The proposition for this project is to establish an inventory about uneven growth as well as the various balanced form of ecologies indentified in Hong Kong. With a desire to approach Hong Kong from an optimistic vision, scenarios for the future was developed in the form of islands and explored to eventually serve as paradigm or laboratory for the future of urban density.
The proposition for this project is to establish an inventory about uneven growth as well as the various balanced form of ecologies indentified in Hong Kong. With a desire to approach Hong Kong from an optimistic vision, scenarios for the future was developed in the form of islands and explored to eventually serve as paradigm or laboratory for the future of urban density.
To the existing 263 islands (over 500 m²), MAP Office proposes to add eight new islands addressing various communities that we have found in the territory. De-contextualizing the culture and the economy of those communities. Their position is directed by the distinct qualities of the waters or the specific nature of an existing island allowing the possible of an anchoring point. Those islands can be interpreted as a new language with which to promote universal values for the planet. Global awareness of this issue is at the center of their project beginning in Hong Kong territorial waters with the aim to reach different parts of the world.
Milestones
2014.Q4
Project awarded Design Trust Feature Grant
2014.11-2015.05
The team represented Hong Kong at the “Uneven Growth: Tactical Urbanisms for Expanding Megacities” exhibition organised by the Museum of Modern Art, New York
2015.06-10
Project presented at Vienna Biennale 2015 at MAK – Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna
2017.08-2017.11
Participated at the Yokohama Triennale 2017 “Islands, Constellations and Galapagos” – Yokohomma, Japan
2019.Q1
Project awarded Design Trust Seed Grant
2019.03-09
Participated at The XXII Triennale di Milano, “Broken Nature: Design Takes on Human Survival”
2019.08-11
The research result of “Ise Bay Project: The story of Amanami” is showcased at Studio City Macau
MAP Office is a multidisciplinary platform devised by Laurent Gutierrez (1966, Casablanca, Morocco) and Valérie Portefaix (1969, Saint-Étienne, France). This duo of artists has been based in Hong Kong since 1996, working on physical and imaginary territories using varied means of expression. MAP Office projects have been exposed in over 100 exhibitions at prestigious venues including the MoMA and the Guggenheim Museum (New York), the Georges Pompidou Centre (Paris) and the Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art (Beijing), around 35 Biennales and Trienniales around the world with for example five contributions to the Venice Biennale in Art and Architecture (2000, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010). Their cross-disciplinary practice has been the subject of a monograph, MAP OFFICE – Where the Map is the Territory (2011). MAP Office was the recipient of the 2013 edition of the Sovereign Asian Art Prize.
Date: 22 November 2014 – 25 May 2015
Venue: MoMA, Floor 3, Exhibition Galleries, Architecture and Design Galleries
The team represented Hong Kong at the “Uneven Growth: Tactical Urbanisms for Expanding Megacities” exhibition organised by the Museum of Modern Art, New York