Infill with impact: Architectural additions that enrich urban spaces

In urban areas, is it better to clear land for new developments or add to what’s already there?

While constructing on greenfield sites is associated with lower initial costs, it often results in the loss of green spaces and endanger biodiversity in cities. In contrast, densifying urban centres can support a better quality of life and efficient delivery of services by introducing a variety of functions.

In support of this view is the infill approach, which ‘injects’ new structures on vacant or underutilised plots. By leveraging a site’s existing infrastructure and amenities, this type of development potentially reduces the embodied carbon and raw materials needed for greenfield constructions. It can also enhance the existing urban fabric by breathing new life into older neighbourhoods and improve connectivity to create new magnets of activity.

Below are some examples of completed and proposed architectural additions that fill in the gaps of public functions, from small to large scales.

Nguyen Van Bình Book Street and Portable Canopy

In the centre of Ho Chi Minh City, this quiet and narrow street is surrounded by heritage buildings such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Central Post Office. Being the ‘backside’ of nearby high-rise buildings, it was used as a parking lot. But within a mere two months in 2016, it was transformed into a ‘book street’ that attracts not only voracious readers, but also the general public through various programmes and attractions.

On a 4,714-square-metre site, spanning more than 20 stores, TA Landscape Architecture designed harmonious storefronts using primarily wooden materials to impart a warm appearance. The street’s structure is an aggregate of four squares, consistent with the adjacent post office block to improve its walkability.

A portable stage and canopy were added to the street in 2021 to increase the functionality of the area during sun or rain. The stage is flanked by coffee shops, trinket kiosks, a children’s play area and exhibition spaces for local artists and vendors. “The book street in HCMC is a prime example of affirming architects’ role in the society,” wrote the designers.

The Tokyo Toilet: Redefining Sanitary Spaces for Public Use

Japan is known to be one of the cleanest countries in the world, and even its public toilets have a higher standard of hygiene than many places. However, their usage is still limited due to stereotypes that they are dark, dirty and scary or unsafe spaces.

To address these issues, The Tokyo Toilet project was established to renovate public toilets in the district of Shibuya to make them accessible for everyone regardless of gender, age or disability. Since 2020, there have been 17 structures designed by 16 globally recognised architects and designers, with the greater aim of using creativity to propose a more equitable vision of society.

The facilities completed within the past year are located in the neighbourhoods of Urasando by Marc Newson; Hatagaya by Miles Pennington/UTokyo DLX Design Lab; Sasazuka Greenway by Junko Kobayashi; and Nishisando by Sou Fujimoto. They make use of vacant plots of land, such as on sidewalks, under overpasses, between buildings or adjacent to public parks.

Beyond serving sanitary functions, some of these toilets can be used in a variety of ways including as an exhibition space, cinema, pop-up kiosk, information centre or public meeting place.

Green Deck: A Catalyst to Revitalise Hung Hom, Hong Kong

The Green Deck is a proposal introduced by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), which has called the Hung Hom area its home for over 60 years. They observed that the environmental conditions around the existing Hung Hom Cross Harbour Tunnel Toll Plaza have long been a concern for the local community.

To help address the issues and revitalise the district, the Green Deck is proposed to be built over the Toll Plaza to connect the adjacent areas, forming a landscaped pedestrian platform above the vehicular traffic. A preliminary feasibility study was carried out in 2014 with positive responses from the community, District Council and the Government. Following this, a study was conducted since 2020 to identify and resolve technical issues and demonstrate the proposal’s viability. In 2023, it was proposed in a Policy Address that Hung Hom Station and nearby sites will be revitalised.

The Green Deck’s design spans three levels, including a landscaped park, outdoor recreational venues, indoor exhibition venue and F&B outlets on the upper deck; an all-weather pedestrian concourse, community facilities and retail on the mezzanine level; and cross-harbour vehicular traffic on the ground level, with existing bus stops converted to barrier-free and weather-protected bus waiting lounges that are aimed to enhance the queuing experience.

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