As part of the programme “PLAY IS FOR THE PEOPLE” (2018) under the Design Trust Futures Studio (DTFS) initiative, the launch of the Yi Pei Square Playground in April 2021 is a testament to Design Trust’s continuous and dedicated efforts in bringing together the local communities and other stakeholders from both private and public sectors to transform the unique concepts by cross-disciplinary design experts into meaningful outcomes that impact society or public spaces in Hong Kong. The idea of “Communal Living Room” connects the three separate areas of the playground into one large colourful groundscape by adopting new play equipment, while retaining and refurbishing existing fitness facilities that are popular among elderly users. This design aims to facilitate inter-generational interactions for residents of all ages, a playful open park provided with facilities that can be enjoyed by all to enhance community partnership.
Upon reflection of this year’s awards, Jury members state “Amidst the pandemic, creativity and innovation proves to be the remedy for improving our quality of life. We are pleased to award projects that meaningfully address critical issues such as humanitarian needs, environmental, cultural and sustainable development, revitalisation through technological advancements, and marriage of functionality and aesthetics”. More details here: https://dfaa.dfaawards.com/
Beside the Yi Pei Square Playground, the Portland Street Rest Garden was opened in September 2021 for the enjoyment of the public, and two more micro-parks, the Sitting-out Area Under Flyover in Hill Road in Shek Tong Tsui and Hamilton Street Rest Garden in Yau Ma Tei are expecting to complete in summer 2022.