Public Housing Case Study Part 2: Kwun Tong Estate
History of the area and name itself
The origins of Kwun Tong as an area date back to the song dynasty, with the area being called “Kwun Fu Cheung”, a vast costal salt pan. Later on in the 1950s, residence began to rename the chinese character of “官” (“official”) to the more auspicious “觀” (Look/Sight).
In terms of the economy, the area mainly revolves on salt and granite extraction by quarry workers, however after the fall of the Qing dynasty, the salt trade collapsed, leaving the area virtually gone from the map. Old news sources have even dubbed it as a waste dump in the 1950s. Modernization of the Kwun Tong area began in the 1950s through government investment in industry development, leading to massive topographical changes through reclamation efforts to expand the land and mountain leveling. These efforts eventually attracted manufacturers and investors to pour in, eventually producing a flourishing diverse industry in the area.
This boom in industry subsequently led to the influx of workers, leading to a new MTR ( metro line) being proposed in 1979. Despite this, transportation infrastructure was still a challenge, coupled with the influx of workers, the government’s Housing Society decided to build worker dormitories, becoming the Garden Estate in question in our ethnographic study.
Compared to our old case study, Kwun Tong can be considered a ‘bottom up' approach, being one of the most resident friendly and affordable estates in Hong Kong, becoming home to many factory workers. Given the area's population boom, subsequent projects such as the Kwun Tong Government school and Lotus Towers ( the 2nd estate) were constructed by the government, further enhancing this bottom up approach.
A general look at life around Kwun Tong Estate through Urban Planning:
A large majority of infrastructure development has been built around Yue Man Square, leading to subsequent commercial development and explosive population growth. Coupled with the development of private real estate around the area, the population growth in the area exploded, becoming one of the most densely populated areas in Hong Kong, along with one of the most expensive industrial and commercial areas.
The reason for Yue Man Square as the center of can be attributed to the huge population growth and lack of transportation infrastructure in the late 1970/early 1980s.
Due to Kwun Tong's relative isolation from the city center, residents tended to stay within the district for most of their daily needs—shopping, dining, and entertainment—seldom venturing out to spend money elsewhere. As a result, commercial activity in Yue Man Square thrived. The district bustled with people, especially around Mut Wah Street, which became the busiest spot thanks to its location away from the market. Numerous popular brands opened shops there, further enhancing the area's commercial vibrancy.
Architectural Analysis of Kwun Tong Garden Estate
Kwun Tong Garden Estate, developed in 2 phases between 1960s and 70s, is one of the earliest low cost public housing projects in Hong Kong, and transformed Kwun Tong into Hong Kong’s largest industrial hub. The development reflected not only innovative architecture, but fosters a strong cultural and communal sense of living.
Architectural Design
The estate was constructed in two phases, reflecting shifts in public housing design:
Phase 1 (1958–59, by J. E. March): Seven “flower blocks,” 6 stories high, rectangular in form, with a central yard and shared staircases.
Phase 2 (1960–66, by Chau & Lee Architects): Five “bird blocks,” 8–13 stories, with central corridors and terrain-sensitive designs ensuring light, ventilation, and views.
Across both phases, units became larger than other housing estates in Hong Kong, and was one of the first to incorporate individual bathrooms and kitchens in each apartment, replacing the old communal ones.
Communal facilities were deliberately planned around the estates: shops, schools, and playgrounds were made accessible as a result. Shops on the ground floor not only served Garden Estate residents but also attracted neighbours from newly built estates nearby.
Cultural Identity and Community
Unlike the temporary feeling that many tenement/resettlement houses had at the time, the estate created a permanent home for many. Many old residents still reside in the estate, calling themselves “Garden Estate dwellers”. The openness in design, sky views, breezeways and greenery, fostered wellbeing and belonging.
The completion of the estate catalyzed Kwun Tong’s urbanization. Shops, clinics, schools, MTR, and even government facilities such as the police and fire stations followed its establishment. It served as both housing and a social anchor, binding the emerging industrial workforce into a cohesive community. Its integration of living, commerce, and recreation was ahead of its time, representing a holistic model of public housing that went beyond mere shelter.
