In-between spaces: Data-driven analysis and generative design for public housing estate layouts

Abstract

As Hong Kong constructs increasingly high-density, high-rise public housing estates to increase land use efficiency, public in-between spaces are more constrained, which impacts the quality of social relations, movements and daily practices of residents (Shelton et al. 2011; Tang et al. 2019). Current planning practices are focused on the achievement of quantitative performance measures, rather than qualitative design considerations that support residents' experiences and community interaction. This paper presents a new methodology that combines urban analysis and generative design for the regeneration of social housing estates, based on the spatial and social qualities of their in-between spaces.