Design Trust Futures Studio awarded AIA Hong Kong Community Citation 2024

We are pleased to share that Design Trust Futures Studio has been awarded the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Hong Kong chapter’s Community Citation 2024 “in recognition of significant contributions in the Chapter’s region for the design and development of micro-parks that revitalize public spaces via cross-disciplinary collaborations and participatory workshops with local communities and government, creating more inclusive and intergenerational ‘communal living rooms’ throughout Hong Kong.” Design Trust Futures Studio team received the award on December 6^th 2024 at 2024 AIA Hong Kong Honors & Awards Opening Ceremony.

This honour is extended to individuals or organizations for distinguished achievement in promoting the value of architecture in society and fostering public awareness of issues related to the built environment. This is the second time that Design Trust has received this honour. Design Trust has been awarded AIA Hong Kong’s Community Citation 2019 “in recognition of distinguished achievement in the Chapter’s region as a not-for-profit initiative supporting creative design projects and research, and advocating for the importance of thoughtful design while actively engaging communities through public events in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.”

On the occasion of 2024 AIA International Conference, Marisa Yiu (Co-founder, Lead Curator, Executive Director of Design Trust) has led a tour for the overseas conference participants to Design Trust Futures Studio Micro-park Sitting-out Area under Flyover in Hill Road as part of the conference program “Building Community: From Stanley to Kennedy Town” on October 25^th 2024. The program also included a tour to HKFYG’s Stanley Outdoor Training Centre designed by Architecture Commons. Design Trust is pleased to share the past six-year journey of creative collaboration and discuss different community engagement models with the overseas guests.

Since 2018, Design Trust Futures Studio (DTFS) has been working alongside public and private agencies including Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Architectural Services Department and the Policy Innovation and Coordination Office (ceased operation from July 1st 2022). From January 2018 to April 2019, DTFS’ “PLAY IS FOR THE PEOPLE” programme was sponsored by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK), while Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation was the Education & Community Outreach Partner. As conceptual designer and lead organiser, DTFS led and engaged, conducted research and design four micro-parks as public spaces of the future. These locations include: Portland Street Rest Garden, Hamilton Street Rest Garden, the Sitting-Out Area under Flyover in Hill Road, and Yi Pei Square Playground. The aim is to transform the micro-park designs into reality, with Architectural Services Department as the works agent and Leisure and Cultural Services Department as the client of the parks. From 2019 onwards Design Trust committed and volunteered to continue the efforts. Design Trust would like to thank the mentor-mentee teams, as well as public and private agencies for their creative contribution in the past six years.