Choi Hung Estate
彩虹邨
1965, Vernacular 民間建築及屋邨
Architect Firm: 巴馬丹拿建築及工程師有限公司 Palmer & Turner Architects
Choi Hung Estate (“Estate of Rainbow” in Chinese) is an enchanting name. It is located at the site formerly known as Sa Tei Yuen, one of the Shap Sam Heung in Kowloon. In the 1950s to 60s, as Hong Kong Government developed Kowloon, Sa Tei Yuen was transformed into a new public housing estate accommodating 20,000 people. The construction was organised by the former Housing Authority with the renowned firm Palmer &Turner as architect. The estate had been completed in stages with residents gradually moving in from 1962 to 1964. It is one of the earliest public housing estates with comprehensive development design. The estate is a small-scale community with facilities including schools, stores, a post office, a market, restaurants and carpark. Choi Hung Estate is composed of ten L-shape and T-shape buildings of different heights. The foursquare buildings with lean structure reflects its precise, straightforward architectural language. Its facades take an abundant but well-ordered treatment, fully demonstrating the pragmatism and diversity embodied in the later phase of Modern architectural style. With distinguished and user-oriented design, Choi Hung Estate was awarded the Silver Medal of Hong Kong Institute of Architects in 1965 and deemed a role model of public housing of early phase in Hong Kong.
彩虹邨，一個多麼優美的名稱。彩虹邨的前身是九龍十三鄉之一的沙地園。1950-60年代香港政府逐步發展九龍，沙地園被改為可容納约兩萬人的新型公屋。由香港屋宇建設委員會負責策劃，老牌巴馬丹拿建築及工程師有限公司設計，從1962至1964年分期落成入伙，是早期以综合發展模式設計的公共屋邨之一。邨內集學校、商店、郵局、街巿、食肆、停車場等設施，成為一個小型的社區。彩虹邨以十棟高低不同的L及T型大廈組合而成，體量簡潔方正，建築語言明快清晰，立面處理豐富而有序，充分表達現代建築主義後期中，以實用但多變為主的概念。絕對是香港早期公共屋邨中的典範。出色而人性化的設計，彩虹邨於1965年獲得香港建築師學會的銀牌獎。
文及攝影：吳啟聰(香港註冊建築師)
http://www.etnet.com.hk/www/tc/diva/art_hkac_detail.php?id=28940&page=5
