With innovative designs, appropriate maintenance and outstanding landscape treatment, an unstable and plain-looking slope can be transformed into a safe, beautiful and practical feature of our living environment.

To promote slope safety and arouse slope owners' interest in landscaping their slopes, the Civil Engineering Department has organised the Best Landscaped Slope Awards scheme.

Co-organised by the Professional Green Building Council, HK Association of Property Management Companies and HK Institute of Landscape Architects, the scheme has attracted 55 entries from across Hong Kong. An assessment panel has chosen four slopes as finalists.

Innovative landscape treatment: Artificial stones and a waterfall turn a slope on Repulse Bay Road into an attraction. The dragon-shaped retaining wall at Lung Tak Court presents a pleasant atmosphere. A series of retaining walls at HK International School are terraced to provide seating for a multi-purpose assembly amphitheatre.

Hong Kong University Professor Jim Chi-yung, the assessment panel's chairman, told news.gov.hk that the four slopes have been selected for their uniqueness in landscape design, naturalness, and environmental sustainability.

One of the short-listed slopes is located in Lung Tak Court, Stanley. Originally a slope covered with squatter huts, it has been transformed into a public housing estate.

Natural features preserved

"In the transformation process, the designer preserved the natural valley and a lot of natural features. The design also includes some additional cultural landscape features, such as a courtyard, a streamcourse, a rock garden and a dragon-shaped retaining wall," Prof Jim explained.

"These artificial features mixed with the natural environment very nicely, making it a very natural-looking garden for the enjoyment of the residents."

The second selected slope is at the entrance of a private housing development project at 127 Repulse Bay Road.

"Previously, there was a plain-looking retaining wall made of concrete. It is now covered with some artificial stones and a waterfall, making the scenery entirely different."

Another short-listed slope is located at HK International School in Tai Tam.

Blending retaining walls with the envirnoment 

The designer has divided the slope into a number of small parts. Some have been turned into retaining walls while the remaining ones were transformed into spectator stands for a multi-purpose assembly amphitheatre. A series of retaining walls are terraced to provide space for plants.

The unique design not only helps stablise the slope but also introduces new uses.

The fourth selected slope is located in Sau Mau Ping Estate 3 near Hiu Lai Court. It used to be a plain concrete artificial slope which is now planted with many trees.

"The trees have almost fully matured, providing a very nice-looking woodland environment with high ecological value. The designer also included foot paths, open space and other features in the design, making it a perfect recreation spot for the residents."

Final results to be announced February 16

The panel will announce the final results on February 16 and will hold a presentation ceremony at 3.30pm at Olympian City in Kowloon West on the same day. Members of the public are invited to attend.