“Urban Renewal Design Ideas Competition – The District Study for Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok” Jointly Organised by URA and HKIA

The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) and the Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) jointly organised the “Urban Renewal Design Ideas Competition – The District Study for Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok”, which is open for registration from today (30 May 2025). The deadline for registration is 15 July 2025.

The competition builds on the findings of the District Study for Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok (the Study), conducted by the URA between 2017 and 2021. The Study aims to develop strategies to transform the area into a liveable, sustainable, diverse and vibrant metropolitan hub. Participants are encouraged to leverage the new planning tools and insights as recommended by the Study to create design that align with this version.
The key objective of the competition is to make urban planning and renewal concepts of the Study accessible to the general public. By translating complex planning mechanisms into tangible urban and building designs, the competition seeks to foster a deeper understanding of urban renewal among the general public. There will be two site areas for the competition and the first prize includes a cash prize of HKD200,000 for each site.

Seminar cum Site Tour in June 2025
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.

To help participants better understand the competition’s theme and judging criteria, a seminar cum site tour will be held in June 2025. The URA and HKIA representatives will elaborate the design requirements and provide insights to enhance participants’ understanding of the competition. The site tour aims to offer participants a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok areas, and to enable them to develop more concrete and informed ideas for their submissions. For registration and more details about the competition, please visit the official website: www.ymdscompetition.com.

Jury Panel
The competition will be adjudicated by a five-member Jury Panel composed of the following members:
• Ir. WAI Chi Sing, GBS, JP, FHKEng
• Ms. WONG Yuen Sheung, Ophelia, BBS
• Ar. LAU Man Kwan, Julia, JP
• Ar. Dr. IP Chung Man, Tony, MH
• Mr. LAU Hing Tat, Patrick, JP
• Ar. CHEUNG Hoi Fo, Jacky (Reserve Juror)
• Ar. CHING Yuk Yu, Eugene (Reserve Juror)
• Ar. LEUNG Yee Wah, Edward (Reserve Juror)

Supported by Industry Leaders
The competition is supported by Ar. Bernard V. Lim, BBS, JP, PPHKIA, PPHKIUD of AD+RG Architecture Design and Research Group Limited as the Professional Advisor, alongside other esteemed industry organisations, including:
• The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE)
• The Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects (HKILA)
• The Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP)
• The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors (HKIS)
• The Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design (HKIUD)
• The Professional Green Building Council (PGBC)

Should you have any enquiry, please contact Ar. Bernard V. Lim of AD+RG Architecture Design and Research Group Limited (Tel: 2808 1450 / 9266 6673 or Email: [email protected]).