CASE STUDIES

1. Hongkong Wetland Park

Wetland Conservation
CONTEXT
Tin Shui Wai, was a rural area with farmland, fishponds
and also a large natural wetland

It is also the route of migratory birds

CONTEXT
The area of Tin Shui Wai was chosen as a location to develop
largescale residential housing.

Wetlands had to be destroyed for the housing development

SITE LOCATION Mitigation of habitat loss due
to urban development in Tin Shui Wai

Act as a buffer between Tin Shui Wai and the

Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site.

MAI PO

WETLAND
PARK

RESIDENTIAL
DEVELOPMENT
 Developmental Pressure
THREATS
Lack of regulations
Rail project cutting across wetlands
‘no net-loss ’ principle: area and function
pollution
ZONING -WETLANDS Core Zone: undisturbed, largely natural area.

Biodiversity Management Zone: focus for biodiversity conservation, education

Public Access Zone: Managed access will be allowed in order to raise awareness

Wise Use Zone: existing wetlands to be used in an ecologically sustainable manner

Private Land Zone: development subject to land use restrictions.

Wetland Conservation Area (WCA)

Construction allowed if it is devoted to the conservation or environmental
education

Wetland Buffer Area (WBA)

500m strip of land surrounding the landward boundary of the WCA.
ZONING -WETLANDS

CORE ZONE

BIODIVERSITY
MGMT ZONE

WISE USE ZONE

PUBLIC ACCESS
HONG KONG WETTLAND PARK, CITY OF HONG KONG, CHINA
Landscape architects: Urbis Limited
Architects: Arch SD (Architectural Services Department, HKSAR)
Completion: December 2005
Area: 64 hectares

HONGKONG WETLAND PARK

OBJECTIVE

to provide opportunities for

mitigation of the substantial loss of wetland habitats of Mai Po
due to urban development

new tourist attractions and facilities were developed

to sustain the long-term growth of the tourism industry
CONCEPT

avoidance ,minimization and compensation

the management of human

activity to avoid conflict with the key environmental
principles is a principal determinant of the adopted layout.
 No Public

Discovery
Centre Bird
Hides

Entrance &
Visitor
Centre
 HIERARCHY AND PROFILE OF BUILDINGS

Transition from built to unbuilt

VISITOR CENTRE
The visitor facilities can be divided
into two main components
• indoor visitor centre
•outdoor Exhibit areas
INDOOR VISITOR CENTRE

Area: 6,000 sq m.
Objective
Indirect participation with the wetland
ecosystem.

Design
Exhibition hall, audio visual room

sculpted as an integral part of the landscape

DESIGN ELEMENTS Landscaped roof
and sky lighting

•Eco friendly
•Low energy consumption
DESIGN ELEMENTS Timber louvers

•Shading
•Visual and Sound Barrier for bird nesting

Air conditioning methods

•Cross Ventilation
•Geothermal Heat pump
(low sound emission)
OUT-DOOR EXHIBIT Objective
Create awareness on
traditional techniques

Design
demonstration gardens
Ponds/pools
Farmyards
Fish ponds
Outdoor classrooms
ROUTES
ROUTES

Route I
Length 500m
Floating board way
From north fringe of visitors centre
Three-storey observatory tower
at the end of route I

Route II
Length 2000m
Floating board way
Walk through wet grassland and scrub
High viewing point I
DISCOVERY CENTRE

Objective
Direct participation with ecosystem

Design
Activity Oriented Zone
Wetland education imparted through activities
BIRDS HIDE\OBSERVATION HIDES

Observation hides have been constructed

Commanding view over the northern part of the Reserve
Walk through wet grassland and scrub
Minimum disturbance by human movements

Observatory
NO PUBLIC ZONE
Ramsar Site
OTHER SUSTAINABLE CONCEPTS

•Usage of locally available materials

•Reuse and recycled building materials
•Use of native landscape species
CONCLUSION

Ecological conservation
Economic development

Significance of Environmental Impact Assessment

in tourism projects
INFERENCES

Factors to be considered:

•Environmental issues
•Geology, flora and fauna
•Construction techniques and materials
•Transportation and linkages
•Community participation
•Eco sensitive construction management