Hawker Reload | GROUNDWORK Architects + Associates Ltd.

Street market has been an important part of our urban culture, local economy, and social infrastructure in Hong Kong. Hawker stalls developed in these markets can be understood as an Asian design typology and architectural tradition, with its own right, aesthetics and culture. Yet in recent decades, Street markets and Hawker stalls are challenged by complaints and accidents therefore unfavourably policy and governance. We found insufficient academic study to better understand and resolve such conflict.

Following fires accidents caused in the Fa Yuen Street Outdoor Hawker Stall area in December 2010 and November 2011, PolyU shall form a multidisciplinary expert team to study and explore Hawker stalls arrangement and design on Fa Yuen Street (The Project), both as a form of community service, and as an intellectual support of the Food and Health Bureau, HKSAR government (FHB).

The Project aims to study possible improvement of Hawker stalls, along two related directions- an engineering approach and a social science approach.

Our group will investigate addition and alteration works required for fire safety, based on existing Hawker stall of 3x4x6ft, through the testing of fire precaution and signal system, automated fire distinguisher, fire-resistant material and/or other related engineering installations. 

Our groups' intention is NOT to impose mandatory requirement for all hawkers in adoption of “perfect” design, but to provide a reference model and recommendation for the community and FHB consideration and adaptation.