UD/MH Hong Kong Dialogue
Hong Kong: 15 November 2017 at Asia Global Institute
What we talked about
On 15 November 2017, the Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health delivered our 4th city dialogue in Hong Kong in partnership with Hong Kong think tank Asia Global Institute. The event brought together architects, urban planners and designers, health professionals, policymakers, academics and others based in Hong Kong to learn and share knowledge and experience at the nexus of urban design and mental health. We heard 5x5-minute talks from diverse Hong Kong experts who all work and think around urban design for mental health. The dialogue focused on the key elements of concern to Hongkongers. In terms of mental health, suicide, mental health in an ageing population, and stress. And in terms of the built environment, density, access to nature and public spaces, and policy challenges.Themes that emerged included:
Continuing our tradition of holding our events in architecturally exciting buildings, we were delighted to hold this event at Asia Global Institute in Hong Kong University's oldest building, the Main Building. This Edwardian Baroque-style building was designed by Alfred Bryer of Leigh & Orange and was constructed between 1910 and 1912. In 1984, the building was declared a monument by the Hong Kong Government.
- The need to innovate for more inclusive, flexible, communal and social space in Hong Kong
- Improving walking access around the city, inclusive of people with wheels (wheelchairs, prams, suitcases etc)
- Mitigating density with urban green space
- Prioritising health within design
Continuing our tradition of holding our events in architecturally exciting buildings, we were delighted to hold this event at Asia Global Institute in Hong Kong University's oldest building, the Main Building. This Edwardian Baroque-style building was designed by Alfred Bryer of Leigh & Orange and was constructed between 1910 and 1912. In 1984, the building was declared a monument by the Hong Kong Government.
VIDEOS OF THE TALKS
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LAYLA MCCAY, UD/MH Director, discusses how urban design is linked to mental health.
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PAUL ZIMMERMAN, Designing Hong Kong CEO and Pokfulam District Councilor, highlights the isolation and marginalisation of people with wheels (wheelchairs, children's buggies, suitcases, or delivery mechanisms) in the city - and introduced the new Walking with Wheels initiative to address this.
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LAYLA MCCAY, UD/MH Director, discusses Hong Kong's urban design successes challenges and opportunities mental health in Hong Kong.
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IAN RALPH is Associate Director of Lead8 and a chartered planner and urban designer with experience in masterplanning, urban design and transport projects. He gives an overview of happiness in Hong Kong - in terms of urban design, what does happiness look like? And what does that mean for Hong Kong?
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KEVIN LAU, environmental scientist and urban climatologist from the Institute of Future Cities and CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He discusses how the build environment affects mental health, with a special focus on local research on green places and older people's mental health.
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PAUL YIP is Director of the HKJC Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention at The University of Hong Kong. He talks about the relationship between the built environment and suicide in Hong Kong, with some interesting mapping.
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LARISSA LAI is an Associate with the Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health. She is originally from Hong Kong, though now based in New York City. She is a social worker and psychotherapist and is undertaking a Masters degree in City and Regional Planning at Pratt Institute. She talks about innovative housing solutions for mental health.
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DENSITY 2030 - a short film premiere of a short film by HK Urban Lab at Hong Kong University about the potential impact of increasing density on mental health and the focus of their research.
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Short Film Premiere at UD/MH Hong Kong Dialogue: DENSITY 2030
SHORT FILM PREMIERE: a short film premiere by HK Urban Lab at Hong Kong University about the potential impact of increasing density on mental health - an important focus of their research.
SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE: Storify
PHOTO GALLERY
FULL SPEAKER DETAILS
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Layla McCay
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Dr Layla McCay is Director of the Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health, a think tank that explores how we can build better mental health into cities. A psychiatrist and international public health specialist, she holds academic positions at universities in London, Washington DC and Tokyo. She is currently an Asia Global Fellow at the Asia Global Institute, Hong Kong University, where she is exploring the links between urban design and mental health in Hong Kong.
