Kowloon Walled City
九龍城寨
1847, Vernacular 民間建築及屋邨
Kowloon Walled City was fully demolished in 1993. Before the demolition, a Japanese expedition team conducted an archaeological field survey through multiple site visits, contributing to the construction of a replica of Kowloon Walled City in Japan. When Britain took over Hong Kong in 1841, the Qing Court established a walled city in Kowloon for defensive purpose. In 1898, British Government took over the New Territories. Armies of the Qing Court and Britain engaged in a battle a year later, resulted in the retreat of Qing forces. Since then, the Walled City had become a lawless land. During World War II, Japanese forces tore down the walls for the construction of an airport. Since then, houses increased continually inside the crowded Walled City without any regulations, turning the neighbourhood into one of the most unique architectural compounds.
The story of Kowloon Walled City is our story - a story of a crowded but energetic, lively city,
Written by: Corrin Chan (Hong Kong Registered Architect)
Photographed by: Survey and Mapping Office
1993 年九龍城寨，被完全的清拆。在它被清拆前，日本探險隊作了多次的考察紀錄。今天，九龍城寨的翻版竟然在日本重現。城寨 原為九龍寨城，在 1841 年英國接管香港時，清廷為了防衛英軍，在九龍建立寨城駐守。1898 年， 英政府接管新界，一年後雙方交戰，清兵撤退，寨城從此成了三不管地帶。二戰期間，日軍拆去 城牆，作修建機場之用，此後這三不管地之內的房屋不斷的在無法律規管下增加，它不斷的在有 限的範圍內生長，產生了一獨特自然衍生的建築群。
九龍城寨的故事，就是我們的故事，一個「迫」出來卻充滿生命力的城市。
文：陳翠兒 (香港註冊建築師)
相片：地政總署提供
http://www.etnet.com.hk/www/tc/diva/art_hkac_detail.php?id=29137&page=3
