Hong Kong Soil
“Hong Kong Soil” by Niko Leung and Loky Leung is a project that explores the technical and cultural opportunities of recycling & reusing discarded soil from construction sites, not only from the intention to minimise environmental burden but also through deep research and experimentations, to manifest qualities of this material that would be valuable to our city. In Hong Kong excavated soil from the construction industry is disposed of infill banks as waste material, where a fraction is being recycled and a large amount being discharged to the Mainland for reuse. The project examines new possibilities for the Earth by reinterpreting the vernacular in new ways.
“Hong Kong Soil” by Niko Leung and Loky Leung is a project that explores the technical and cultural opportunities of recycling & reusing discarded soil from construction sites, not only from the intention to minimise environmental burden but also through deep research and experimentations, to manifest qualities of this material that would be valuable to our city. In Hong Kong excavated soil from the construction industry is disposed of infill banks as waste material, where a fraction is being recycled and a large amount being discharged to the Mainland for reuse. The project examines new possibilities for the Earth by reinterpreting the vernacular in new ways.
- 2021
- Grantee: Niko Leung, Loky Leung
Niko Leung, founder of FUTURE IS TRANSPARENCY, is a curious designer working in the realm of object, material, installation and spatial design. Niko holds a BDes from Design Academy Eindhoven (NL). She was previously a part-time tutor at Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity in Hong Kong teaching Visual Art, Design and Spatial Studies. Niko enjoys travelling, had been a resident artist in Jingdezhen (CN), Fiskars (FI), Den Bosch (NL) and Arita (JP). Niko was awarded Young Design Talent Award in 2017 to undertake a work experience at Studiomake Architects in Thailand. Niko has practiced at architectural ceramics manufacturer Royal Tichelaar Makkum (NL) as a craftsperson. 8 years in the Netherlands has brought Niko a can-do and optimistically Dutch-Hong Kong attitude in her work. Niko co-founded Hong Kong Soil with Loky Leung in 2021, as an initiative to research and advocate purposeful reuse of discarded soil from local construction sites.
Loky Leung is an architectural designer and educator. He is an advocate in sustainable living through conscious building and design practice. In the process of spatial production, he seeks enlightenment from careful study of natural materials, participation in hands-on crafts work, and engagement with communities. He gains his foundation of design knowledge and practice from his completion of an architecture degree and four years of engagement in a formal architectural practice in Hong Kong. He has developed a great care for people and the environment through his internship in villages in Taiwan and favela in Brazil. Loky lives in Shataukok, a north-eastern rural part of Hong Kong, where he continues to learn to live in harmony with plants, animals and other beings.
- Organisation: Hong Kong Soil