. Playgrounds designed for children were planned from the outset.

Societal Functions Beyond Housing

In the early development of Kwun Tong, Garden Estate was completed earlier than nearby low-cost housing and resettlement buildings, thereby establishing its significant role in the district. Due to limited community facilities in the vicinity, architects allocated space for ground-level shops to meet residents’ daily needs. The “flower blocks” had 8 shops, while the “bird blocks” completed in 1966 boasted 23 shops. According to HKHS’ annual report, eateries, butchers, hair salons and grocery stores were the most popular, as residents relied on these shops for their daily necessities at the time. Leveraging their advantage of early establishment, these shops in Garden Estate also attracted many residents from the neighbouring Ngau Tau Kok Estate, which was completed later5.

Today, the row of shops in Kwun Tong Garden Estate is far more than a mere nostalgic backdrop on Ngau Tau Kok Road, as it still plays a crucial role in caring for residents and nearby communities. Aside from shops of daily necessities in this area, there are also clinics. In the early days of the completion of the “flower blocks”, the clinics in Orchid House and Lily House were very popular. The nuns and social workers from Maryknoll Convent School not only provided medical consultations but also offered vaccination services for the residents.

The successful completion of Kwun Tong Garden Estate also accelerated the development of the entire neighbourhood. For instance, the construction of vital facilities like the police station, fire station and government offices did not commence or conclude until the occupation of Kwun Tong Garden Estate, and even the public swimming pool did not begin construction until the late 1960s6.

For more than half a century, Kwun Tong Garden Estate has stood proudly on Ngau Tau Kok Road, bearing witness to the transformation of Kwun Tong into a bustling industrial hub at the beginning of Hong Kong’s industrial takeoff, with land reclamation as its humble beginning. The factories depended on the residents of public housing estates as their crucial workforce at the height of industrialisation. These seemingly ordinary housing structures also provide a glimpse into the lives of residents, finding joy and security in their homes. Not only do they depict the progress of Hong Kong’s economy, but they also illustrate how the architects and HKHS overcame challenges and utilised scarce resources to break away from conventional frameworks, and create a living space that brings comfort and happiness to the working class.

Footnote:

(1)《城傳立新:香港城市規劃發展史(1841-2015)》, Chung Hwa Book Co., Ho Pui Yin, P.117.
(2)  HKHS Annual Report 1956, Hong Kong: Hong Kong Housing Society, 1956.
(3)《晶晶地圖》, Ching Po Daily, 1966.
(4)《觀塘風物志》, Kwun Tong District Council and Kwun Tong District Office, Leung Ping Wa, P.22 & 64.
(5)  HKHS Annual Report 1967, Hong Kong: Hong Kong Housing Society, 1967.
(6)《城傳立新:香港城市規劃發展史(1841-2015)》, Chung Hwa Book Co., Ho Pui Yin, P.179.

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Kwun Tong Garden Estate
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