The inaugural Open House Hong Kong welcoming hundreds of visitors

27. 9. 2024

The inaugural edition of Open House Hong Kong supported by Design Trust took place on the weekends of September 21st-22nd and 28th -29th 2024. This new festival showcased the rich architectural heritage of the city of Hong Kong providing 95 tours to around 50 sites and buildings across the city.  Design Trust is proud to support the Inaugural Open House Hong Kong 2024 with the first Design Trust Impact Grant, as part of Design Trust Decade programmes celebrating the 10th anniversary of Design Trust and Hong Kong Ambassadors of Design since 2007. Design Trust Impact Grant supports public-facing and community-based projects led and driven by Design Trust grant recipients, fellows and mentees to advance their research supported by Design Trust to expand its knowledge impact. Engaging various stakeholders from public and private sectors as well as academic and industry experts with international exposure, the projects awarded benefit the public, and contribute to the critical research and experimentation while piloting innovative models of community engagement at different scales. As the inaugural partner, Design Trust is delighted to champion and unveil new interactions of our social, cultural and public realm to a wider audience through Open House Hong Kong.

The inaugural Open House Hong Kong in partnership with Design Trust on the weekends of September 21st-22nd and 28th -29th 2024

The festival highlighted the remarkable cultural and architectural diversity of Hong Kong, allowing attendees to explore a range of building styles, including the Chinese Methodist Church designed by Wai Szeto at North Point exemplifying brutalism in Hong Kong from an in-depth study by Design Trust Feature Grant researcher Bob Pang, the public housing estates Clague Garden Estate and Cho Yiu Chuen guided by Design Trust Seed Grant recipients Rico Samuel Diedering and Pedram Ghelichi, whose grant research “Housing Re-public” reveals the emergence of a unique tower typology in which conventions of repetition and raw efficiency are replaced by diversity, flexibility and spatiality between the 1970s and 1990s, as well as Cheung Sha Wan Pier Canopy, designed by Design Trust Seed Grant recipients Paul Tse and Evelyn Ting’s New Office Works, and St. Paul's Catholic Day Nursery in Tai Po, by Design Trust Grant Recipient Eureka. Open House Hong Kong 2024 also featured the four micro-parks from Design Trust Future Studio, Hamilton Street Rest Garden, Portland Street Rest Garden, Sitting Out Area Under Flyover in Hill Road, and Yi Pei Square Playground, for the public to explore the vibrant community culture of Hong Kong.

The inaugural Open House Hong Kong Showcased around 50 sites and buildings across the city, photo courtesy of Open House Kong Kong.

Over the two weekends of festival, hundreds of visitors have joined a total of 95 tours around Hong Kong. On the occasion of 10th anniversary of Design Trust and the Hong Kong Ambassadors of Design since 2007, Design Trust is the Inaugural Partner for the first Open House Hong Kong festival. The event is being organised by a dedicated committee of young Hong Kong-based enthusiasts who are passionate about showcasing the city's rich architectural legacy to both local and global audiences. This organising team is composed of experts and practitioners from various fields, including architects, educators, curators, scholars, and researchers, who are Kay Chan, Helen Fan, Charles Lai, Kevin Mak, Bob Pang and Sampson Wong from the Design Trust community. 94 volunteers from the public community and 60 expert docents from the academia and industry supported the festival unveiling the hidden stories behind more than 50 sites to the public.

The Chinese Methodist Church North Point tour led by architect Stuart Chen, photo courtesy of Open House Kong Kong.
Blue House tour led by Knowledgeable townsfolk from Wan Chai and Good Neighbour, photo courtesy of Open House Kong Kong.
Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre tour led by Jessica Chan, photo courtesy of Open House Hong Kong.
Exterior of the Special Room Block & The Tang Shiu Kin Hall, St. Stephen’s College designed by architect Ho Tao, tour led by Maoshan Connie & Kevin Mak, Photo courtesy of Open House Hong Kong.
The Henderson designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, tours led by Sara Klomps (Director, Zaha Hadid Architects), Kaloyan Erevinov (Senior Associate, Zaha Hadid Architects), Eureka Chu (Senior Associate, Ronald Lu & Partners), Estelle Chan (Senior Project Manager of The Henderson), photo courtesy of Open House Hong Kong.
Yi Pei Square Playground tour led by Kay Chan Wan Ki and Helen Fan, photo courtesy of Open House Kong Kong.
Cheung Sha Wan Pier Canopy tour led by Design Trust grantees Paul Tse & Evelyn Ting of New Office Works, photo courtesy of Open House Hong Kong.
Cho Yiu Chuen tour led by Design Trust Seed Grant recipients Rico Samuel Diedering and Pedram Ghelichi of The ‘Housing Re-public’ initiative, photo courtesy of Open House Hong Kong.
Interior of the Special Room Block & The Tang Shiu Kin Hall, St. Stephen’s College designed by architect Ho Tao, tour led by Maoshan Connie & Kevin Mak, Photo courtesy of Open House Hong Kong.
“Design Trust Futures Studio” micro park, Sitting Out Area Under Flyover in Hill Road tour led by Architect Andy Cheng and Aron Tsang, photo courtesy of Open House Hong Kong.

Open House Worldwide is the non-profit organisation that has spearheaded the Open House model in over 50 cities globally since its founding in London in 1992. The goal of the Open House is to promote public awareness and appreciation of architecture and design. By providing free access to notable buildings, the festivals aim to engage local communities and visitors alike in experiencing the built environment first-hand.

 

Through this unique celebration of Hong Kong's architectural diversity, Open House Hong Kong provided an open, inclusive, and enlightening experience for all who attended. By granting public access to the city's built environment, the festival fostered a deeper appreciation for Hong Kong's rich cultural and design legacy, as well as stimulating discussions around the role of architecture in shaping urban life. With its inaugural edition in 2024, Open House Hong Kong will join a growing global network of Open House festivals that are redefining how the public engages with the spaces that define our cities.

The inaugural Open House Hong Kong Organising Committee Members at the Opening Party (left to right): Vera Lam, Helen Fan, Jessica Chan, Charles Lai, Bob Pang, Hiuman Lam, Kit Chan, Kevin Mak, Sampson Wong, Kay Chan. Photo courtesy of Open House Hong Kong.
Highlights from Open House Hong Kong Opening Party on September 19th 2024. Photo courtesy of Open House Hong Kong.
The inaugural Open House Hong Kong Organising Committee Members with Marisa Yiu, Zheng Zhou from Design Trust and Otto Ng from the Opening Party venue support COMMAA. Photo courtesy of Open House Hong Kong.
Highlights from Open House Hong Kong Opening Party on September 19th 2024. Photo courtesy of Open House Hong Kong.