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Barry Wilson meets Marta Pozo Gil

2/11/2018

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It was a great pleasure to spend time recently with Marta Pozo Gil, Director of renowned Architects MVRDV Asia, in order to share a critical dialogue on "Change".

We considered how a necessary 'change in mindset' is fundamental in facilitating quality interventions in the livability of cities.
The full interview will be published presently as part of a series I am writing for URBANIZATION MAGAZINE.
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Marta and I discussed the  following key issues: -

  • Can European urban design principles translate successfully to China?

  • What is is that has made the Dutch people build such unique urban space?

  • How to build a stakeholder integration model for a development project?

  • How upcoming technological changes are already affecting our cities?
 
  • Why building inclusive city spaces is so important?​
​“There need to be local solutions to local problems, but bringing in thinkers from different backgrounds is crucial to generate new perspectives and to view things through a different lens.”
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Marta Pozo Gil is an Architect, licensed BREEAM assessor and LEED green Associate. She has worked at MVRDV since 2007.

In 2014 Marta was relocated to Shanghai to head the firm’s Asian office to expand the MVRDV profile in the Asian market as well as to oversee Asian projects.

In addition to her role as Director of MVRDV Asia, Marta leads the Sustainability department for MVRDV
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In this regular column, I take travels around the globe to discuss the essential ingredients that are focused on what makes better city living. I meet experts, visionaries and game changers and share their thoughts on the various aspects that can and should be at the heart of city life in tomorrow’s world.  
PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS
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Read more:
​
2018/09/25
Workshop:
Transitional Social Housing Workshop

2018/09/21
Congratulations:
Barry Wilson Elected HKIUD Vice President​

2018/09/19
Publication:
The Magazine of Urbanization Publishes Article
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Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Link Road

26/10/2018

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Image：China State Construction
Finally the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge opened this week. It’s been a long process since we originally started back in 2011, being one of Hong Kong's largest ever infrastructure projects. 

We have worked with Atkins and China State Construction on the second of three packages for the Hong Kong side of the ‘Bridge’

The Scenic Hill to Cross Boundary Facilities section required significant land reclamation for a new highway, tunnels, linking roads and maintenance facilities at the existing Chep Lap Kok Airport. 

​Project:

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
Hong Kong Link Road – Section between Scenic Hill and Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities.

Location:

Hong Kong

Client: 

Government of HKSAR / China State Construction / Atkins China Ltd

Type:

Landscape design

Size:

23 ha
​2018 completion
​Under the ‘design and build’ contract my team have conceived and detailed the significant landscape design elements and interventions on the project, planting a large number of trees and shrubs and most importantly incorporating a low cost, sustainable drainage solution for the majority of landscape areas.   
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Image：Atkins China

​THE LANDSCAPE PROBLEM

The project area is rather complicated. It generally consists of a large number of fragmented and leftover areas between highway connections, with various requirements of differing land ownership and maintenance parties.
The project area is rather complicated. It generally consists of a large number of fragmented and leftover areas between highway connections, with various requirements of differing land ownership and maintenance parties.
Moreover, extensive underground technical   infrastructure, together with rigid restrictions on use of plant species so   as to avoid risk of bird strike to aircraft, provided significant constraints  on the landscape design opportunities.
New land reclamation areas have been   formed solely for the construction of the spaghetti of new road   infrastructure required to connect the Bridge’s elevated highway into the   ground services.   
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Image:BWPI

​THE LANDSCAPE SOLUTION
​We wanted to develop a design that provides an overall structure to the project site, acting to stitch together all the new and old fragmented land parcels within the transport corridor of the Bridge Link Road. We did this by extending the scale and alignment of the existing airport development grid right across the new reclamation area.
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Image:BWPI

THE LANDSCAPE OBJECTIVES

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Image:BWPI
•Develop a localised and differentiated landscape aesthetics strategy for the project with a strong ‘gateway’ design theme which unifies the development;

•Seamlessly blend the new development within the context of both the existing urbanised airport fabric and the naturalised environment of Scenic Hill; 

•Integrate with the aesthetics of the new Highway Administration Buildings whilst relating to other surrounding buildings;

•Consider and implement international solutions in developing pragmatic, sensitive and sustainable design that achieves the best social, economic and environmental fit;

•Address the difficulties of site location and microclimate;

•Incorporate sustainable water management practices; and

•Minimise long term maintenance implications in addition to reducing capital costs.
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Image: Atkins China
We think we have done a great job.

