Design Trust, an initiative of the Hong Kong Ambassadors of Design, is pleased to present the publication “Design Trust Futures Studio: from Smallness, Playfulness to Community Impact”. With the completion of four micro-parks Yi Pei Square Playground, Portland Street Rest Garden, Sitting-out Area under Flyover in Hill Road and Hamilton Street Rest Garden, the publication provides an extensive review of Design Trust Futures Studio 2017 “Small is Meaningful” and Design Trust Futures Studio 2018 “Play is for the People” programmes and the subsequent construction process, as well as documentation of the built parks, ongoing research survey and insightful reflections leading to 2023 from the public, private and communities on the future of public space in Hong Kong. As a finale moment of more than five years of creative collaboration on public space in Hong Kong, the publication strives to provide valuable recommendations for future public and private community partnerships in the region with a “Collective Creative Manifesto”. The publication was officially launched on November 16th 2023 along with the Design Trust Futures Studio Micro-parks Exhibition from December 2023 to March 2024.
Curated and conceptualised by Marisa Yiu, Co-founder, Executive Director of Design Trust, Design Trust Futures Studio is Design Trust’s flagship programme that launched in 2017, advocating for the positive values of design in the role for shaping a better Hong Kong and the region we live in. “We are thrilled to be able to go beyond conceptual ideation to bring our pilot micro-park concept design into reality across Hong Kong. It is an outcome of numerous site research and analysis, various public engagement sessions and collective efforts from public and private agencies since 2018, aiming at introducing unique design to public space in Hong Kong, and injecting new energy and ideas with minimal intervention. The publication is a culmination of such efforts as a testament of cross-disciplinary creative efforts and public private community partnership. I extend my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the partners involved – from private and public agencies, partners, advisors to all the contractors” says Yiu.
Expanded upon Design Trust Futures Studio 2018 “Play is for the People” documentary book, DESIGN TRUST FUTURES STUDIO: from Smallness, Playfulness to Community Impact reveals the design process of four design teams: Yi Pei Square Playground team of Stephen Ip, Kay Chan, Christopher Choi and Jonathan Mak mentored by Mimi Hoang; Portland Street Rest Garden team of Ricky Lai, Xavier Tsang, Wendy Wu and Kam Fai Hung mentored by Sam Jacob; Sitting-out Area under Flyover in Hill Road team of Aron Tsang, Andy Cheng, Zoey Chan and Jose Fu mentored by Gary Chang; and Hamiton Street Rest Garden team of Sylvia Chan, Vivian Ng, Samuel Wong, Elaine Tsui, and Owen Chim mentored by Stanley Wong in 2018, while also presenting a comprehensive documentation of the construction and implementation process of the four micro-parks. Edited by Marisa Yiu and Zheng Zhou, the publication features critical reflections and interview transcripts from more than 20 architects, designers, experts, academics and researchers including Elizabeth Diller, Richard Hassel, Donald Choi and Fan Lok Yi, providing a critical examination of public space and community partnership from DTFS programmes and constructive lessons learned from this process. The volume also includes post-occupancy survey findings developed by Design Trust team in collaboration with DTFS2018 mentee designer Kay Chan and Design Trust Seed Grant recipient Massimiliano Dappero during the summer of 2023, continuing the discussion on how the micro-parks and public space in Hong Kong could be shaped in the region for a collective and inspiring future.
