Architectural exhibition from Venice sparks dialogue between Shanghai and Hong Kong

A standout exhibit is the decades-long research on Choi Hung Estate by the Chinese University of Hong Kong team. Designed by P&T Group, originally founded in Shanghai before expanding to Hong Kong, the estate is a landmark of early public housing development in the city.

Historical records note that former US president Richard Nixon played badminton on its rooftop during a visit. For the curatorial team, the true value of public housing extends beyond the residential units, it is found in the ground-floor shared spaces and adaptable site design that imbue the architecture with human warmth.

Even more distinctive is Hong Kong's unique multi-functional market complexes. Co-curator Zhou Ying is leading a comparative research project on this building form in Shanghai and Hong Kong. The sectional model on display illustrates the vertical composite logic: a market hall at the ground level, cooked food stalls in the middle, libraries and offices on the upper floors, and sports facilities for badminton, yoga, and basketball at the top.

"With limited land resources, Hong Kong has ingeniously stacked all public functions vertically within a single building. This typology is exceptionally rare worldwide," Zhou noted.

The team particularly values the simple, low-carbon wisdom inherent in these structures. Despite Hong Kong's hot and humid summers, similar to those in Shanghai, these buildings function without air conditioning, relying on high ceilings, fans, and natural ventilation to maintain thermal comfort.Au further stated that Shanghai was chosen due to its deep architectural and urban connection with Hong Kong.

"In the 1960s, some Shanghai residents moved to Hong Kong, bringing their culture and lifestyle."

As major port cities and pivotal hubs in global trade, they confront similar urban challenges, making this exhibition an ideal platform for mutual learning.

Julia Lau, president of HKIA, stated in her opening address, "This exhibition provides a timely platform to enhance dialogue between Hong Kong and Shanghai, fostering mutual learning in sustainable urban development and cross-cultural exchange."