Project “9394.06km – twin design research studios” covers an academic collaboration between six Belgian and Hong Kong Architecture Schools & Universities, exhibited at the 2013 Hong Kong/Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture. The Hong Kong Design Institute-HKDI collaborated with the Univ. of Mons in Belgium, with a Cultural Study Trip and Design Workshop. Students debated and worked jointly on 1 site in Hong Kong and another in Brussels.
As a consequence of intensive urban development, many neighbourhoods in Hong Kong with a rich history and identity are challenged. As design opportunities arise, benefits may be gained from imagining alternative modes of interdependency of both High-density and the Neighbourhood. This challenge was explored from different cultural and design sensibilities, through studio projects, workshops and a visit to Belgium from which more questions arose: What are the expectations for neighborhoods such as To Kwa Wan, a former heavily industrialized area in Hong Kong now moribund? What design opportunities lie ahead with the relentless search and redefinition of public and private realms?
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hong kong shenzhen bi-city biennale of architecture and urbanism 2013/14- photos by Lee Butcher
Credits
Principal Investigator- Luis Costa Arch. Design Tutors- Luis Costa, Carol Y.L. Leung, Eddie Chan Expanded Studies Tutors- Luis Costa, Carol Y.L. Leung Students- K.H. Au, T.H. Chan, W.C. Cheng, C.H. Cheung, C.Y. Cheung, Y.T. Cheung, T.K. Chu, W.K. Chu, Y.M. Chuen, C.H. Chung, E. Fu, P. Fu, H.H. Fung, C.S. Ho, H.Y. Ho, H.C. Hui, W.C. Ip, C.K. Kuet, Y. Lai, C.M. Lam, H.K. Lam, H.K. Lau, S. Lau, H.Y. Lee, K. Lee, M.K. Leung, K.M. Li, W.Y. Li, C. Ng, P.L. Ngan, H.C. Sham, C.T. Siu, Y. Tai, J. Wong, H.W. Wong, H.F. Wu, C.C. Yeung, K.Y. Yip, S.Y. Yu Photography- Lee Butcher * this exhibition was showcased as part of the project ” Twin Design Research Studios : Hong Kong/Belgium” curated by Kristof Crolla. The project entails three joint-studios between: Univ. of Hong Kong, Hasselt Univ., Hong Kong Design Institute, Univ. of Mons, Chinese Univ. of Hong Kong and the Univ. Libre de Bruxelles. The cultural exchange involved students from both countries, half of whom travelled in the fall of 2013 to visit and study their counterparts in Belgium and HK.
To Kwa Wan, Hong Kong