Sustainable rail infrastructure is integral to social development and economic diversity. The linear city research study looks at the key aspects of railway, property and urban design to promulgate the linear city development concept in achieving social, economically and environmental sustainability. In this context, railway stations would be regarded as important parts of the urban mosaic rather than merely as points of convergence for uncoordinated policies, namely road, rail and planning. Station neighbourhoods should be developed through modest accretions, aimed at creating optimal conditions for railway operations whilst adding value to real estate through environmentally sensitive urban planning solutions. Each neighbourhood- buildings and living environment – should be revitalized to exist as an amenity to the local community and be self-determined. To achieve this will require strategies and practices to better integrate the planning of railway and urban development at the regional/district level. In this regard, the concept of “Railway Action Area” is proposed. The concept is demonstrated with two design examples at Mongkok and Fotan stations. 

Speaker
Prof. Essy Baniassad, Mr Andrew Seah, Dr. Justyna Karakiewicz, Prof. Yuyan Liu, Prof. Sunny Kwong, Dr. WT Hung and Mr Kenneth To