Housing Bureau, HA launch “well-being design” guide

The guide consists of eight booklets, covering eight well-being concepts. 

The Housing Bureau and the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) launched the “well-being design” guide as a source of reference for the future design of new public housing estates and improvement works at existing estates.

The design suggests providing a leaning bench in elevators, designing jogging tracks, and adding fitness equipment in public housing estates.

Other suggestions include addition of handrails and hanging hooks next to mailboxes and the provision of seats and handrails of various heights in lobbies.

The guide comprises eight booklets with the following concepts: "Health & Vitality," "Green Living and Sustainability," "Age-Friendliness," "Intergenerational & Inclusive Living," "Family & Community Connection," "Urban Integration," "Upward Mobility," and "Perception & Image." 

There are reportedly more than 50 well-being strategies in the guides, and over 170 design suggestions derived from them, the bureau and HA said in an announcement.

Authorities collaborated with a cross-professional team of consultants that included experts in architecture, planning, landscaping, management, nursing, and social services in making the guide. The team researched 26 housing estates and collected first-hand opinions from over 3,000 residents.

The full “Well-being design” guide will be introduced at a symposium on 12 September 2024.