published_or_final_version / Politics and Public Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

The rapid socio-economic development in China has given rise to the problem of housing obsolescence. The reduction of housing obsolescence and the increase in housing service life are important from the perspective of sustainable development. In extant literature, flexibility has been introduced as an important method to reduce housing obsolescence. However, no empirical evidence exists to illustrate the effects of flexibility on reducing housing obsolescence. Therefore, by correlating knowledge on flexibility and housing obsolescence, this study attempts to explore the effects of flexibility on reducing urban housing obsolescence with special focus on Chinese flexible housing practices during the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The research question which this study attempts to address is whether housing obsolescence can be obviously reduced by flexibility in Chinese flexible housing practices during the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. First, the theoretical framework of this research explains Chinese flexible approaches within the context of Chinese housing development since 1949. Second, it explores the mechanism of obsolescence in flexible housing practices during the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. The internal and external threat of housing obsolescence is discussed. A cross-national comparison is also made to understand the context of these practices. Third, theoretical framework suggests two scenarios and three theoretical propositions, and it specifies three key factors for analyzing the effects of flexibility on the reduction of housing obsolescence: changeability, housing obsolescence, and changing behavior by dwellers. Finally, it establishes a methodology for empirical investigation. Six Chinese neighborhoods built during the mid-1980s to the early 1990s which contain both flexible houses and similar ordinary houses are selected as cases according to screening criteria. Data are obtained by survey among households, interviews, analysis of archival records, and on-site observation. The main unit of analysis is a type of flat. The data analysis revolves around the three propositions put forward. The results of the empirical study indicate that the six cases do not agree with the three propositions. First, only a small number of households use the pre-set changeability in flexible flats. Second, flexible flats do not have a much lower score in housing obsolescence than similar ordinary flats. Third, the score on housing obsolescence for households who use changeability is not obviously lower than that for households who do not. These findings are discussed within the theoretical framework. In general, this research does not support the notion that flexibility in the flexible housing can reduce housing obsolescence obviously in the given context. / published_or_final_version / Architecture / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Around the world, urban redevelopment is a universal process of exploiting city areas. In Western countries, the development of modern cities is at an advanced stage, and these countries have produced a significant amount of research on urban redevelopment theories, patterns and evaluation. Research on urban redevelopment, particularly evaluating the impact, has attracted less attention in China. Moreover, the spatial order and development path of Chinese cities are dramatically different from those of Western cities. This thesis, therefore, explored the evaluation framework of urban redevelopment taking into account the characteristics of Chinese urban development and property rights issues. The case study strategy was used for this exploratory research. The case of the Liede redevelopment project in Guangzhou City was analyzed through in-depth interviews. Three groups of project actors, namely governments, developers and urban villagers, were interviewed to form a comprehensive understanding of the whole redevelopment mechanism and processes, as well as to evaluate the impacts of the redevelopment. Other data sources including academic literature, local archives and official documents were also used to analyze the Chinese situation. Before starting the case study process, the ideological and theoretical discussion on neoliberalism and gentrification were reviewed and the rent gap theory was applied to explain the motivation behind urban village redevelopment in China, specifically Guangzhou. To build the evaluation framework for the case, this thesis also referred to the evaluation system developed upon the urban regeneration of western cities. An effective partnership of urban redevelopment was found to lead to the efficient completion of the Liede redevelopment project. The role of the government was supportive and no longer sought for profits, while negotiation was made between the developers and urban villagers to maximize each actor’s benefits. Some positive redevelopment outcomes were evident. For instance, the physical environment as well as infrastructure is greatly improved and the family income of Liede villagers increases. Other long-term impacts were expected to be achieved in the future. It could be concluded that the pattern and experience of Liede redevelopment project are valuable for coming redevelopment projects. To widen the use of the findings, the evaluation framework established in this research could be tested on redevelopment projects across different cities. A general framework with some flexible adjustment to specific contexts could then be very useful for the evaluation of urban redevelopment. / published_or_final_version / Real Estate and Construction / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Landscape Architecture

For the past decade, Hong Kong’s redevelopment strategy has been dictated by property-led urban regeneration. This approach is highly controversial as it often neglects the voices of people in the plan-making process. The growing desire for transparency and public involvement in the city’s governance system prompted the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to introduce broad-based public engagement (PE) procedures to its institutional framework. In 2011, the new Urban Renewal Strategy (URS) endorsed a “People First, Districtbased, Public Participatory” approach to strengthen urban renewal at the district-level. Subsequently, the pilot District Urban Renewal Forum (DURF) was established in Kowloon City (KC) to foster a bottom-up, district-based approach to urban regeneration planning. This change in Hong Kong’s urban regeneration strategy is highly relevant to Foucault’s concept of governmentality that emphasize on how contemporary arrangements and structures are developed to govern society, which raise important questions when it comes to the distribution of power and knowledge in the planmaking process. Foucault argued that knowledge is power and vice versa, but it is rather difficult to determine where power truly resides in the plan-making process. This dissertation will examine the power-knowledge nexus in the first pilot KC DURF programme, and analyze whether the newly implemented procedures will set unprecedented improvements in carrying out urban regeneration. Hung Hom and To Kwa Wan in Kowloon City District are chosen as case studies to investigate whether the proposed mitigation measures in the URP for KC could truly respond to residents and key stakeholders’ concerns, needs and aspirations, which are key knowledge inputs documented in the Planning Study (PS), Social Impact Assessments (SIA) and PE Reports. The issues of incompatible land uses in Hung Hom and To Kwa Wan sub-districts demonstrate that key public comments advocating for stronger social renewal initiatives are clearly neglected in the URP for KC. Despite efforts to promote a people-centred model, the analysis reveals that power derives from two main sources: the existing power structures of the KC DURF within Hong Kong’s current top-down institutional framework and authorized knowledge, i.e. situated knowledge generated from dialogues of engagement activities. The study further reveals important gaps between the nexus of power and knowledge in the pilot KC DURF framework where authorized knowledge is identified as an exploit of professional knowledge to justify the rationality of powerholders in districtbased planning. To justify discrepancy between the initial aspirations from the local community and the mitigation measures proposed in the final plan, responses from government officials are provided to rationalize what is deemed acceptable based on a rigid set of values and requirements set out in the existing institutional framework. The DURF is, nonetheless, a form of governmentality; and the incompetence for key stakeholders to affect plan-making decisions asserts the limits of power for the layman citizen. These factors subsequently contribute to the loopholes in the pilot KC DURF programme. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