Thanks to all the team who worked on the project over the years :


Davide MARVARDI

Nevena DILPARIC
​
Eva MA

Vlady IVANETS

Victor ROBERTO

Aleksandra SARGAEVA 
Read more:

2018/10/15
WORKSHOP
1st Working Session with HKIUD
2018/10/10
WORKSHOP
Ageing Experience Workshop #2
2018/09/21
CONGRATULATIONS：
Barry Wilson Elected HKIUD Vice President​
2018/09/25
WORKSHOP
Transitional Social Housing Workshop
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1st Working Session with HKIUD

15/10/2018

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A vast wealth of knowledge and experience are shared by HKIUD Council:- Barry Wilson (Vice President - External Affairs); Alan McDonald; Peter Cookson-Smith; Donald Choi (Vice President - Local Affairs); Joel Chan (President); Casey Wang; Stefan Krummeck (Vice President - Education) ; PY Tam; Charles Li (Secretary); Stephen Tang ( Immediate Past President); Wilfred Lau.
Exciting times ahead for urban design in the region as the new HKIUD Council came together to map out their objectives for the next term. 

An ambitious programme aims at building on the solid progression of recent years, where this year HKIUD became the first urban design institute to professionally accredit urban design education courses worldwide. 


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The Institute aims to build on the success of their 2018 Conference and advocation of positive ACTIONS in the urban realm to benefit ACTIVE AGING with more inclusive environments. The Institute will continue to push to initiate a first pilot project in Hong Kong based primarily around supporting the aging population through urban design guidelines.
I am pleased to establish and Chair the new "International and Mainland Affairs Committee" aided by Ms Casey WANG as Vice Chair.
The major tasks of this committee will include strengthening communication and information exchange on urban design knowledge, education and  research within the region.

The Institute is particularly keen to connect with international urban design bodies and related professionals, within China mainland.
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Ageing Experience Workshop #2

10/10/2018

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Have you ever considered the difficulties elderly people have negotiating the urban environment?

Avoiding obstructions, steps and crossing roads as well as their potential visual impairment, makes walking in the city arduous. Barry Wilson went to find out for himself.
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image: HKIUD
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Barry Wilson was experiencing the difficulties faced by elderly on the street. image: HKIUD
As a further follow up to the HKIUD Conference 2018 - Actions for Active Ageing,  I was pleased to facilitate and participate in the second Ageing in the Urban Environment - Experiential Workshop, this time targeting younger people and students. 

The workshop, allowed participants to put on specially designed jackets and accessories that "artificially aged"  them whilst they cautiously "explored" streets and community facilities with the aid of helpers. This challenging activity provides a strong awareness of the various accessibility hardships genuinely faced by the elderly.  
Following their experience, students contributed feedback on active ageing issues, sharing their new insights and ideas on how urban design can be more inclusive to enable the elderly to stay active and remain healthy.
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Professor Hendrick Tieben of the Schoool of Architecture, Chinese University of Hong Kong, leads the students. image: HKIUD
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What shapes an elderly freindly environment? - image: HKIUD
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image: HKIUD
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image: BWPI
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image: HKIUD
Which are the hazards in the urban environment?  
Which may be the most needed supportive facilities for the elderly in Hong Kong urban environment? 
What are the most prominent physical challenges for the elderly? 

What might make the elderly happier in an urban setting? ​
Is navigating in the urban environment easy for pedestrians?
How safe is the HK urban environment for the elderly?
What may be the most helpful in enhancing safety ?  
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Promoting urban design through accreditation, discussion and education. Core members are all existing members of associated professional bodies with a long and creditable association with urban design in Hong Kong.
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Eldpathy adopts the strategy of “experiential learning”. Having gained personal experience of the living of the poor elderly, youths participating in the programme will understand the need of the elderly and be mobilised to take part in community services like food support.
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​The School of Architecture at the Chinese University of Hong Kong is  committed to developing students’ core competency and critical thinking in order to achieve design creativity and leadership that enable lasting contributions to our built environment.
“Actions for Active Ageing - Ageing in the Hong Kong Urban Environment – 2nd Experiential Workshop" was held on 18 September 2018 and co-organised by: -

Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design; Chinese University of Hong Kong; Stanford University;
Tsinghua University; and
Hong Kong Design Institute

Equipment was generous provided by Herman Chan and Eldpathy
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