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The 2012 HKIUD Conference "Urban Design as Public Policy" was successfully held on 31st March to 1st April 2012 at Langham Place Hotel, Mongkok, Hong Kong.
The conference was highly praised by the Secretary for Development for the diverse range of speakers from all over the world, and our other sponsors, speakers and more than 200 participants as an effective platform for exchanging informative ideas and experiences from other cities. The conference helped raise the importance of Urban Design as an integral part of the planning and policy framework.
Welcome Remarks by Dr. Sujata Govada, Chairlady of the Conference Organizing Committee
Souvenir Presentation to Major Sponsors –Mr. Kieran O'Neill representing the Development Bureau
Souvenir Presentation to Sponsor – Mr. David Au representing the Urban Renewal Authority
 
Opening Address and Keynote Speech by Mrs. Carrie Lam, GBS, JP, Secretary for Development, HKSAR Government
In her speech entitled ‘Public Policy Conducive to Urban Design in Hong Kong, Mrs. Lam described urban design as how we translate social, cultural and political aspirations of people into built form in cities. She described how Government polices conducive to urban design are currently under one administrative roof at the Development Bureau and that institutions have been set up and polices devised which address various urban design issues such as heritage conservation, the harbour, sustainable buildings, urban renewal and public open spaces. Examples of how urban design has driven planning and infrastructure changes were highlighted. In conclusion, urban design should prioritise design for the people and society through a process driven approach and should not underestimate the importance of small scale urban design.
 
Keynote Speech by Mr. Richard A. Dimino (USA), President & CEO of A Better City on Transportation, Urban Design and Civic Engagement. The presentation centred on the mutual influences between transportation infrastructure and the built environment. For example, transport infrastructure can be integral to the built environment symbolising the image of the city as pathways, icons and as parts of the streetscape. Transport infrastructure can support new development to make an urban design statement or perform a functional role. On the other hand, new development supports new transport infrastructure.
 
Panel Response / Q&A Session
Respondent: Mr. Nicholas Brooke, Chairman, Harbourfront Commission
Moderator: Mr. Vincent Ng, Vice President (Local Policies)
Session 1: From Strategic Vision toRealization
Panel Speaker Presentation by Mr. Arun Jain (USA), Board Member International Federation of Housing and Planning on New Frameworks for Better Community. Cities are created through a mix of circumstance and deliberation over time. Their relative success and that of the communities in them is largely based upon their current and inherited social, political and economic cultures. In uncertain times, the challenge for cities is to find better ways to ensure that the overall quality of urban life improves in the face of the absence of stagnation of growth and resources. Time, money and attention need to be directed to the full dimensions of sustainability. This presentation offered insights into the issues and processes through which these concerns were being addressed based upon a strategic urban design framework developed in Portland Oregon, current efforts to plan and design for uncertainty and the presenters current role chairing an international think tank.
 
Panel Speaker Presentation by Dr. Liu Thai Ker (Singapore), Director of RSP Architects Planner & Engineers (Pte) Ltd on Urban Design Begins at Master Planning. This talk attempted to explain how the master planning process contributes powerfully to laying the foundation of an urban image for a city. It touched on the various roles, beyond visual effects of urban design, and then brought out the flavour of the urban characters as prescribed at the planning stage. It concluded by discussing how to make the best use of architectural design for the larger purpose of creating a beautiful urban image for the city.
 
Panel Response / Q&A Session
Respondent: Dr. Sujata Govada, Chairlady of the Organizing Committee
Moderator: Dr. Peter Cookson Smith, Vice President (Professional Development)
 
Lunch Keynote Presentation by Mr. Daniel Hernandez (USA), Managing Director of Jonathan Rose Companies on Capturing Entrepreneurship and Innovation of Cities for Sustainable Development. New models of public-private partnership are needed and an integrated systems approach is demanded to harness the economic capacity of cities. Highlighting various planning and development projects, the presentation illustrated ways of building the economic and physical capital of cities, as well as the human capital of neighborhoods.
Session 2: Public Participation in the Urban Design Process
Panel Speaker Presentation by Mr. Peter Jensen (Australia), Chair Urban Design Chapter of Planning Institute of Australia on Creating Places for (and with) People – Contemporary Australian Policy and Practice. This presentation outlined the increasing role of the Australian and State Governments in the urban design “space”, and highlighted the South Australian Government’s formation of an Integrated Design Commission and Design Review Panels which promote the inter-disciplinary approach advocated throughout the urban design process. Case studies showed how new participatory models are being developed for undertaking and reviewing integrated urban design projects.
Panel Speaker Presentation by Prof. Wu Jiang (China), Professor, Vice President of Tongji University on the Guideline for Administrative Control on the Historical Streets. This presentation showed a general comprehensive control guideline for the Xuhui District of Shanghai which assisted the local government in conducting their daily management in the historical streets from the different aspects of public spaces, buildings and other visual elements.
 
Panel Response / Q&A Session
Respondent: Mrs. Sorais Lee, Head of Kai Tak Office, Civil Engineering and Development Department
Moderator: Prof. Mee Kam Ng, Academic Advisor
Session 3: Public / Private Partnership
Panel Speaker Presentation by Mr. Kevin Murray (United Kingdom), Chairman of Academy of Urbanism on Upfront Public Engagement. The presentation explored some of the key lessons behind community and stakeholder engagement and with reference to a range of techniques and methods drew out key lessons in how to facilitate, engage and even empower communities through careful planning, strategy as well as training the key people to help achieve better outcomes with a greater sense of ownership.
Panel Speaker Presentation by Mr. Takayuki Kubo (Japan), Senior Researcher of Institute for Urban Strategies, The Mori Memorial Foundation on Urban Regeneration in Tokyo. The private sector has played key roles in promoting urban regeneration in Tokyo. The presentation showed the example of Roppongi Hills, the largest private based urban regeneration project in Japan, is also known around the world as a highly successful mixed use project.
 
Panel Response / Q&A Session
Respondent: Mr. Raymond Chow, Executive Director of Hongkong Land
Moderator: Mr. Donald Choi, Public Affairs Committee Member, MHKIUD
Day 2 Workshop
Keynote Presentation by Mr. David Sim (Denmark), Senior Consultant and Director of Gehl Architects on Life between Buildings – The Human Dimension in Planning. David Sims explained and illustrated the typical aspirations of people for the design and use of public spaces. Noting that the way in which people use spaces is universal, cycling, walking, public transport and open spaces were identified as key elements of great cities. Time Square, Columbus Circle and Madison Square in New York and Christchurch in New Zealand amongst others were cited as prominent examples.
 
Breakout Sessions:1. From Strategic Vision to Realization
Moderators: Prof. Marc Aurel Schnabel and Prof. Hendrik Tieben, Academic Advisor
2. Participation in the Urban Design Process
Moderators: Ms. Tristance Kee and Mr. Bernie Harrad, Council Member
3. Public Private Partnership
Moderators: Prof. Stefan Al and Prof. Laurence Liauw
 
Wrap Up Session
The outcomes of the workshop discussions will be reported in due course.
 
Tour 1: Walking Tour from Central to Sheung Wan leaded by Dr. Peter Cookson Smith, Vice President (Professional Development)
 
Tour 2: Walking Tour from Mong Kok to Olympic Station leaded by Mr. Oren Tatcher, Conference Organising Committee Member
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