Hong Kong—a bustling city teeming with concrete skyscrapers and diverse citizens. Yet, people living in this confined place still spare no effort in bringing a warm, human touch to their living spaces. During the redevelopment of Ngau Tau Kok Estate and So Uk Estate, designers collaborated with residents to weave life stories into public spaces through the “Cultural Corridor” exhibition of old items and the interactive “Eight Treasures of So Uk” display. Now, Wah Fu Estate carries this torch as its own rebirth begins. Architect Sarah Mui, alumna of The Chinese University of Hong Kong brings to life the Wah Fu Lounge —a space where collective memory intertwines with hope for the future, where residents gather, remember, and envision.
Wah Fu Estate, constructed in 1963, was born of Dr. Donald Liao’s vision for a healthy, self-sustaining community. Early mornings cradle the elderly in a soft sea breeze, while children race along sky bridges that connect homes to one another. Neighbors live by the rhythm of the tides: borrowing books, gathering in markets, pausing by the water to catch the sun. A life simple, familiar, and timeless. Decades later, as Wah Fu Estate enters a phase of redevelopment, residents feel both anticipation for better living conditions and apprehension about losing Wah Fu’s unique essence. “Relocation is both hope and hardship—will the future home feel as warm and familiar? What will my home become?” Such questions weigh on every resident’s heart. This is the question Sarah seeks to answer as she designs Wah Fu Lounge—a place that hold memory, continuity, and community.
“A space where the community breathes, where futures are dreamed.”
At sunset, golden light filters into Wah Fu Lounge, embracing the space in winter’s soft glow. This is a multifunctional public space integrating information, leisure, and activities—a place where people can pause, rest, and find moments of peace. Here, residents can join workshops organized by NGOs, receive updates on redevelopment, or even express their aspirations for Wah Fu on artistic canvases.
“The positioning of Wah Fu Lounge is a space where residents can feel at ease to come in,” Sarah said while introducing the design. The concept of a “lounge” exudes a cozy, homey atmosphere to encourage neighbors to come and visit whenever they want. Neighbors can move freely and feel at home. At its entrance, Wah Fu’s signature breeze blocks are incorporated into the design, paired with open spatial layouts that convey a sense of warmth and nostalgia while echoing Wah Fu’s collective memory. Facing Wah Fu Lounge, a mirror wall reflects vibrant natural artworks depicting iconic elements of Wah Fu Estate—its waterfall, the beloved resident cat, trees, and public spaces—blending them into one cohesive narrative.
Through paintings, panels, and models, Sarah and her team revisit Wah Fu Estate’s rich history and help residents understand the redevelopment process. Display boards in the hall provide detailed four-stage redevelopment updates, enabling residents not only to follow the progress but also to visualize what the new estate will look like.
Sarah emphasized: “We hope this is a transitional bridge—where residents can access the latest information and also contribute ideas for the future community.” The exhibition’s scale model makes redevelopment plans tangible, while interactive designs such as magnetic board games engage residents with the future community in a fun, accessible way, ensuring everyone feels, “I belong here.”
“From Wah Fu to Communities Beyond”
Sarah believes Wah Fu Lounge’s mission is not merely about information dissemination but also about inspiring and fostering dialogue:“We hope this design approach can be adopted in other public housing estates across Hong Kong.” She pointed out that every community’s redevelopment should be a process of collective participation.
This philosophy reminds us of CUHK’s InnoPort on campus. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the innovative space designed by Sarah herself carries countless stories of CUHK members and anticipates many future gatherings. Its design reflects an openness to the future—from entrepreneurial forums to alumni salons, InnoPort is not merely a space but an extension of the spirit of “Through learning and temperance to virtue.”
Spaces, whether Wah Fu Hall or InnoPort, become homes for memory and platforms for dreams when shaped by people and emotions. Between what was, and what can be. Between memory, and the dreams of a future community.
Editor: CUHK-ORKTS, Yueli Qiu (Student in MA in English Literary Studies, Inno-Ambassador)
