'Vertical Living' exhibition at the BLOK gallery, Zagreb, December 2025, featuring installation of plans and models of Srednjaci II housing development (1973)

Models of the 23-storey towers at the Srednjaci II project in Zagreb - part of the 2025 'Vertical Living' exhibition at the BLOK gallery, Zagreb.

The four 23-storey twin-towers of the Sredjnaci II development in Zagreb, designed 1971 and built 1973 by Projektni Biro Vladimir Gortan. Survived the 2020 earthquake unscathed - unlike much of the C19 'traditional housing' in the old town!

'Vertical Living' exhibition at the BLOK gallery, Zagreb: 1971 plans of Srednjaci II 'twin tower' housing development (1973). The northern tower was built by the Yugoslav National Army and has a slightly different plan and elevation from the others.

In Zagreb for inaugural session of a fantastic new EUR2.4 million ERC research project on mass housing in ex-Yugoslavia - www.ipu.hr/article/hr/1...
We've long known it was unique (DUSI, Split III, Novi Beograd, IMS etc), but now we'll find out exactly how, both in its architecture and governance...

Site-specific 41-storey public rental blocks seen under construction on 5 November 2025 at Tung Chung New Town Area 100 (left) and 99 (right). A mainstream Housing Authority project designed and supervised by the Housing Department. Tenant intake in Area 99 already underway early November.

Site-specific 41-storey public rental blocks under construction at Tung Chung New Town Area 103 (seen from near-completed Area 99). A mainstream Housing Authority project designed and supervised by the Housing Department. Some limited use of bamboo scaffolding for finishing works.

19-storey short-life modular 'light public housing' under construction on 10 November at Tuen Mun New Town, Area 54 (designed/supervised by HKSAR Government Architectural Services Dept.)

19-storey short-life modular 'light public housing' seen under construction on 10 November 2025 at Tuen Mun New Town, Area 54 (designed/supervised by HKSAR Government Architectural Services Dept.)

Meanwhile new construction still continues apace: seen on an HK visit 3 weeks ago, site-specific 41-storey public rental housing at Tung Chung Areas 99-103 (designed by Housing Dept.) and 19-storey short-life modular 'light public housing' at Tuen Mun Area 54 (by govt. Architectural Services Dept.)

The ‘obvious’ Wang Fuk-Grenfell comparison a bit misleading: main issue here looks like dangerous site materials and contracting practices, not bad retrofit per se: more like Børsen or GSA 2018? Also governance issues: HOS retrofits overseen by ‘amateur’ Owners’ Committees, not by HD (unlike PRH).

Siu Hong Court, Tuen Mun Area 51 HOS, 4,676 flats in 20 Flexi 1 and 2 blocks, the largest HOS development in the Territory, designed by the Housing Department Construction Branch and built 1981-4: this view shows Phase II finishing-work and mosaic-cladding underway in 1983 (photo MG)

Siu Hong Court, Tuen Mun New Town Area 51 HOS, 4,676 flats in 20 Flexi-1 and Flexi-2 point blocks, the largest HOS development in the Territory, designed by the Housing Department Construction Branch and built 1981-4: this view shows the mature-landscaped centre of the development and the integrated commercial complex and Light Rail interchange in 2013. (photo MG)

Siu Hong Court, Tuen Mun New Town Area 51 HOS, 4,676 flats in 20 Flexi-1 and Flexi-2 point blocks, the largest HOS development in the Territory, designed by the Housing Department Construction Branch and built 1981-4: this 2013 view shows the plaque commemorating the official opening by the Chief Secretary in 1985, and the handing-over of the keys to the '40,000th HOS flat' to its new owners, Mr and Mrs Yip Ho-Kay. (photo MG)

In happier days - Flexi point blocks (similar to Wang Fuk) at Siu Hong Court, Tuen Mun Area 51, the largest HOS scheme - 1983 construction view showing mosaic-cladding and finishing, and 2013 mature landscaping view + detail of plaque commemorating 1985 opening by Chief Secretary Philip Haddon-Cave

Sui Wo Court, Sha Tin New Town, clad in scaffolding and green sheeting back in April 2024

Sui Wo Court (Home Ownership Scheme), Fo Tan, Sha Tin New Town, seen in 2012 - well before the current protracted refurbishment scheme. The development (originally Sha Tin Area 42A HOS) was designed by James Kinoshita of Palmer & Turner, and comprises an array of clustered 'windmill' plan blocks up to 37 storeys high, featuring elevated 'sky lobbies'. It was built in 1978-82 by contractors Hsin Chong and opened in May 1981 by Governor Sir Murray MacLehose, and won the HKIA Silver Medal.

Sui Wo Court (Sha Tin 42A HOS) seen in November 1983, soon after completion. (photo MG)

This was Sui Wo Court (Sha Tin Area 42A HOS) back in April 2024 - and still today!

And this is what it should be like......

Typical upper floor plan of 'Flexi 2' 32-storey block built in Tai Po New Town Area 44 under the Hong Kong Housing Authority's Home Ownership Scheme, 1983 - indented plan, one staircase, only 8 large flats (averaging 50 sq m) per floor, very solid RC construction. Designed by the Housing Department Construction Branch under Chief Architect (HOS) Derek Messling

Wang Fuk Court must surely be the end of bamboo scaffolding on housing. Flexi 2 HOS blocks intrinsically safe – only 8 flats/floor – but the scaffolding is like wrapping them in a ‘temporary Grenfell’! Big questions for HKSAR Buildings Dept. to answer (esp. with other live cases - eg Sui Wo Court)