Shui Chuen O Estate | Architecture x Aesthetics | Hong Kong Housing Authority and Housing Department

Shui Chuen O Estate is located between Ma On Shan Country Park and Lion Rock Country Park, a unique geographical location. We ingeniously connected the estate with the surrounding natural environment. We also built three major view corridors in the estate to provide residents with pleasing visual connections to the Sha Tin town below as well as the surrounding mountains and peaks, offering breathtaking views in all directions.

The estate features a unique and green “eco-trail”, which runs throughout the entire estate and connects the estate with various existing trails in the adjoining country parks. It makes it easy for residents to take off for a hike into the countryside whenever they feel like it. The eco-trail also connects directly with the Tsz Sha Ancient Trail, once a major link between Sha Tin and Kowloon back in Qing Dynasty. All this means that ambitious hikers are able to walk from Tsz Wan Shan to Sha Tin Pass and then on to Shui Chuen O Estate via the Wilson Trail. As the eco-trail is linked to the estate’s shopping centre, where hikers can purchase supplies before setting off or enjoy delicious food after their hike.

Features

Unique Design

The estate was built along the mountainside, with buildings designed in a well-organised and staggered manner to harmonise with the terrain and complement the nearby natural environment. This design creates better visual connections with the adjacent mountain ridge and enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of the estate.

Connect with Nature

The design concept involved extending the greenery of the surrounding country parks into the estate through intensely green corridors. As a result, despite living in a high-rise urban setting, residents here feel intimately connected to the natural environment around them.

Linking the Community

We overcame the challenges posed by the steep slopes and terrain by constructing a “tapestry” of weather-protected walkways, footbridges, lift towers, escalators and access ramps to facilitate hassle-free movement. The mega footbridge, approximately 78 metres long, connects Shui Chuen O Estate with Shui Chuen Au Street. The footbridge was awarded the HKIE Structural Division Structural Excellence Award 2018 - Infrastructures & Footbridges – Excellence Award.

Interesting Story

The eight buildings in the estate are named after the “Preface of the Orchid Pavilion” by Wang Xizhi, a famous writer and calligrapher of the Jin Dynasty. A phrase in it says, “Overlooking us are lofty mountains and steep peaks; Around us are dense wood and slender bamboos.” which would be a perfect description of the beautiful, mountainous backdrop in which the estate is nestled.