Design Trust Grant Spotlight

Design Trust is pleased to share a selection of highlighted grant projects, including  ‘Urban Fractals: a point cloud documentary of Hong Kong living spaces” by Haotian Zhang, Tianying Li and Guo Qian,  “Your Kitchen Is Your Dining Room Is Your Greenhouse”, the installation “Balchen” by Leyuan Li, "Fishing: Becoming Lo Ting" by Su Chang and Ruo Jia that were all displayed at UABB Shenzhen 2022 Main Exhibition.

Design Trust Seed Grant “Urban Fractals: a point cloud documentary of Hong Kong living spaces” by Haotian Zhang, Tianying Li and Guo Qian

The point-cloud research film from grant research project “Urban Fractals: a point cloud documentary of Hong Kong living spaces” was on display with their built installation at the UABB 2022 Shenzhen Main Venue “Cosmic Cities” section from December 2022 to March 2023, which symbolizes a window inviting the audience to gaze inward and mediate through the pixels of an ever-changing cityscape of Hong Kong. The film uses photogrammetry to study Hong Kong living spaces across different scales, and reimagines a non-hierarchical fractal cityscape composed by the documented spaces. The exhibit was awarded Young Talent Award of the 9^th UABB Shenzhen.

Design Trust Seed Grant“Your Kitchen Is Your Dining Room Is Your Greenhouse” by Leyuan Li

Leyuan Li’s ongoing research “Your Kitchen Is Your Dining Room Is Your Greenhouse”, the installation “Balchen” was showcased at UABB Shenzhen 2022 Main Exhibition from December 2022 to March 2023. The combined term of Balcony and Kitchen, suggests a new spatial typology that intersects the functions of a greenhouse, a kitchen, and a living room. The exhibit proposes a set of social codes in response to the emerging trend of domestic farming in the Greater Bay Area, speculating on the tools and spaces of food production in developing a sustainable, collective community. Built upon the exploration of Balchen, Leyuan and his team will continue to expand the research and design speculation from Shenzhen to Hong Kong, suggesting new spatial possibilities of urban farming that compile agricultural and social activities in the community, digging at the entrenched ecological and cultural care for food in the Greater Bay Area.

Design Trust Seed Grant“Liquid Homes: Living, Building and other Stories from Hong Kong Fishing Villages” by Su Chang

Design Trust Seed Grant recipient Su Chang collaborated with architectural historian Ruo Jia for the installation "Fishing: Becoming Lo Ting" that was displayed at UABB Shenzhen 2022 Main Exhibition. The design is inspired by the craft and techniques found in and around Hong Kong's fishing villages, and imagines the possibility for humans to participate in the construction of water-environment-centered living. The tensile fishing net structure and galvanized steel frames provide a shelter for the public to reconnect with the half-fish half-human, mythical subject - Lo Ting - in the cultural unconscious of the region, creating a bodily experience while activating the exhibition space.