What is the Walk DVRC Initiative
Walk DVRC Ltd. is an NGO that is a partner to the government, local retailers and the community in pedestrianisation and placemaking initiatives. Walk DVRC engages the public to promote walkability and liveability with the goal of creating a healthier and more inclusive city. The organisation advocates for a fairer sharing of public space between pedestrians and cars with an initial focus on Hong Kong’s Central Business District. Walk DVRC consults, educates and undertakes research on the creation and management of vibrant streets in the areas of Traffic Management, Street Management, Health Benefits, Economic Benefits, Social Benefits and Governance.
Click here for more details.
Future DVRC
Public support for walkability and pedestrianisation initiatives is high. Evidence comes from a number of sources including the media, global interest in designing a New Central in Hong Kong and numerous stakeholder engagement exercises.
In addition, two pieces of market research support the creation of a more walkable and liveable Central that is connected to surrounding cultural and historical sites as well as to the harbour.
Our Signature Projects
The Sheung Wan Fiesta is a replicable “proof of concept” for the creation of a vibrant public space for the entire community. The Sheung Wan Fiesta project is a 90-day closure to vehicular traffic of a two-block stretch of DVRC, from Western Market to Hillier Street. Trams continue to run and cross streets remain open. The Fiesta will be held from 10 am to 10 pm, to enable deliveries outside these hours. The site will be curated and provide seating and shading, entertainment and local, artisanal food. It will also include cultural and heritage walk tours to surrounding areas. A tested traffic arrangement that identifies viable traffic diversions, loading/unloading solutions and bus stop relocation will be put in place. Extensive street management policies will be implemented. Considerable time, money, manpower and stakeholder engagement has already taken place to ensure that this project succeeds. |
International Design Competition Walk DVRC Ltd. launched an International Design in April 2018 to invite top-tier teams of urban planners, architects, traffic consultants and designers to submit proposals for re-imagining a decaying Des Voeux Road Central. Submissions featured strong placemaking and pedestrian schemes as well as highlighting neighbourhood connectivity and cultural sites. In addition, projects incorporated HK’s iconic trams Projects from the five finalist teams portray a vision for a fantastic car-free zone with numerous facilities on DVRC in the heart of Hong Kong's Central Business District. To see the five finalists’ visions of a future DVRC, please click here: https://www.walkdvrc.hk/design-competition/
|