[URBANTH-L]ANN: Hong Kong and New York: Vertical Density, Sustainable Solutions (New York)

[Angela Jancius]

[forwarded from H-Urban at h-net.msu.edu]

All programs are FREE.

Schedule of programs and registration:
http://www.skyscraper.org/PROGRAMS/VERTICAL_DENSITY/vertical_density_overview.php
http://www.skyscraper.org/home_flash.htm

THE SKYSCRAPER MUSEUM PRESENTS AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
Hong Kong | New York: Vertical Density | Sustainable Solutions,
October 15-18

In conjunction with the Vertical Cities: Hong Kong | New York exhibition, 
The
Skyscraper Museum has organized an international symposium examining the
dramatic vertical urbanism of Hong Kong and exploring comparisons with
New York City. Three separate programs will be held in partnership with
The Regional Plan Association, The New School's India China Institute and
The Tishman Environment and Design Center.

Is vertical density a strategy for successful, sustainable cities? In
conjunction with its current exhibition, Vertical Cities: Hong Kong |
New York, The Skyscraper Museum presents a 3-day international
symposium on the hyper-dense urbanism of Hong Kong and Manhattan that
will highlight models of transit-based, mixed-use development and
soaring housing projects typical of Hong Kong to ask What can New
York learn?

If Hong Kong has succeeded by embracing Manhattan's Culture of
congestion as Rem Koolhaas described the energy and drive of New
York in the early twentieth century, what values might Gotham
recognize in Hong Kong's recent rise? Development in Hong Kong in the
past decades shows that planned urban growth can accommodate the
pressures to intensify central districts while creating commuter
communities of dispersed, but remarkably dense new housing in the
outer districts, including New Territories. Some achievements New
York might emulate are investments in infrastructure that have
created a seamless 23-minute ride from the top-ranked international
airport to the central business district and middle-income housing
estates of 250 units an acre that are served by and help to finance
mass-transit railways.

Speakers including senior government officials, developers, civic
advocates, architects, engineers, and academics from both New York
and Hong Kong will discuss the role of vertical density and high-rise
buildings in the current and future development of these cities. Among
those participating in the dialogue are Mrs. Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's
Secretary for Development; Thomas Ho, Property Director for the Mass
Transit Railway (MTR); Christine Loh, President of Civic-Exchange.
They will be joined in dialogue with their counterparts from New
York, including Amanda Burden, Chair of the City Planning Commission;
Christopher Ward, Executive Director of the Port Authority; Elliot
Sander, Executive Director of the MTA; Landmarks Preservation
Commission Chair Robert Tierney; and Commissioner Shaun Donovan of
the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
The three afternoon programs of the conference, at different venues
are held in partnership with The Regional Plan Association, The New
School's India China Institute and The Tishman Environment and Design
Center.

All programs are free. For more information on venues,
speakers, schedule of programs, and registration see:
http://www.skyscraper.org/PROGRAMS/VERTICAL_DENSITY/vertical_density_overview.php

Carol A. Willis
Founder and Director
The Skyscraper Museum