1. Introduction

Hong Kong, with a GDP of over 380 Billion USD, has held the title of “Asia World City”, and historically ( and still is) one of the world’s most dynamic economic hubs. Yet, with the home prices 16.7 times more expensive than the average household income, Hong Kong has consistently been ranked as the most unaffordable housing market globally. Nearly half the population depends on public housing, which although can be seen as a safety net in other countries, has faces significant challenges tackling urban housing challenges. This stark contrast between economic prosperity and housing affordability raises critical questions about the economic aspects of housing.

Notorious for expensive real estate, we wonder what the government has done in providing public housing and how it has been influenced by the current context of Hong Kong? How does the design of public housing in Hong Kong, influenced by factors such as the real estate market, impact its functionality, and affordability for residents?

This report examines the history and evolution of Ming Wah Estate, one of Hong Kong’s earliest public housing developments, while analyzing its design, construction methods, resident experiences, and its implications for policy and well-being.

2. Current Housing Policies

Examining application guidelines provided by the Housing Authority, we found that applications are restricted to residents of Hong Kong. This leaves many immigrants, including refugees and asylum speakers, excluded from welfare support. In addition to facing legal restrictions on employment, they must rely on unsustainable NGO provided humanitarian aid, and many end up in overcrowded, substandard private rentals.

Among the current residents and housing market:

consistent 6% rise in rent prices annually
45.3% live or rely on Public Housing/Aid
90% of unit under 40 square meters
over 25% of government revenue relies on land sales/leases, leading to a manipulative real estate market.

In addition, there are income restrictions for those that are eligible for public housing. Those that are in debt are ineligible, and there has been a long waitlist, over 73.7% have not gotten an offer after 4 years, and 60.3% residents find themselves struggling to pay rent even with public housing subsidies, and 76.7% of applicants have not received a vetting interview, leading to a long backlog of applications. Coupled with the high demand of housing supply and lack of land supply, it can be understandable that the current situation exists, yet also shows how ineffective current government policy is.

Study of Construction Methods

Through analysis of old archives provided by the housing authority, we found that old houses typically took longer to build compared to newly developed prefabricated modular housing, taking around 6 days to build a typical floor with this new method. Old houses tended to have more variety of materiality such as hollow blocks and different forms of concrete/brick, while newly constructed houses stuck to more uniform choices due to cost restrictions.

In terms of floorplan, there is more privacy in new houses with integrated kitchen and bathrooms, whereas older houses had shared communal kitchens/bathrooms. However, the size of each unit remains small ( around 100-200 square feet) and hard for families to live in.

Design and Wellbeing

Recent studies specifically related to materiality and floorplan design found significant correlations between design strategy and impact on wellbeing. Small enclosed spaces can lead to bad feelings of unease. The use of harsh material such as concrete can also give negative impacts on people. While increased greenery and natural light and ventilation has shown positive benefits for people.

In terms of methodologies in effective urban planning, one approach, newly used in Hong Kong, has been the process of Bottom-up Urban planning, which emphasizes incorporating residents' needs. In a case study of Lam Tim Housing Estate, they found that the process of a bottom up approach found increases in communal spaces, accessibility, and greenery. Residents also reported a higher subjective wellbeing score compared to other estates in the area.

Case Study Ming Wah

Historical Context of Site:

Constructed in the 1950s, Ming Wah estate aimed to respond to the severe housing crisis brought on by an influx of immigrants from Mainland China fleeing the civil war. These immigrants often found themselves in tenement housing, squatter settlements, which had poor sanitary and safety conditions, causing the colonial government to set up the Housing authority and create public housing units. As one of the first large scale estates, Ming Wah represented a cost saving and rapid build solution, prioritizing efficiency over comfort:

Main design consisted of:

Small flats (around 107–280 sq. ft.), often inadequate for families.
Communal kitchens and bathrooms, intended to minimize costs.
Reinforced concrete and brick structures, providing durability but limited variation in materiality.
Lack of lifts and modern amenities, making accessibility difficult.

As a result of these constraints, many residents shared in interviews that it caused closer ties with neighbours and communal resilience. Residents often shared resources, and communal kitchens unintentionally fostered strong social ties. Open courtyards and spaces between blocks became places for children’s play and neighborhood bonding.

Findings and Conclusions

Among interviews with residents, we found that the small apartment sizes often forced them to spend more time outdoors, and created strong feelings of claustrophobia and suffocation within these confined units. Later renovations included the addition of a private kitchen and bathrooms, however it intensified the sense of cramped living.

However, older communal arrangements unintentionally fostered a strong sense of community. Shared open spaces allowed for communal activities like football and ping pong, while modern public housing tends to prioritize privacy and efficiency, leaving communal connectivity that once enhanced the social fabric out of design consideration.

Materiality and environmental design also played a crucial role in shaping wellbeing. Early estates such as Ming Wah incorporated architectural features such as ventilated brick design, natural shading, and integrated greenery, providing comfort and livability. However, newer estates frequently prioritize cost efficiency over environmental considerations, reducing the inclusion of natural ventilation and green design features replacing it with sophisticated HVAC and plumbing systems. Older projects like Ming Wah Estate, though slower to complete, demonstrated greater variety in materials and layouts, which enhanced livability. In comparison, modern prefabricated methods allow a floor to be built in just six days, delivering speed and efficiency but often at the expense of design diversity and quality of life.

To address these challenges, lessons from past practices should be integrated into future housing policies and designs. Targeted interventions might include reintroducing passive ventilation and shading strategies to reduce dependence on costly HVAC systems, as well as adopting modular construction methods while prioritizing larger and better-ventilated layouts. Equally important is the creation of flexible communal areas that balance privacy with opportunities for social interaction. Policy reforms are necessary as well—expanding eligibility and accelerating housing supply to shorten waiting times, adjusting subsidies to reflect real rental costs, and adopting bottom-up planning processes that integrate resident feedback, as demonstrated in successful examples like the Lam Tin Estate.

Ming Wah Case Study: Analyzing factors and impacts of Hong Kong public housing design