In the decades following World War II, Hong Kong's architects embraced modern principles to tackle the pressing challenges of housing shortages, mass construction, and limited budgets.
This newly released second edition of "Hong Kong Modern Architecture of the 1950s-1970s" by acclaimed author and photographer Walter Koditek offers a comprehensive overview of this transformative era. Featuring over 300 buildings and ensembles, the book combines stunning full-page photographs with detailed background information and historical context, shedding light on how these structures reflect the local climate, social values, materials, and techniques of the time. Information about the architects behind the projects and a series of academic essays are penned down by renowned scholars Cecilia L. CHU, Eunice SENG, Ying ZHOU, and Charles LAI to complement the publication.
Beyond iconic architectural masterpieces, the book also delves into more mundane structures, inviting readers to uncover the intrinsic relationships between these diverse built forms and how they were shaped by the international Modern Movement while adapting to the unique Hong Kong context. "Hong Kong Modern" serves as an essential reference and catalyst for deeper discussions on the architectural merit, historic significance, and cultural value of this pivotal period in Hong Kong's built environment.
This second edition of "Hong Kong Modern" is a must-have for anyone interested in Hong Kong's architectural legacy and the forces that have molded its iconic cityscape. Blue lotus editions is proud to have this new title under its publishing house as a further testament to its dedication to the expression of Hong Kong's heritage and visual culture.
About the author:
Walter Koditek is a German urban planner, author and photographer based in Hong Kong. After graduating from the Technical University of Berlin, Walter's early professional life had him practicing for almost two decades at various planning and design consultancies, while also teaching at university level. In 2006, he relocated to Asia, where he worked as an urban planning expert in Cambodia and Vietnam. He moved on to Hong Kong in 2014, using the city as a base for his consultant work, and documenting its unique architectural landscape with his camera whenever possible.
Walter has always been a strong advocate of cultural heritage conservation. He published the photo book "Battambang Heritage" in 2018 with Apsara Books in Hong Kong, and co-authored the "Architectural Guide Phnom Penh" in 2020 with DOM Publishers in Berlin, before focusing his efforts on the modernist architectural legacy of Hong Kong. This culminated in the publication of the recently released second edition of "Hong Kong Modern Architecture of the 1950s-1970s", which offers a comprehensive overview of this transformative era in the city's built environment.
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