GREEN@WONG TAI SIN (also known as Wong Tai Sin Recycling Station) is a district hub for environmental education and recycling support with strong ties to the surrounding community. It is part of the GREEN@COMMUNITY, a recycling network serving the entire Hong Kong, which comprises of Recycling Stations, Recycling Stores and Recycling Spots.

The project includes a collection and sorting facility for recyclables, an activity space and offices. Located in a residential and school community, both residents and students can come to sort, recycle, and participate in educational activities.

As a communal facility designed to encourage public participation, the site boundary abutting pedestrian path along Po Kong Village Road is opened up to invite public’s exploration. Taking the opportunity of the existing site topography, various built elements are strategically placed on the terrain to embody outdoor spaces, while fostering a natural environment through the use of an organic landscape design.

A Recycling Park - it is not only a recycling facility, but also an education center to promote sustainable lifestyles. Visitors can experience green living in a natural environment through participation and interactive learning.

By portraying a green and neat image, we reshape the negative perception of recycling facilities and relieve the public's “Not In My Backyard” concern. The design integrates the collection and sorting facility, offices and activity room with surrounding natural environment, making it a vibrant and lively eco-infrastructure.

Designed as a Park, the primary layout is characterized by a network of pathways, ramps and staircases connecting the buildings, forming a visually open network that promotes accessibility between recycling facilities, educational spaces and nature, encouraging visitors to participate in recycling activities while exploring the park.

Through strategically placing the buildings and outdoor features such as canopies, planters and vegetation, it creates pocket plazas to welcome the public; a covered yet naturally ventilated sorting area; a sloping lawn associated with a semi-outdoor yard for different kinds of events, such as performance and picnic; and a quiet resting zone adjacent to event lawn. These elements are thoughtfully arranged to adapt to the terrain and to create a balanced sense of scale within high-rise buildings.

The recycling facility is intentionally located closest to the sidewalk, making recycling actions and operations convenient and visible. The pavilion-like structures provide semi-outdoor space for collecting recyclables and a sheltered space for sorting, easily accessible from nearby footbridge and sidewalk, creating an inviting atmosphere and encouraging public participation.

These pavilions utilize glass walls to bring landscaping into the facilities and educational spaces. Skylights above provide a visual connection between the interior, the outdoor and the sky, bringing in natural light and making the indoor more open, bright and spacious. The three building blocks are colour-coded for distinguishing of functions: blue-green for collection and sorting facilities, orange for activity room and offices, and yellow for restrooms. Architecturally, they become a focal point of the Park in this densely populated context.

Additionally, 40% green coverage with a variety of trees, shrubs and flowering plants not only enhances the landscape, but also provides a rug for indoor activities to extend outdoor, fully utilizing the whole site for activities and exploration. These extensive greenery is planted mainly along site periphery to soften the stark image of recycling infrastructure.