Gavin Coates will take us on a stroll down Hong Kong's Memory Street paying particular attention to our long suffering street trees. After looking at examples from the second half of the nineteenth century to the present he will reflect on the relationship between the quality of the pedestrian experience, urban greening and the public realm in Hong Kong, finally advocating for technically simple but politically fraught changes that could transform the most densely urbanised parts of the city.

The Speaker

Gavin S. Coates, 高嘉雲, BLA (Leeds), DipLA (Leeds), DipPCDI, CMLI (UK), MCSD (UK), FHKILA, RLA, CA, FHEA

Gavin Coates is a Senior Lecturer at The University of Hong Kong’s Division of Landscape Architecture, teaching Planting Design and Landscape Representation. Since 1982 he has worked as a landscape architect in Hong Kong, participating in key projects for the Hong Kong Government, including Tseung Kwan O New Town infrastructure, Yuen Long Town Park, the design of the waterfall area of Hong Kong Park, and the planting of over 20,000 street trees under the Greening Master Plan programme between 2004 and 2015. He became an ISA Certified Arborist in 2010. He is the author and illustrator of several environmental children’s books.

Venue: Online via Zoom

Admission: Free of charge. please register your attendance in advance

Booking: Please email membership@royalasiaticsociety.org.hk to register your attendance