Everyday life under modernist planning: A study of an ever-transforming urban area in Hong Kong

The main objective of this study is to reveal the modernist production of space in relation to the everyday life of people in Hong Kong. Governments usually consider modernist urban planning to be an active force, and assume that this is the only proper means of directing the community towards the ideal of social harmony. As a result, the everyday life for citizens - ordinary people - in urban regions is embodied within the experience of a highly organised society. This article highlights the significance of this modernist ideology for urban development of Hong Kong. A case study of a district, Wan Chai, is then adopted to illustrate a tendency towards specific urban development strategies, in contrast to the diverse urban fabrics that have developed in a historical context. A comparative approach is used to examine the southern and northern parts of the district (that is, Wan Chai North and Wan Chai South). Six dimensions are used to analyse differentiations between modern urban areas and traditional living areas. The results shed light on planning issues that are relevant to everyday spaces.