The Meanings behind its Changing Use: Instagram Pier in Hong Kong

Abstract

Hong Kong is densely populated and there is always the competition of land that the concept of open space is not being emphasized. The controversy, followed by the redevelopment plans announced by the government, shed light on the Western District Cargo Working Area, also known as “Instagram Pier”. This space is rare in Hong Kong in the way for its looseness. It is a private area managed by the Hong Kong Marine Department, but at the same time with a high degree of being public, with all the activities by its users that flood in. This study researches into how the Pier (and its subspaces) is produced and used, that reveals its looseness to a large extent in terms of possibility, diversity and disorder. During the process, the various meanings to the users behind this space with changing use are explored, and specifically their simple hope for freedom and space in this city jungle is discovered. With its production of place, there is the practicability of place-making which eventually bring reflections to the management of not only the Pier, but also to public spaces in Hong Kong as a whole.