ABSTRACT

The Romans were great engineers and they brought ingenious utilitarian infrastructure to provide for the regions of their empire. In the 1950s, the utilitarian castle produced a fifth of all London's electricity, and was the first British power station to rationalize large-scale electricity distribution under the National Grid. With increasing population density, limited usable land and challenging topography, cities are looking towards elevated walkways and skywalks to improve pedestrian accessibility and provide better walking environments. The Hong Kong Central Elevated Walkway System provides an extensive three-dimensional connectivity where the traditional 'terra firma' reference is rendered obsolete. Its elaborate aerial network of walkways, footbridges and elevated tunnels links the super-dense vertical skyscrapers to commercial hubs, supermarkets, stations and even the airport. Although constructed by a host of stakeholders at different times for different demands, the pedestrian infrastructure in the sky provides a respite irrespective of traffic conditions, weather and crowds, and nurtures the spatial relationship between public and private.