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Despite its limited land area, Hong Kong stands as a prominent Asian international metropolis that bridges East and West. The city is renowned as a global financial centre with a world-class public transportation network and astonishing natural beauty. Country parks occupy 40% of its total land area, while accessible beaches and hiking trails offer residents and visitors alike a chance to reconnect with nature and get away from the bustle of city life. These elements together make Hong Kong an exceptionally liveable city.
To promote liveable communities, Link Sustainability Lab launched a special exhibition at Lok Fu Place on 9 July titled “Link’s 20th Anniversary Special – People Make Places: the Making of Liveable Spaces”. We invite you to visit the exhibition, where you can explore Link’s initiatives around ecological conservation, technological innovation, commercial revitalisation, placemaking and fostering care within the community – elements essential to creating a vibrant, sustainable, liveable urban environment in Hong Kong.
Upon entering the Lab, you are immersed in various familiar scenes from daily life – from shopping for fresh ingredients on the way home from work to prepare a family meal, to visiting nearby shops, restaurants and entertainment outlets to take care of everyday needs just steps from home. The exhibit showcases scenes of children enjoying local playgrounds after school, teenagers shooting hoops on mall rooftop courts and friends gathering on weekends for music, games and cultural activities. These everyday moments and simple pleasures form the foundation of a truly liveable community.
In this area, you have the opportunity to travel back in time. Exhibition panels chronicle Hong Kong’s transformation over the past two decades alongside the asset enhancement programmes Link initiated after its public listing to rejuvenate the shopping malls and markets it manages. These efforts have revitalised Link’s communities and enhanced customer experiences. The exhibit also traces Link’s strategic expansion of its business to Mainland China, Singapore, Australia and the UK, and the launch of the “Link Real Estate Investment” business to pursue and execute forward-looking investment strategies for private institutional capital.
This area offers you the chance to see how Link, starting in 2010, has revitalised 52 traditional fresh markets and altered them into modern living spaces and community hubs. Drawing inspiration from international experiences and implementing innovations such as the separation of wet and dry market areas, smart lighting and temperature-controlled ventilation, electronic payment systems and barrier-free access, Link has completely transformed the fresh market experience in Hong Kong and, in doing so, reshaped perceptions about fresh markets being outdated and unhygienic. You can also take part in an augmented reality experience to learn about the details of these modernisation efforts, and interact with virtual stall owners “Keung Gor” and “Lin Jeh” to experience the charm of these new “smart markets” first-hand.
The game zone remains a favourite with children. Two brand-new games – “Out with the Old, In with the New” and “Hoop Hero Challenge” – offer interactive fun. The first game challenges participants to complete a puzzle within a time limit to illustrate how renovated shopping malls have revitalised communities, while the second game allows players to improve their athletic abilities on a virtual basketball court.
As a resident of Hong Kong, have you noticed the transformation in public facilities and spaces around you? Over the years, Link has continuously upgraded both the interiors and exteriors of its properties and public spaces. In this interactive zone, you can explore eight of Link’s key properties using virtual reality (VR) technology to understand how Link creates self-sufficient community hubs that incorporate local characteristics and address community needs.
Additionally, as sustainable development has taken root in the community, you can learn how Link integrates the IoT (Internet of Things), AI and big data to build smart and sustainable management systems. These systems can automatically monitor environmental data, provide energy-saving solutions and optimise operational efficiency.
Since launching Link Together Initiatives in 2013, Link has continually invested resources in this flagship charity and community engagement project, supporting innovative and effective projects that promote sustainable community development. At Link Sustainability Lab, six programme participants and NGO representatives share their experiences in 3D cartoon form, offering their thoughts and achievements as community members.
Link Together Initiatives has supported various charitable organisations over the years. One of these – the Environmental Association’s “Nature LINK” project – has established butterfly gardens at 10 Link malls. By introducing butterfly-friendly flora, these gardens have created habitats for butterflies and fostered ecological hotspots within urban areas.
For this exhibition, the Lab has collaborated with the Environmental Association’s Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve, which served as a content advisor and mobilised volunteers to participate in creating the display. All the “butterflies” in the installation were crafted from discarded aluminium cans collected by volunteers.
Urban development is both a social science and an art form.
The Lab has created a unique creative gallery space devoted to urban development. The gallery features three contemporary artists who each present their interpretations of “Future City” using different artistic media. British artist Emily Allchurch’s digital collage captures the city’s dynamic energy, while local artists Michelle Fung and Mimi Luk use prints and papercutting, respectively, to showcase their unique perspectives on community life.
Creating liveable spaces requires the collective wisdom and strength of many, and we can all sow the seeds of future cities by contributing our imagination. After visiting the Lab and appreciating the artworks in the gallery space, we invite you to pick up a paintbrush and unleash your creativity – let’s co-create our ideal community together!
In addition to visiting Link Sustainability Lab, be sure to join the thematic workshops designed for families to enrich your experience!
