Hong Kong Harbour: Future Sea Craft

Hong Kong Harbour: Future Sea Craft is a design investigation addressing the rejuvenation of Hong Kong’s seaside waste material through mixing local craft with material innovation and engaging the public through collaborative design workshops. As a multidisciplinary design studio, their practice involves utilising local materials that can be repurposed and accessed to the public. A design investigation of the lost waste material found on the shores of Hong Kong’s harbours, the project explores the utilisation of found sea waste materials.

Hong Kong’s harbours have always been a vital part in Hong Kong’s history, whether in a cultural, economical or environmental context. However, in recent years it is harbours that have suffered from increasing pollution, affecting local ecosystem and marine life. With an aim to encourage public engagement towards cleaning Hong Kong’s polluted seawater whilst collaborating with local artisans, resulting in objects beautifully crafted and repurposed. The objects are intended not just for modern home furnishing, but also reintroduce local and unused waste material back into goods for smart consumption and encourage active engagement towards issues of pollution and waste disposal. Ultimately, the goal is to create open source sustainable craft processes for Hong Kong locals to repurpose local sea waste into a new upcycling programme.

About Studio Florian + Christine

Studio Florian + Christine is a multidisciplinary design studio primarily based in London. As a two-person led studio, both designers are MA graduates from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design and part of the “United Matters” collective. Having practised design internationally, the two come with expertise in industrial design, and fashion and material innovation design. Their studio is exploring the intersection of science, craft and sustainability. The collaboration between the two disciplines involves creating structural forms while investigating sustainable materials and how they may be utilised for design led social innovation. As a studio, their design mission is to push to the boundaries of sustainable materiality and craft processes and how they can be used for future forms and functions. 

Christine Lew is a multidisciplinary designer exploring materiality at the intersection of science, technology and craft. Her background in material science and fashion led her to further develop her practice at Central Saint Martins’ Material Futures Programme. Her work has been exhibited at various prestigious Design Weeks around the world and is currently interested in exploring sustainable/waste materials and innovative craft processes.

Florian Wegenast is an experimental industrial designer, exploring and designing for a better relationship with our planet. He used his master programme in industrial design to focus on open and sustainable design, specifically on social catalysts that utilise participatory engagement and affect everyday social behaviour. His work has been exhibited during the London Design Festival and at the Dutch Design Week.