8/14/2019 8.6 Architecture News - YMCA

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8/14/2019 8.6 Architecture News - YMCA

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Hong Kong has a population of seven million people. It covers 1,104 square

kilometres of land, of which, less than 25 per cent is developed. Do the math

and you will see that Hong Kong has a population density of 25,362 people per

square kilometre (Singapore, in contrast, has a population density of 7,378 peo-

ple per square kilometre*).

As a result, housing and other essential infrastructure are given first dibs with

the rest being squashed together like canned sardines. In such cramped con-

fines – where shops, eateries and other outlets blur into each other – the outlet

with the most attractive and striking décor would get the most attention and

traffic.

The Jordan Centre (Integrated Children & Youth Centre), operated by the Chinese

YMCA of Hong Kong, did not fall into this category. The centre was functional,

had easy-to-maintain surfaces, institutional-style fluorescent lighting and no

windows leading outside – just like a school. While its purpose is noble – to

provide a safe and conducive space for youths to mingle among peer groups,

seek advice in an informal environment and attend interest classes – which self-

respecting youth would go to a school rip-off?

Douglas Ho, Lourance Leung and Janie Yip of SLHO & Associates were asked to

redesign the space with two objectives in mind: make it visually attractive; staff

should find it easy to rearrange the centre’s outlook.

Ho and his team, sought to us e diffused light as a replacement for the lack of

external view. The light path took on the form of a ceiling light-band that started

from the community stage and led visitors into other parts of the centre.

Linoleum-based materials were used extensively. For example, the Children’s

Play Room interwove Marmoleum floors on the floors, walls and ceilings of the

room using orange, reds and blues that gave it a sense of layer and texture. This

bold acrylic-colour palette would be repeated throughout the centre with the

effect of enlivening the centre’s demeanour.

The “standard pin-up boards interspersed at intervals” were dropped in favour

of a rather unusual approach: a linoleum-based pin-up board material was used

as the finish for the entire length of a corridor. Thus, the corridor became one

big bulletin board.

ATTENTION YOUTH: JORDAN INTEGRATED

CHILDREN & YOUTH CENTRE

TEXT BY EDWIN TAM IMAGES COURTESY OF SLHO & ASSOCIATES

The centre of the centre, the community stage, was furnished using different

materials: illuminated Plexiglass on the left that led to the Family Area and

ribbed timber acoustic panels on the right. The community stage was further

enhanced by a mechanical platform that could retract under the D J’s studio.

Scattered around the stage were sofas that could be arranged in desired con-

figurations, be it a circular enclosure or other permutations.

The result: the centre, once a school rip-off, looks hip and cool now. Perhaps,

just perhaps, it might be able to get the attention of Hong Kong’s fickle youth.

 Jordan Integrated Children & Youth Centre is located at 1F Austin Road West, Unit 101,

Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong; Tel: (852) 2781 1411. For more information, visit

www.slho.com.hk.

*calculations based on developed areas.

architecturenews

Family Area Corridors General Office

Community Stage Plans