As a dynamic platform, Design Trust provides responsive funding to develop design expertise, build research initiatives and content related to Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area region and internationally. Fostering a culture of experimentation, testing and sharing, Design Trust Grant Recipients encompass a wide range of disciplines, including but not limited to graphics, media, wearables, architecture to the built environment, actively accelerate creative design and research development of meaningful projects. Our featured grant stories this quarter includes ‘The Yard of Environmental Sustainability (YES) Pavilion’ by Design Trust Feature Grant recipient Adam Fingrut and his colleagues at the Chinese University of Hong Kong; ‘Zero Waste Design Guidelines for High Density Cities’ by Design Trust Feature Grant recipient Clare Miflin; ‘PS Portable X500’ by Design Trust Seed Grant recipient Elaine Ho and colleagues at Publication Studio; and ‘Alleys in Wonderland’ by Design Trust Seed Grant recipient Nikolas Ettel.
Design Trust Feature Grant recipient Adam Fingrut and his colleagues at the Chinese University of Hong Kong have been developing a design and construction project that connects architecture, structural and mechanical engineering automation, industry contractors and environmental initiatives. Titled ‘The Yard of Environmental Sustainability (YES) Pavilion’, the project pushes the limits of masonry corbeling methods for the creation of a unique series of enclosed spaces to accommodate a variety of recycled materials. Parallel robots have the advantage of spanning large distances, while maintaining high degrees of accuracy and strength.
Design Trust Feature Grant recipient Clare Miflin’s research, the Zero Waste Design Guidelines were developed in New York City to address the crucial role that design of the built environment plays in achieving circular material loops. They have been disseminated and implemented widely in NYC, the US, and worldwide. A public facing panel discussion and expert think-tank in Hong Kong, Singapore and Center for Architecture will be conducted to engage the local architectural and development community and policy leaders, with the intent to begin a process of multidisciplinary collaboration, dissemination and implementation of design strategies that will help both cities reduce their waste.
Design Trust Seed Grant recipient Elaine Ho, Isabelle Sully, Lisa Li, and Yin Yin Wong of Publication Studio have been researching into the history of the printing industry in Hong Kong and the changing socioeconomic conditions in the region. The project is entitled ‘PS Portable X5000’ , a mobile publishing medium that redesigns and speculates on playful forms of digital print production in the form of a suitcase studio. Traveling from Rotterdam to Hong Kong and Guangzhou, the project first launched at Kai Fong Pai Dong in Yaumatei Hong Kong, and was finally presented and activated as a print-on-demand publishing device and book in Melbourne, Australia, and Guelph, Canada. As a moving work in process, the print studio and a project-specific book was informed by movement, touching down in six cities around the world as a collaborative mode of form- and public-making in circulation.
Design Trust Seed Grant recipient Nikolas Ettel has conducted a survey-based research project ‘Alleys in Wonderland’ concerning the characteristics of Asia’s back alleys in terms of the relationships between space and activity. By using categorisation, mapping, and digital visualisations, Nikolas aimed to examine the oddities of alleyways in Hong Kong and Macau today and seek the traces of metropolitan life in these celebrated architectural spaces. The research result was showcased in PMQ in Central Hong Kong to gather different perspectives and views on Hong Kong’s and Macau’s back alleys with the participation of international artists and a worldwide social media challenge.
DESIGN TRUST FEATURE GRANT fosters cross-disciplinary projects focusing on the Greater Bay Area region. Projects awarded have a wide reaching audience and may be sited in an exhibition or biennale venue with international recognition and standing. This grant supports international exchanges between a Hong Kong/ China based collective with an international renowned cultural institution. It aims to excel, share and build new knowledge and unique positions on the value of design, critical research and provocative outcomes.
DESIGN TRUST SEED GRANT fosters a culture of experimentation, testing and sharing. It is awarded to individuals seeking to kick-start a meaningful and intellectual project with social, educational, economical or environmental impact for communities. Seed Grants may support applicants who have a project in the pipeline that needs additional resources, as well as emerging designers, and young scholars. Design Trust highly encourages applicants from Hong Kong and the region to apply for this grant to support projects showcasing work at international venues, symposium or international biennales to showcase prototypes, or works relevant to architecture.
Applications for next grant cycle will close on 20th Jan 2020, apply now at https://designtrust.hk/grants/dtgrants/application-process/ .