How can we create a temporary recycling station in our neighbourhood that would have a positive impact on the community? We do not want the station to be a rubbish collection point, but a positive addition to the local area. We turned an under-utilized carpark into a gathering place; and treated sustainable design not as a technique but part of our local culture. This Community Green Station, located in Sha Tin, Hong Kong with site area 0.18 hectares, was completed in the end of year 2014 with a tight budget of USD$2.4M. The site is divided into the garden courtyard and the backcourt to serve the functions of exhibition and workshop respectively. The buildings are composed of modular containers, while modified to suit the need of different functions. The idea of garden courtyard is to embody a sense of community and a touch of oasis within the heart of industrial area. It creates multiple layer of space from public to private, from open space, semi-open space to enclosed area, as an interpretation of the idea of pavilion in Chinese garden. These concepts of ‘pavilion’ and ‘veranda’ are expressed in the exhibition space and circulation area, with diffusion of daylight through the bamboo screen and trellis. As no air-conditioning will be used, the building envelope opens up to the courtyards to maximize cross ventilation together with the provision of large overhanging roof and vertical trellis /greening to shelter from the sun. Buildability is largely enhanced by modular and off-site prefabricated building components. Major components including the containers, wall tiles and paving blocks are made of recycled or salvaged materials. Although the Green Station is temporary, it embodies permanent cultural value, rediscovers our roots and finds parallel with prevailing green features.
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Figure caption
1 The garden courtyard with the borrowed mountain scenery
2 Elevation of the office block
3 Night view from the cycling track
4 Night view of the courtyard
5-6 Multiple layer of space from public to private, from open space, semi-open space to enclosed area, as an interpretation of the idea of pavilion in Chinese garden.

7-9 The concepts of ‘pavilion’ and ‘veranda’ are expressed in the exhibition space and circulation area, with diffusion of daylight through the bamboo trellis.
10 Flexible use of space can be achieved by open plan layout and connectivity between indoor and outdoor space.

11 Large overhanging roof and vertical trellis /greening provide sunscreen while allow natural ventilation.
12 The green station embodies a sense of community and a touch of oasis within the heart of industrial area.
13 The building envelope of exhibition space opens up to the courtyard to maximize cross ventilation, with bamboo trellis as sunscreen facing the West.
14 Workshop at the backcourt
15 Site location plan+ Floor plan+ Aerial view

Credits:
- ArchSD - Project Architect - On Wa, Edward Wong
- ArchSD - Design Team Leader - Chuck Kwan, Thomas Wan
- ArchSD - Project Architect - Mei Yan, Jacqueline Lee
- ArchSD - Chief Architect - Lai Fong, Alice Yeung