Living Space Study Of Central To Mid-Levels "Escalator And Walkway System" In Hong Kong

“Central to mid-levels escalator system” is a pilot program to solve the problem of regional traffic in Central, Hong Kong. Project opened in 1993, and recorded in2008, the use of 81000 passengers every day. Although "Escalator system" failed to solve the traffic congestion problem, but it successfully connect the Central area and the Mid-levels district. It not only provides mid-levels district residents a convenient way, but also attracts many tourists and encourage the commercialization, even it becomes a landmark of the city. Due to the success of the escalator system, Hong Kong government constructed a new escalator system in Sheung Wan from 2009 to2013, and decided to construct a second escalator system in Pounds Lane, Central in2012. Now, "Escalator system" becomes a popular solution of traffic improvement project in Hong Kong.Through the analysis of historical maps, traditional Central district keep urban texture and shape as 1856. The development of the city through land reclamation at the coastal areas for new development. Central city morphology divides into the traditional commercial and residential area, mid-levels residential area, reclamation area, four urban morphological characteristics. This article through the analysis of the characteristics of central urban form, to find out the underlying causes of "escalator system". Moreover, from Hong Kong’s legislative council papers, shopkeepers, the landlords and the government worried about the escalator system construction, to understand the consideration of different units before "escalator system" constructed.Finally, detailed introduction of “escalator system” causes the reader has a preliminary understanding.Through multiple survey, interviews and investigates of the “escalator system”for the influence of residents’ living space, including commercial development,utilization of urban street space and utilization of the park. "Escalator system" lifting the sight of pedestrians, stimulate the residential unit and facade of commercialization reform. Due to the increase of the passenger, that attracts performers from all over theworld to search performance opportunities in Central. Shop owners in order to increase the commercial area, connecting the store interior space and exterior space.Informal hawker sell on the streets. Residents lose street space, thus to transform the park space and use. This paper analyzes and summarizes the intrinsic factors of residents’ living space change and space use and the ways of transformation. On the basis of investigation and theoretical study, combination with the characteristics of the spatial form of “escalator system”, inductive the success factors as a reference for future similar project.