TABLE OF CONTENTS - The Professional Green Building Council

Theme B: Creating a livable, healthy and environmentally viable cities2. THE ECOLOGICAL MASTER PLANThe Yau Tong (YT) / Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC) Sites is a majordevelopment occupying an urban site with overall site area of about 14 hectarehousing over 80,000 persons featuring a high density Plot Ratio 7.5 [5]. Thelinear configuration of the development rises above the waterfront along steppingterrain screen off the green mountain side at the back. This is atypical compared tothe low density built-environment where rich greeneries from an intermingledlandscape network exist. Rather, it is representative of the typical high densitytopographic development found in other metropolitan counterparts. Planned andbuilt over a series of stages to serve the peak demand of public housing at the turnof the century [6], many opportunities were lost due to the need for rapid urbangrowth during which the bulk of development along the terrain has beenconstructed.The Housing Authority is committed to transforming YT / EHC for ecologicalresponsiveness. In the planning and design of subsequent phases of work fromnorth to south, passive mitigation design features that optimize lighting andventilation, sunshine, pedestrian comfort, pollution dispersion, energy conservationand water conservation have been adopted. Where applicable, active mitigation,including hybrid ventilation, motorized ventilators, water-cool air-conditioning,reclaimed water have also been employed, mostly at the commercial developments[7]. Most importantly, to tie these initiatives together holistically, and to positivelyaddress the impact of density; the associated heat island effect and to reconcile thegap between built environment and nature, an Ecological Master plan for thedistrict has been created to achieve the following themes [8] :a)Provide a long term vision to realize green ribbons linking the ecosystemsbetween the development and the surrounding country parkb)Recognise the intrinsic value of biodiversity and natural ecosystems, protect,restore and replenish existing fabric185