@LaylaMcCay and @urbandesignmh |
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Paul Zimmerman
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Paul Zimmerman is Co-Founder and CEO of Designing Hong Kong Ltd, a not-for-profit organization promoting sustainable urban planning in Hong Kong, which launched in 2009. He has also been active in sustainable development of Hong Kong through organizations such as the Society for Protection of the Harbour, Coalition on Sustainable Tourism, Heritage Watch, Save The Street Market, Conservancy Association, ProCommons, Business Environment Council, Harbour Business Forum, Clear the Air, and others. He was awarded a Honorary Membership of the American Institute of Architects for his role in improving the harbourfront of Victoria Harbour. In September 2010 he was elected as the District Councilor representing the Pokfulam Constituency. He won the re-election in November 2011 for the 2012-2015 term in office. Paul has a Masters degree in Social Science (Economics) from the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and a Master of Arts degree in Transport Policy and Planning from The University of Hong Kong.
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Kevin Lau
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Dr Kevin Lau is an environmental scientist and urban climatologist from the Institute of Future Cities and CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. His research interest focuses on the relationship between urban climate and human thermal comfort in outdoor environment. He also conducted studies on the effect of the built environment on a variety of elderly health outcomes. Findings of his studies contribute to better planning and design of outdoor spaces in high-density cities and encouraging physical activity and enhancing the health and well-being of urban inhabitants.
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Ian Ralph
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Ian Ralph is a chartered planner and urban designer with experience in masterplanning, urban design and transport projects in the UK, China, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. His work includes regeneration sites, mixed-use neighbourhoods, garden villages, and waterfront spaces such as Harbourloop, Hong Kong. His interest in health and design originates from academic research whilst his work in commercial practice seeks to combine a human approach to planning, movement and design that supports the conditions for greater well-being, community enterprise and ownership as well as safe, inviting places to promote active lifestyles.
Ian has taught on HKU’s Masters in Urban Design course and previously worked with Living Streets and Transition Towns in the UK, focusing on community lead public space initiatives. His work at Transport for London included implementing design for active travel in major developments, whilst he has also participated in the creation of policy guidelines on health in planning and design for the UK’s National Institute of Clinical Excellence . |
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Paul Yip
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Professor Paul Yip is the Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Chair Professor (Population Health) of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration and the Director of the HKJC Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention in The University of Hong Kong. Prof. Yip received the Medal of Honor (MH), Chief Executive Honours and Awards, HKSAR (2017), Knowledge Exchange Award, The University of Hong Kong (2017, 2013); the Stengel Research of the International Association of Suicide Prevention (2011); an Outstanding Researcher and Supervisor (2009, 2011); the Distinguished Alumni Award, La Trobe University (2008) etc. He has published over 400 scientific papers in international journals. His current interests are in population health issues include adopting a public health approach in suicide prevention, restriction of means, cost-effectiveness of suicide prevention, poverty alleviation and program evaluation.
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Larissa Lai
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Originally from Hong Kong, Larissa Lai is a a UD/MH Associate and licensed social worker and researcher based in New York. She holds a Masters degree in Social Work from New York University and is undertaking a Masters degree in City and Regional Planning at Pratt Institute. Larissa currently works as a psychotherapist and also in program design and evaluation for multiple social services and mental health agencies in the city. Her academic and research interests include critical theory, diversity issues, best practices and programming models for mental health, community impact, and innovative housing solutions.
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THE VENUE
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Hong Kong University's Main Building, the oldest structure on the HKU Main Campus. This Edwardian Baroque-style building was designed by Alfred Bryer of Leigh & Orange and was constructed between 1910 and 1912. In 1984, the building was declared a monument by the Hong Kong Government.
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Thanks
Rahimah Abdulrahim for photography and social media
Larissa Lai for video editing
Larissa Lai for video editing
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