This book celebrates 60 years of the founding of the Faculty of Architecture at HKU. The Faculty has grown over the years from a single Department to a multi-disciplinary Faculty including: Architecture; Landscape Architecture; Urban Planning and Design; Housing Management; Real Estate and Construction; and Architectural Conservation.
The development of the Faculty has paralleled the vibrant growth of Hong Kong, especially following World War II when it became clear that a new generation of first-rate architects and other building professionals were needed if Hong Kong was to adequately house its burgeoning population and develop into a world-class city. Hong Kong's role as a global city has been fulfilled, and HKU Architecture graduates can take pride in having contributed significantly to the city’s dazzling skyline.
The history of the Faculty, Building the Dragon City: History of the Faculty of Architecture at The University of Hong Kong, makes it clear that the basic issues surrounding the education
of building professionals have been vigorously debated for the last six decades and this has been reflected in the development of the Faculty.
Dean’s Introdution 6
PART ONE CREATION/1950-65 8
Chapter 1－The Bald Man 12
Chapter 2－The Real World 20
Chapter 3－End of the Beginning 27
Chapter 4－Curry Chicken 34
PART TWO TAKING OFF/1965-79 42
Chapter 5－The Blessings of Disillusionment 46
Chapter 6－Honk Kongers 62
Chapter 7－Fat Cat 73
Chapter 8－Going Up 84
PART THREE THE WORLD CITY/1979-89 90
Chapter 9－Expanding Ambitions 94
Chapter 10－Order out of Chaos 102
Chapter 11－Fire 113
Chapter 12－What’s an Architect? 121
PART FOUR RETURN TO THE MOTHERLAND/1989-97 124
Chapter 13－It’s Personal 129
Chapter 14－New Frontiers 135
Chapter 15－A Rose Garden 144
Chapter 16－Farewells 152
PART FIVE CELEBRATION/1997-2010 156
Chapter 17－Piers and palaces 163
Chapter 18－Expanding Horizons 171
Chapter 19－Work in Progress 180
Faculty of Architecture Timeline 190
Contributors 194
Acknowledgements 200
Credits 202
Bibliography 203
DEAN’S
INTRODUCTION
In 2010 we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Faculty of Architecture, which began as a Department of Architecture, and received its first intake of students in September 1950. Over the years, it has grown from a single department to a multi-disciplinary faculty including:architecture; landscape architecture; urban planning and design; housing management; real estate and construction; and architectural conservation. As a consequence of our disciplinary expansion, teaching staff and student numbers have increased, and today we have nearly one thousand students and about fifty full-time academic staff. We take immense pride in the fact that the faculty is an integral part of the universily’s transformation into an internationally top-ranked research university.
The development of the faculty has paralleled the vibrant growth of Hong Kong, especially following World War II when it became clear that a new generation of first-rate architects, and other building professionals, were needed if Hong Kong was to adequately house its burgeoning population and develop into a world-class global city. Hong Kong’s role as a global city has been fulfilled, and we take pride in seeing that today’s skyline of Hong Kong is the work of the faculty’s graduates. Today, the faculty remains dedicated to continuing to serve the city of Hong Kong, China and the world.
Way back in March 2010, I initiated the idea of commemorating the 60th anniversary—an important milestone for the faculty—by publishing a book to acknowledge the contribution of our alumni
and the development of the faculty. To this end, the faculty commissioned Mr. Christian Caryl to write a narrative on the development of the faculty, while Ms. Rebecca Lo was appointed to
conduct the
research. At the time of writing this publication, Christian was Muse Magazine Critic-in-Residence and Visiting Associate Professor at the Journalism and Media Studies Centre of the
University of Hong Kong (HKU). Ms. Poonam Datta of the Faculh’ of Architecture edited the text and put it together in a more readable form.
This publication, Building the Dragon City: History of the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Hong Kong, looks at how the physical development of Hong Kong is tied with the development of our own faculty over the past sixty years. It captures memories via photographs of significant events and personalities of the past eras of different departments/divisions. It is meant to be effortless reading containing interesting anecdotes and incidents about the life and times of our alumni.
I hope you enjoy the book!
Ralph Lerner FAIA HKIA
Chair Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Architecture
(Febrnary 2006— March 2011)
