August 2023 | Public space research and design for VeryHK Space+ Festival

The second edition festival site is in a central-city location, Mong Kok, presenting a contrasting characteristic to Tin Shui Wai in both urban environment and demographics. The area is a vibrant and popular shopping and entertainment district popular among the younger generation, co-existing with an ageing population of local residents in old tenement buildings. The main festival site is a small pocket park, Dundas Square, which appears to be a spatial break within the compact urban fabric, yet at eye level, its physical access and visual connection are blocked off by fences and tall trees as the typical rigid design of public parks in Hong Kong. The design aims to provoke an alternative possibility to existing public park design and to embrace the diverse local character. Two customized tricycles are designed and built with the engagement of a local metalwork craftsman in response to the urban memory of delivery and vendor bikes that were popular in the district.

Project team:

• Public Space Research and Design: Prof. Hendrik Tieben, Prof. Melody Yiu, Charlie Chan
• Architectural Installation: Prof. Hiroyuki Shinohara with Ian Chen and Tony Lau, in collaboration with craft master Michael Yu and Melty Chan

Recent article in HKIA Journal: “Community Public Space Transformation: Local Sensitivity and Collaborative Network” Melody H Yiu, Hendrik Tieben. 04.2024