Yi Pei Square Playground
Yi Pei Square is located in Tsuen Wan. It is one out of four of the residential squares in the district. It is approximately 930 sq. m in size and is surrounded by mid-rise residential buildings, with several alleyways leading onto Sha Tsui Road and Chuen Lung Street. Within the park perimeter are a few fitness equipment for the elderly along with some benches and trees. Despite the lack of children's play equipment, the playground serves not only the elderly, but also children and families living nearby.
The team looked into the name of Yi Pei Square, and its different context. Yi Pei Square sits on reclaimed land, where the first high rises of Hong Kong were built. The name of Yi Pei has also changed from connotation of the dam and reservoir with its surrounding farms, to a square which means a small area or gathering space in the context of immigrants from the 1950s.
The site is linear in nature and separated into 3 sections. With the lack of play areas, children playing on rooftops have also created accidents. Therefore, the team aims to create “Playable spaces, not just playgrounds”. There is also an issue of play space for children, with Caritas creating play areas in subdivided flats. During the day, children would play on the fitness equipment made for elderlies. The site also has many local activities from film screenings to fitness groups, and market place. However, during the evening there is a lack of lighting and electricity support. The teams aim to create a multi-purpose space, and to create playable landscape for children with seating for elderlies, and better infrastructure for lighting.
Yi Pei Square Playground
The Yi Pei Square proposal explores the idea of a "communal living room" suitable for residents of all ages. Located within a densely populated residential area in Tsuen Wan that is surrounded by subdivided flats, Yi Pei Square will open up the public space as a communal living room for the neighbourhood, conceptualised to facilitate multi-generational interactions for residents. Through a series of public engagement and workshops with residents of Yi Pei Square, the design of the space was created to incorporate the residents' needs. This includes adding activities including play equipment, alongside dedicated leisure and activities zones for the existing users, as well as specially designed graphics and floor patterns to connect the different zones through a colorful palette and playful graphics.
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