FARM-to-FORK-to-FUEL Hub in Yau Ma Tei

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, School of Architecture, Hong Kong

Project idea

Natural resources, such as wood, grains, water and land, have been the raw materials for production systems since early industrial period, when “mother earth” was treated as an endless supplier, seemingly unaffected by human activities. This mindset, however, has been altered after considerable environmental and social challenges expose the vulnerability of nature. Hong Kong is among many cities globally that are delaying the urgent call to progress to a global, regenerative city where the balance of natural and built environments is recovered. In Hong Kong for example nearly 99% of food waste is still dumped as municipal solid waste in landfills. This project will examine material circularity between built environment and natural systems in terms of architecture and food in Hong Kong. In doing so, the inquiry will question the current “cradle to grave” strategy of the Government by exploring how architecture and food cycles can interconnect in the refurbishment and revitalisation of the Yau Ma Tei Wholesale Fruit Market and its community. The project consists of four parts:

A. Research: definitions of circular economy and urban farming by scientists and architects; Hong Kong food mapping, including import, markets, waste related facilities, and also Yau Ma Tei site; site study; urban farming case studies;

B. Food Experience: urban farming experience on the rooftop of our School of Architecture in the Chinese University of Hong Kong; focus photos of food natural structure; moulding food as Artifacts;

C. Design Analysis: the urban renewal proposal in 2017, Yau Mong District Study, offers an appropriate testing ground for the recycling of existing iconic structure of the Yau Ma Tei Wholesale Fruit Market, as well as food waste from farming animals and plants. The revitalisation options for the Fruit Market and planning for some area under the Renewal will be tested with program for the affected shop tenants, local farmers and the neighbourhood;

D. Final design: the overall design methodology will be critically assessed according to the regenerative power of the integrated architectural design.

The project integrates food production, processing, distribution and recycling in urban context under circular economy. Through the theme of unlocking the resilience capabilities of urban centre and the market community, the project looks to bring farming and arable crops back to the day to day lives of urban communities. It also re-evaluates the role of food in future urban development by considering city as an organic entity and promotes health of both humans and our city.

Project description

As a mature community in Hong Kong, Yau Ma Tei fruit market offers a critical site for testing the compatibilities of natural food and architecture, as well as wildness and human. Remaining the retail and wholesale function of the market, my project aims to introduce a complete food cycle into the community by adding food production, processing and recycling to the local basic network of restaurants and greenery, as well as developing the heart of Hong Kong into a self-willingly gradual growing market in future urban planning.

Transportation of organic fuel to official facilities is replaced by local network of farms and communal food waste composting machines on the same level of the market. The potential of composting in urban soils and reduction of packaging in retail process motivate the change of dumping methods inside food cycle. No excess materials are wasted in both organic and inorganic loops, provided that each levels of the project circulates food to its maximum value and participating parties are educated to self manage the material flow in between.

The greenery around the site is fragmental and with limited function in the rigid and tense urban grid, while the freedom of allowing trees to grow on the top of the gable and canopies of the market reveals an opportunity of revitalization and farming on the embedded rooftop farming houses, which can continue the food activities on the basis of self managing food source for shops and restaurants. Diversified urban farming methods on a massive farming deck, such as soil farming extending from the market stalls to the primary schools at the back, and slightly larger scale of aquaponics in tower, encourage the community to be self sufficient and productive under any future challenge. A demonstrative food tower in-between recycles food in the loop of farming, eating and composting, while excess food materials will be processed and transported to neighbouring markets and restaurants.

The beauty of the chaotic and rough urban texture of the fruit market can be expressed through the continuity of carved metal gates and corten facade of the new food tower. The project also acts as an extension of the market which fills up the empty space after fire with respectful architectural thoughts to the vernacular, and also the empty hearts of inhabitants when everyone concerns about food safety and market’s future.

Technical information

The concept of circular economy is applied in the project through two district metabolisms: organic cycle and inorganic cycle in Yau Ma Tei.

For organic cycle, food is circulated through farm to dining table and then to recycling as compost on site. Community of the Fruit Market and restaurants nearby are involved in the material cycle through spontaneous participation in each stage.

For inorganic cycle, the building blocks are grounded on the vacant space after the big fire in 2016, without affecting the current historic structures of the Fruit Market. The retained building structures such as brick or steel columns are strengthened by the steel support connecting the market ground and proposed rooftop farmhouse, embedded inside the existing corrugated metal facade. The spirit of the vernacular architecture continues through carved metal gates of the recycling machine zone on market level, rusted metal facade of the Food Block and the vertical delivery platform. The building skin is removable so that it can be easily circulated in the material cycle.