As one of the earliest and most successful new town developments in Hong Kong, Sha Tin is characterized with its transient, fragmented organization, which are developed in the last four decades on the lands reclaimed from sea. As a product of pure engineering and government decision, Sha Tin lacks not only a city center, but an overall urban strategy, which could define itself as a whole. This situation is worsening because of short-sighted reactions to population growth.

This project is located in Tai Wai, which is the historical center of Sha Tin. After decades’ development, traditional urban fabric (Tai Wai village, one of the oldest urban villages in Sha Tin) and large scale developments (Festival City, the most recently finished real estate) coexist. Shing Mun River, which flows in the middle of Sha Tin, also starts from Tai Wai. Tai Wai Station is where two MTR lines intersect and the start station of a new line linking Sha Tin and the Central. As planned, a new real estate project will be constructed on the site next to Tai Wai station. Instead of leveraging canal’s potential to connect Sha Tin and transforming Tai Wai into a coherent whole, this proposal will further segregate and fragmentize Tai Wai.

Void Strategy takes an opposite approach. First Tai Wai Ring will be built to strengthen and connect zones segregated by freeway. Then Tai Wai Station will be expanded into a transportation hub and civic center. New Sun Chui Estate will be developed to replace the existing public housing estate built on 1980s, 48,000 units will compensate developers but also accommodate low-income groups. By taking this three-phase development, Void Strategy suggests an alternative model of development. It will also serve to unite Sha Tin as a whole by recognizing and fixing its reality.