Socialising on a Skywalk: How Hong Kong’s Elevated Walkways Become Public Open Spaces

Abstract

In high-density Asian cities, the increasing scarcity of public open spaces gives rise to the need for stationary activities to tap into spaces originally conceived exclusively to channel pedestrian movements, such as grade separation pedestrian systems. However, the types and patterns of stationary activities on elevated walkways remain mostly unexplored. This study focuses on Hong Kong, wherein the scarcity of public open space characterises an extreme condition and where the burden of this scarcity falls most heavily on disadvantaged social groups, such as migrant workers. The findings highlight the prevalence of socially oriented activities and the importance of food as a gathering factor.