Urban Renewal Authority
The Hong Kong Institute of Architects

Urban Renewal
Design Ideas Competition

The District Study for Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok

油麻地及旺角地區研究

城市更新
創意設計比賽

Eligibility

The competition is a single-stage design idea competition open to a wide range of participants. While the team leader shall be a full member of HKIA, team members can include professionals from related disciplines, graduates and students from universities or post-secondary colleges in Hong Kong, Mainland and Overseas. Individual, group and company entries are welcome, and there is no limit to the number of team members. Members of the Study's project team, including consultants of the Study are not eligible to participate in the competition.

Key Date

  1. 30.05.2025
    Registration Opens
  2. 15.07.2025
    Registration Closes
  3. 01.08.2025
    Data Sharing to Participants Closes
  4. 15.08.2025
    Competition Enquiry Closes
  5. 29.08.2025
    Submission Entry Closes
  6. September 2025 (Tentative)
    Adjudication
  7. Q4 2025 (Tentative)
    Announcement of Results and Prize Award Ceremony

Prize

Participants of the Winning Entries and Commendation Entries will be notified directly of the results by the Professional Advisor. The prizes of the Winning Entries and Commendation Entries shall be:

Site Area 1: Area around Central Urban Park in Mong Kok

  1. 1 st prize
    HK$200,000 Cash Cheque
  2. 2 nd prize
    HK$80,000 Cash Cheque
  3. 3 rd prize
    HK$40,000 Cash Cheque
  4. 3 Commendation Entries
    Certificate

Site Area 2: Area around the Heritage Park in Yau Ma Tei

  1. 1 st prize
    HK$200,000 Cash Cheque
  2. 2 nd prize
    HK$80,000 Cash Cheque
  3. 3 rd prize
    HK$40,000 Cash Cheque
  4. 3 Commendation Entries
    Certificate

Background

URA commenced The District Study for Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok (YMDS) in 2017 with the aim to devise a district-based urban renewal plan for the study area and to explore new planning mechanisms to facilitate implementation. The study was completed in 2021. The findings and suggestions were presented by URA and the Development Bureau (DevB) to Legislative Council (LegCo) in September 2021. Taking forward the recommendations of YMDS, an idea competition co-organized by URA and The Hong Kong institute of Architects (HKIA) is proposed to demonstrate the proposed and endorsed planning tools from YMDS through a tangible architectural and urban design to enhance the understanding of YMDS’s intangible initiatives.

The Competition is a single-stage idea competition. It is not specific to a particular project site but rather area-based, aiming to seek tangible urban design and architectural solutions and to materialize these through the application of planning tools and implementation mechanisms (as such Transfer to Plot Ratio, Street Consolidation Area, Upzoning, etc.) recommended in the YMDS.

Competition Site

Participants must propose a site within one of the two designated areas. There are no restrictions on the size of the proposed site, allowing flexibility for creative exploration.

Site Area 1: Area around Central Urban Park in Mong Kok
The proposal should maximize the benefit of the Central Urban Park as the leisure green hub within the dense urban setting. The site should include the Central Urban Park which could be realized through planning mechanism (i.e. Transfer of Plot Ratio (TPR)), connect and integrate with the two Development Nodes – the “Urban Waterway” and the “Mong Kok Market”; the Special Design / Community Area – “Youth Cultural Place” and the proposed “GreenLink”.
Site Area 2: Area around the Heritage Park in Yau Ma Tei
The proposal should enhance the synergy with the cultural belt at the heart of Yau Ma Tei. The site should include the Heritage Park which could be realized through planning mechanism (i.e. Transfer of Plot Ratio (TPR)), connect and integrate with the two Development Nodes – the “Wholesale Fruit Market” and the “West Kowloon Gateway”, the Special Design / Community Area – “Civic Node” and the proposed “GreenLink”.

Design Guideline

The competition aims to transform the complex planning mechanisms from Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok District Study into tangible urban and architectural designs that enhance the livability and cultural vibrancy of the area.

Design proposals should address the following requirements:

  • Align with YMDS Planning Vision: Regenerate Yau Mong (Yau Ma Tei and Mok Kok district) into a livable, sustainable, diverse and vibrant metropolitan hub while reinforcing it as an area representing the rich local and cultural heritage of Hong Kong;
  • Adherence to YMDS Recommendations
    • Assess MRCP Scenarios (“+”, “-”, or “0”) and justify its application in the proposed design.
    • Optimize development density distribution to balance urban growth and livability.
    • Propose major urban interventions and initiatives.
    • Incorporate key institutional frameworks and implementation mechanisms outlined in YMDS;
  • Integrate 4R Strategy, Redevelopment (R1), Rehabilitation (R2), Preservation (R3), and Revitalsation (R4), into the master layout plan, demonstrating how each component contributes to the overall vision.

Design proposals are encouraged to achieve the following aspirational goal:

  • Integrate the concept of Three-Cycles of Sustainable Urban Renewal
  • Exploration of Urban Design Concepts such as Vertical City, Smart City
  • Excellence in the Design Proposal
    • Innovation, Originality, Creativity, and Aesthetics
    • Local Identity and Characteristics
    • Sustainability, Environmental Considerations, and Social Benefits
    • Practicality and Functionality
Download Competition Document