Connectivity in Kowloon East

Connectivity in Kowloon East – Urban transformation starts with walkability 

Following the urban transformation principle of “Connectivity, Branding, Design and Diversity” of Energizing Kowloon East Office (EKEO), a Government office set up in 2012, JCDISI proposed upgrading the back alleys within the Kwun Tong Business Area to improve pedestrian environment. Cooperated with EKEO, JCDISI mobilized PolyU students to investigate into the traveling pattern and behaviors of pedestrians, unique characters and history of the back alleys. We proposed a comprehensive scheme with emphasis on wayfinding, naming and indexing of the back alleys to capture the lifestyle of industrial heritage of Kwun Tong in its transformation to Hong Kong’s alternative Central Business District. 18 back alleys were named according to their old industrial trades and facelifted with exciting street arts. Exciting street jogging events were also organized by EKEO with thousands of joggers running through these facelifted alleys.On-site surveys conducted in 2016 and 2017 indicated that the pedestrian flow in some of revitalized back alleys has increased by more than 13% to about 18%.