In the Netherlands urban construction and development has gone through a progressive process starting from the post-War era all the way to the 21st Century. The focuses have taken physical, economic, social and environmental aspects into consideration and Dutch cities witnessed urban policies addressing urban reconstruction, urban renewal, urban revitalization and regeneration. Prominent urban renewal policies including Urban Renewal Funds, ISV along with Big City Policy all indicate the trend of decentralization from the state to local municipalities and a new power structure between participants at the local level. Further as was observed, urban renewal process in the past decade has been facing obstacles. This dissertation aims at examining local sectors’ roles in the process of urban renewal and urban regeneration in the Netherlands, the trends of reforms and ramifications of their responsibilities, and governance strategies when decentralized administration is becoming the norm under Neo-liberal urban development era. Cases studies from the city of Amsterdam will serve as base stones demonstrating steering of direction of urban construction strategies with emphasis of urban renewal and regeneration, and the shifts of governments’ roles. Apart from that, municipalities’ roles will be examined by their actions along with the policies and the mechanism of cooperation with different social stakes in making projects happen. By understanding the cooperation mechanism and local endeavor indicated by municipalities, semi-public entities and public initiatives, the dissertation will proceed in discussing how different parties contributed in achieving public good in the ending sections. Literature review will project the development scope of urban renewal strategies in the Netherlands from post-war era till today. By synthesizing documents generalizing development patterns and critics about achievements and insufficiencies of urban renewal projects, it is possible to draw out emphasis and local characteristics of urban renewal strategies in the Netherlands. During the process of policy adjustments, national and local government changed their roles in urban governance in terms of financial supports and supervision. Local governments are key leaders in the administrative and cooperative mechanism. More partnership and cooperation happening in the local level with both public and private sector are the focus to be revealed through cases studies. Finally it comes discussions about achievements and insufficiencies with the Netherlands’ experience with evaluations of achievements in terms of public goods. As this is a dissertation in aim at synthesizing policy instruments and in situ local practices, methods and methodologies from both inductive and deductive modes will be applied, covering methods of archival studies, field studies, cases studies, surveys and interviews and methodologies of content analysis, ethnographic methodology and discourse analysis. In the parts of implication and conclusion, governance structure will be discussed with observation of the new trend after 2000. Roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders will be revealed following with discussions of features of Dutch urban renewal. Achievements of urban renewal policies and projects will be evaluated and recommendations from cases studies will be presented in the last part. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

Urban renewal is a critical issue in Hong Kong. On one hand, many old districts in Hong Kong such as Wan Chai and Kwun Tong are suffering from urban decay; poor living environment and dilapidated buildings are urging for large-scale replanning and reconstruction. On the other hand, growing criticisms constantly arose, arguing that the renewal initiatives and process only focus on the physical and economic aspects, but lack of social consideration and humane care. Numerous studies have been conducted to generally evaluate the economic and social impacts of urban renewal project. In this dissertation, the author will take the local case of Lee Tung Street as an example. A cross-sectional survey including the tenants and trades information was conducted soon after the announcement of the project to examine the social economic impacts within the study area. Demographic features and property prices in the nearby neighbourhood area were also observed comparatively from 2001 to 2011, so as to understand the externalities of the renewal project. Conclusions drawing from the social impact assessment in this case study mainly include: iiThe affected residential tenants and small business operators in the Lee Tung Street were mainly from the low and middle income groups; the majority of them were unsatisfied with the renewal process and unable to move back after redevelopment. The property prices within the study area have doubled after renewal due to the improvement of living conditions and public environment. iiImpacts of renewal projects to the nearby street blocks vary in different project periods. During the construction phase, the property prices and rents in the adjacent areas showed no significant fluctuations; on the contrary, the migration rate in this street block displayed an increase trend in the short-term study. The long-term impact of this case need to be further monitored and evaluated. iiIn order to enhance the public satisfaction and project efficiency, construction in phases could be adopted; comprehensive social impact assessment and timely review are also strongly suggested; besides, public engagement and the independency of social service team should be improved as well. / published_or_final_version / Urban Planning and Design / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

published_or_final_version / Urban Design / Master / Master of Urban Design

published_or_final_version / Public Administration / Master / Master of Public Administration