Hong Kong was the last British colony. During the decades after WWII, the people in Hong Kong strived to create a lively and energetic international metropolis in Asia. The dense port city set an example for Greater China, Asia and the world.

Hong Kong Architecture 1945-2015: From Colonial to Global focuses on the transformation from colonial to global – the formation, mechanism, events, works and people related to urban architecture. The book reveals hardships the city encountered in the 1950s and the glamour enjoyed in the 1980s. It depicts the public and private developments, and especially the public housing which has sheltered millions of residents. The author identifies the architects practising in the formative years and the representatives of a rising generation after 1970. Suffering from land shortage and a dense environment, the urban development of Hong Kong has in the past 70 years met the changing demands of fluctuating economic activities and a rising population. Architecture in Hong Kong has been shaped by social demands, the economy and technology. The buildings have been forged by the government, clients, planners, architects, many contractors and end-users.

The built environment nurtures our life and is visual evidence of the way the city has developed. The book is a must-read for a thorough understanding the contemporary history and architecture of this oriental pearl.

Dr. Charlie Q. L. Xue has held teaching appointments in architecture at Jiaotong University, Shanghai; University of Texas, USA and City University of Hong Kong. Dr. Xue has nine books published including Building Practice in China (1999, 2009), Building a Revolution: Chinese Architecture Since 1980 (2006, 2009) and World Architecture in China (2010. His research papers were published in the international refereed journals like Journal of Architecture, Journal of Architecture and Planning Research, Urban Design International, Journal of Urban Design, Habitat International, Cities. His works are widely read and cited internationally. Xue’s research focuses on architecture of the Greater China area and design strategies of high density environment.