Chung Yuet Lau

It has been estimated that by 2050, Hong Kong would have the world’s oldest population, with approximately 40 per cent aged 65 years and older.

Completed earlier this year, the flats of Chung Yuet Lau have been developed to promote ageing in place and to optimise the use of existing housing resources. They are all fitted with kitchen cabinets, a range hood and an electric water heater. To make the home safe and comfortable for the elderly, barrier-free and age-friendly designs have been adopted, including accessible kitchen and bathroom, as well as convenient placement of electric switches for the elderly and wheelchair users.

The building’s 10-storey height was also considered to ‘match’ those of existing ones in the neighbourhood to avoid a sense of dissonance to the residents.

BUILDING DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
This building project has been designed not just for comfort and safety of the elderly residents, but also for their independence.

Barrier-free designs have been adopted

The accessible kitchen is tailored specifically for elderly individuals and wheelchair users. It features a counter sink and an induction cooker positioned at an optimal height, making it easier for residents to cook and use the kitchen safely. The bathroom is equally well thought-out, equipped with a wide sliding door to facilitate easy entry by wheelchair users. The entrance is ‘curb-less’, allowing for ease of wheelchair access. Inside, the facilities comply with barrier-free access standards, including grab bars and emergency contact buttons to ensure safety and prompt assistance when needed.

ROLE OF MODULAR INTEGRATED CONSTRUCTION (MiC)
In full MiC construction, the modules are prefabricated in a factory in Mainland China and delivered to Hong Kong for installation. This reduces the total construction time and increases the housing unit production. In this case, the construction process took only approximately eight months, from the transport of the first module to the site to the completion of the Building Department’s occupancy permit inspection. This expedited timeline results in shaving off four months from construction time, approximately 30 per cent, when compared to conventional building methods.

The development was built using full MiC method

As this MiC elderly home project is designed specifically to meet the needs of elderly residents expected of modern senior living facilities, with no compromises compared to traditional elderly housing projects, it utilises the full MiC method, incorporating the modular units, Multi-trade Integrated Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MiMEP) corridor slabs, and integrated lift machine rooms.

PROJECT DATA
Project Name
Chung Yuet Lau
Location
Jat Min Chuen, Shatin, Hong Kong
Completion Date
April 2024
Site Area
360 square metres
Gross Floor Area
2,480 square metres
Building Height
35.8 metres
Number of Flats
64
Client/Owner/Developer
Hong Kong Housing Society
Architecture Firm
P&T Architects Limited
Principal Architect
Joel Chan
Civil & Structural Engineer
Michael Chew (P&T Engineering Limited)
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer
Andrew Lai (P&T Engineering Limited)
Quantity Surveyor
Currie & Brown
Landscape Architect
Team 73 Ltd
Main Contractor
Chevalier (Construction) Co Ltd
Interior Fit-Out Contractor
Chevalier (Construction) Co Ltd
Images
Chevalier (Construction) Co Ltd

This is an excerpt. The original article is published in
Construction+ Q3 2024 Issue: Constructing Healthcare.
Get the print magazine or subscribe to the digital edition to read the complete article.