Market Life: Understanding Domesticity in Public Space
The female as a “homemaker” is traditionally associated with the household setting, yet domestic life is not confined to the private realm but actively extends to urban public places such as the market. In a city predominately designed by men with little empathy for domestic life, how do women in domestic roles negotiate their place in the public realm, and how does the design of public markets narrate a particular gendered experience in the city? Addressing the topic of gendered domesticity as manifested in public space, this project is an urban archaeology on public markets in Hong Kong through the lens of a female homemaker to build a spatial and design narrative of market life.
The female as a “homemaker” is traditionally associated with the household setting, yet domestic life is not confined to the private realm but actively extends to urban public places such as the market. In a city predominately designed by men with little empathy for domestic life, how do women in domestic roles negotiate their place in the public realm, and how does the design of public markets narrate a particular gendered experience in the city? Addressing the topic of gendered domesticity as manifested in public space, this project is an urban archaeology on public markets in Hong Kong through the lens of a female homemaker to build a spatial and design narrative of market life.
- 2024
- Grantee: Dr Fung Sze Wai Veera and Dr Melody Hoi-lam YIU
Veera Fung is an architectural designer and research associate at the School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. She recently completed her doctoral thesis on gender and domestic architecture, exploring how women perform everyday practices in their homes and neighborhoods in the context of rural China. The study challenges the conventional association of women with the private sphere, suggesting the important role that women play beyond the domestic boundary, as well as the broader social and economic implications of houses and women’s day-to-day activities in rural development and preservation. With her profound interest in community empowerment and social innovation, she questions how gender-inclusive environments and designs can make positive impacts on people’s lives and work. Prior to her scholarly pursuit, Veera practiced in overseas and local offices and engaged in various architectural projects.
Melody Yiu is an urban researcher-designer with a focus on public architecture and cultural practices, currently a Research Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture, Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). With international experience from London to Shanghai, her practice over the last two decades is recognized through award-winning masterplan and urban landscape projects. Since returning to Hong Kong in 2018, she integrates this professional knowledge and insight with her interest in cultural practices to pursue research on urbanism and culture, as well as conducting artistic collaboration in spatial design projects. After completing the PhD thesis on cultural space with a history and spatial study of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, her current research investigates the topic of public space as cultural infrastructure and the spatial agency in cultural development of Asian cities.
- Organisation: Atelier In. Limited
Atelier In. is an architectural collaborative that aims to promote inclusive design through research and design initiatives. Our vision is to create an inclusive city where every gendered body of different races, ages, and abilities can feel safe, free, and belong. Working with women, gender minorities, and various stakeholders, our work establishes collaborative networks that inspire and empower people toward a gender-inclusive environment. The experience and insight gathered from different projects will be transformed into accessible knowledge to evoke thoughts, discussions, and action plans for community implementation of better living.