A nature focused design concept “Chak On: Our Home, Our Garden” has scooped the top prize in a pioneering design competition aimed at reshaping the living environment of Chak On Estate, a public housing complex in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong.

Submitted by young designers, Ho Sun Chau and Cherry Lau (pictured above), the concept envisages welcoming outdoor spaces to promote the physical and mental well-being of residents, making the estate “a magnified version of an ideal home”. The Jury Panel commended the concept for its effective use of greenery as a central design element, “skillfully incorporating natural shading and verdant environments”.

The creative young duo won top prize of HK$30,000 in the Emerging category, for architects and designers aged below 35, with a maximum of three years of working experience.

(From L to R: Zheyi Yang, Chak On Estate residents (x2), Housing Secretary Winnie Ho, Chak On Estate resident, Housing Manager, Housing Department, Kwok Fu Fung, and Chun Ho Lam)

Organised jointly by the Housing Bureau (HB) and the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA), the “Let’s Go Well-being Chak On” Design Competition also included a category for full-time students aged 18 to 25, studying design-related disciplines at Hong Kong’s tertiary institutions. The HK$20,000 top prize went to students Zheyi Yang, Chun Ho Lam, (pictured above) and Qinjue He for their design concept, “Pulsing Chak On: Stories, Spaces, Connections”.

Announcing the results, the Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, said she was delighted the competition attracted as many as 97 team entries, involving more than 230 talented young designers and students across the city.

Ms Ho, who was also Chair of the Jury Panel, said the winning works not only demonstrated the participants’ professional capabilities and creativity but also reflected their understanding of the residents’ needs. “The important thing is the winning designs that we have chosen are not only pleasant to look at, but they are practical and suit the purpose, injecting new vitality into Chak On Estate’s public spaces, “ she said.

The Jury Panel comprised representatives from the HKHA and industry professionals, including urban planning and design expert Barry Wilson (pictured above with Ms Ho).

After being shortlisted in February, the finalists undertook an intensive consultation process with residents to collect feedback and fine-tune their concepts. This included on-site workshops, consultant discussions, and estate management exchanges.

They presented their final designs to the Jury Panel at the HKHA Headquarters on May 10. The panel selected the winner, first runner up, and three honourable mentions for each category. They also announced the winner of the Resident Most Beloved Award – a submission called “Dot.Scape” from the team of Anson Tang, Ho Pak Yeung and Sam Fong – as voted by the estate’s residents. (See picture below).

(From L to R: Michael Wong, Assistant Director, Housing Department; Anson Tang, Ho Pak Yeung, Man-kwong Leung, MH, Legco Member)

In making its selections, the Jury Panel noted the high standard of entries and the fact that participants had referenced the HA’s “Well-being design” guide offering practical strategies for architects and designers to foster friendly, healthy, natural, and community-oriented public housing spaces.

Commenting on the winning “Our Home, Our Garden” concept, the panel highlighted the effort put into the video presentation and physical models. It also noted the way the design “thoughtfully integrates cultural elements such as firework motifs and reticulated planters, successfully connecting with the estate’s heritage and evoking meaningful memories for residents.”

The “Pulsing Chak On” design – the winner of the Students category – proposed revitalizing underused spaces into vibrant hubs called the Starlight Stage and Interactive Wonderland to promote health and vitality among residents.

The Jury Panel described the hubs as “innovative yet practical solutions” that transform the space while maintaining accessibility for all community members. “We commend the project’s balance of aesthetic quality, functional considerations, and implementation feasibility, making it an exemplary model for community-focused placemaking.”

Ms Ho said the winning projects from both categories will serve as a reference for the HKHA’s detailed design of the Chak On Estate improvement works. “In the future, we hope that we can select more estates with a similar scale for design competitions, and offer more opportunities for our young designers,” she said.

The full list of winners for the “Let’s Go Well-being Chak On” Design Competition is as follows:

Emerging Category:

Winner: “Chak On: Our Home, Our Garden”

1st Runner-up: “Sunset at Chak On”

Honourable Mention: “Dot.Scape”

Honourable Mention: “Converging Harmony ”

Honourable Mention: ” Castle in the Sky ”

Students Category:

Winner: “Pulsing Chak On: Stories, Spaces, Connections”

1st Runner-up: “Vibrant Together”

Honourable Mention: “Rejuvenating Silver”

Honourable Mention: “Lively Chak On”

Honourable Mention: “Chak-On-nection”

Resident Most Beloved Award: “Dot.Scape”

The HB and the HKHA will host a virtual exhibition to showcase all winning entries. For more information about the winning entries, please visit housingwellbeing.hk/chak-on-design-competition.