HAppy Family • Colourful and Fun Estate Project

“HAppy Family” is to carry out facade beautification and minor improvement projects for ten existing public housing estates. Ten existing public housing estates were selected for the project by taking into account several factors, such as the overall environment, facilities, nearby communities, building conditions, and maintenance of the housing estates. These estates will become exemplars of the project as the team derives more innovative design solutions for the public housing in Hong Kong.

2023-2024 Estates are : Yue Wan Estate, Butterfly Estate, Wan Hon Estate, Sun Chui Estate, Shun Tin Estate, Kwai Fong Estate, Kai Tin Estate, Lee On Estate, On Ting Estate and Hing Man Estate.

2024-2025 Estates are : (1) Ping Shek Estate, (2) Fu Cheong Estate, (3) Lung Tin Estate, (4) Hung Hom Estate. (5) Shek Wai Kok Estate, (6) Choi Yuen Estate, (7) Tai Yuen Estate, (8) Tsz Lok Estate, (9) Sam Shing Estate and (10) Yau Oi Estate.

The “HAppy Family” team conducted public engagement activities in these ten estates from May to September 2023 to collect residents’ opinions.

The activities included questionnaires, street kiosks, and design workshops in the estates. During the workshops, the team introduced initial design concepts and different preliminary proposals to the residents. Through group discussions, immediate feedback from the residents was collected. The team also made real-time adjustments to the designs using computers to assist residents in visualising their ideas for further discussion. Residents used reference images, sticky notes, and floor plan sketching to collaborate with the team in designing key public spaces, while expressing their needs and underlying rationales of their ideas.

Based on the collected feedback, the “Happy Family” team aims to enhance residents’ well-being on multiple levels, including Physical Space, Social Interaction, and Psychological Satisfaction through the facade beautification and minor improvement projects in the housing estates.

Spatial Improvement

After reviewing the existing public spaces in the ten housing estates, the “HAppy Family” team made some proposals to improve the general layouts.
For example, in Wan Hon Estate, in order to strengthen the connection between the estate and the city, our team suggests adding greenery and big wall graphics at the estates’ entrance to improve the sense of welcoming.
And in several different estates, we suggest improving the spatial layout by rearranging the fitness area and the children’s playground, while introducing more new outdoor fitness facilities for middle-aged and elderly residents.
The recreational spaces will not only feature more greenery and distinctive plantings but they will also be equipped with much more nicely designed seatings. The public seating will incorporate details that cater to the needs of the elderly, such as armrests and custom-designed slots for resting canes.

Social Interactions

The team aspires to promote community integration and resident interaction through design improvements.

In Kwai Fong Estate, themed patterns are proposed to reconnect the public spaces on both sides of the footbridge. Underneath the footbridge, inclusive seating and lighting are added to create a shared space for intergenerational interaction. This design encourages residents to come together, socialise, and foster a sense of community.

Covered wind corridors and under-utilised spaces such as back alleys can be found in many estates. The team proposes a simple revitalisation of these areas by incorporating themed colours and shared facilities. The team utilises geometric patterns inspired by the “house” concept found within On Ting Estate to reshape corridors and other everyday living spaces. This design encourages more conversations among residents and enhances their social well-being. Through these improvements, the team aims to create a more inclusive and engaging environment where residents can interact, socialise and build connections, promoting a stronger sense of belonging and community cohesion.

Psychological Satisfaction

In the facade beautification and spatial design process, the team hopes to enhance residents’ sense of belonging by highlighting the unique characteristics of each housing estate.

For example, in Sun Chui Estate, where lush green bamboo groves abound, the team was inspired by discussions with residents to create a sense of ascending growth by applying simple patterns and colours to the exterior design. This design concept aims to cultivate a stronger sense of belonging among the residents.

The team drew inspiration from the local flora and chose Azalea, one of the “Three Treasures of Ma On Shan,” to represent Lee On Estate in the design theme. By incorporating the colours and patterns of various Azalea species into the exterior walls and public spaces, the design strengthens the public’s identification with the community. By incorporating elements that reflect each housing estate’s unique features and characteristics, the team seeks to create a visual identity that resonates with the residents. This helps foster a stronger sense of belonging, pride, and connection to their community.