| Author: | Cheng, Kwan Yee Queenie |
| Title: | The impact of placemaking and community building on residents’ place attachment : a case study of Kai Tak, Hong Kong |
| Advisors: | Sun, Yi (BRE) |
| Degree: | DIREC |
| Year: | 2024 |
| Subject: | Place attachment -- China -- Hong Kong Human beings -- Effect of environment on City planning Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Department of Building and Real Estate |
| Pages: | xiii, 258 pages : color illustrations |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | In Hong Kong, urban renewal has become a common strategy to promote redevelopment and urbanisation and improve people’s quality of life, which has led to the creation of new neighbourhoods through increased development. As a result, many families and individuals have moved to new towns and cities. Coupled with the emphasis on well-being, work-life balance and community-related issues in recent decades, the concepts of placemaking and community building have emerged to understand how these strategies affect people’s attachment to place. However, research on these initiatives and their application in Hong Kong is limited. Existing studies point to two related gaps. Firstly, the critical placemaking and community-building factors that influence place attachment are unclear. Secondly, current urban planning in Hong Kong does not comprehensively consider placemaking, nor have clear indicators been incorporated into the city’s planning standards and guidelines. This thesis addresses this gap by examining the important components of placemaking and community building (i.e. the physical and social attributes of an area) and their impact on place attachment. Kai Tak, a newly developed area with explicit government efforts in placemaking and community building, was chosen as an appropriate example to examine how placemaking and community building affect place attachment. One hundred and fifty residents between the ages of 18 and 70 were recruited to participate in the study. This study involves the study of residents’ perception of placemaking and community building. The results showed that residents were most satisfied with the provision of open public spaces, natural elements and a spacious neighbourhood design. In terms of community building, a harmonious relationship between neighbours was ranked the highest. The study also found that Kai Tak residents were least satisfied with the provision of car parking, retail shops and services and restaurants. Entertainment options and provision of carparking spaces as placemaking factors was found to have the strongest association with place attachment. Sense of belonging as a community building factor also showed the strongest association with place attachment. Interestingly, greenery and waterways were not related to place attachment. Residents’ satisfaction with Kai Tak was found to be a mediator underlying the relationship between placemaking domains, place identity and place dependence. These findings highlight the importance of carefully considering different placemaking domains and community-building efforts to enhance the psychological benefits (i.e. place identity) and independent living (i.e., place dependence) of residents in urban renewal areas. Overall, this study assessed the influences of placemaking and community building on residents’ place attachment, providing insights into the complex relationships between the physical attributes of place and people’s perceptions. The findings have several implications for policymaking and urban planning. It is hoped that this study can serve as a reference for urban planners and the private and public sectors in the future design and layout of new cities. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7621.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 7.27 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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