China · To be confirmed
Hong Kong
The densest argument in the world for vertical urbanism, and what a planner can actually take from it.
Why this city
Hong Kong is the reference case for anyone working on density. Layered pedestrian decks, podium towers, and a transit system that funds itself through the land above it — the Rail plus Property model — make it the most complete built argument for transit-oriented development anywhere.
For someone planning greenfield business districts in India, the question is which parts of that are transferable and which are the product of a topography and land-tenure system that does not repeat.
Notes in preparation
Photographs and commentary for this entry are being written.
Photographs and notes for Hong Kong are being prepared.
Each entry pairs a photograph with a reading of the structure — what it does, how it handles its climate and its site, and what a planner can take from it.