The Collateral event of 18th International Architecture Exhibition - LaBiennale di Venezia - Hong Kong Exhibition with the theme “Transformative Hong Kong” held its official opening on 19th May 2023 in Venice, Italy.
The Collateral event of 18th International Architecture Exhibition - LaBiennale di Venezia - Hong Kong Exhibition with the theme “Transformative Hong Kong” (港創未來), curated by Prof. Sarah Lee, Prof. Hendrik Tieben and Yutaka Yano, held its official opening on 19th May 2023 in Venice, Italy.
Jointly organised by The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation and Hong Kong Arts Development Council, with The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) as the Partner and Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as the Lead Sponsor, the “Transformative Hong Kong” Exhibition (“Hong Kong Exhibition”) will be on view from 20th May to 26th November 2023 in Campo della Tana, Castello 2126, 30122 in Venice, Italy.
In response to “The Laboratory of the Future”, the overall title defined by chief curator of the 18th International Architecture Exhibition, the Hong Kong curatorial team has developed the “Transformative Hong Kong” Exhibition which focuses on Hong Kong’s future on how the city is being transformed by such mega-projects as The Northern Metropolis and the East Lantau Metropolis, and by such innovations as Modular Integrated Construction (MiC).
The exhibition is arranged according to three designated scales - “Territorial Transformations”, “Architectural Transformations” and “Public Space Transformations”, combining a total of 11 sets of exhibits to showcase initiatives with interactive mixed media representations and visual essays, snapshots of this transformative moment in our city with focused themes on Hong Kong’s sustainability, climate change, technology and energy/resource management, and how the architectural collaborations and innovations have been using the city as the “laboratory” to meet the challenges faced by the future generation of Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Exhibition’s opening took place in the courtyard where a large canopy-shaped bamboo installation titled "Moving Bamboo" is the centrestage. Designed by Prof. Hiroyuki Shinohara and Peter Chan Tung-hoi in collaboration with 19 students, as well as a bamboo scaffolding master who travelled to Venice to help assemble the installation, the project was inspired by bamboo weaving.
Another project by the CUHK Research Lab, with Prof. Adam Fingrut and Prof. Tat Lam as contributors, comprises of series of short writings and essays on selected topics for the future of Hong Kong. These texts attempt to set out a context which introduces to the audiences a unique insight into selected critical urban issues facing Hong Kong in the near future, focusing on themes such as Hong Kong’s relationship with the Mainland, sustainability, climate change, technology and energy / resource management.
Exhibition
Date 20.05.2023 – 26.11.2023
Location Arsenale, Campo della Tana, Castello 2126, 30122 Venice
Curators: Prof. Sarah Lee, Prof. Hendrik Tieben, Yutaka Yano
Website: https://2023.vbexhibitions.hk/
Talk 1: “Curatorial Conversations: Laboratory of the Future – Approaches"
Date and Time 17.05.2023 (Wed), 15:30 - 16:00
Location Courtyard, Campo della Tana, Castello 2126-30122 Venice
Kickstarting a series of talks starting with the common ground and synergies between SE Asia pavilions, Hong Kong and Taiwan teams share their curatorial responses to the theme, “Laboratory of the Future”.
Speakers: Wei Tseng, ShengChieh Ko, Jeong-Der Ho, Meng-Tsung Su (Taiwan); Sarah Lee, Hendrik Tieben, Yutaka Yano (HK)
Talk 2: “Curatorial Conversations: Laboratory of the Future Common Ground"
Date and Time 18.05.2023 (Thurs), 11:00 - 12:00
Location Courtyard, Campo della Tana, Castello 2126-30122 Venice
The Hong Kong and Singapore teams discuss their curatorial responses to the theme, "Laboratory of the Future" - this will kickstart a series of talks starting with our common ground and synergies between SE Asia pavilions.
Speakers: Melvin Tan (Singapore); Sarah Lee , Hendrik Tieben, Yutaka Yano (HK)
Moderator: Allen Poon, HKIA
Talk 3: “Transformative Hong Kong Interpretations' Exhibitor Sharing"
Date and Time 18.05.2023 (Thurs), 15:30 - 16:30
Location Courtyard, Campo della Tana, Castello 2126-30122 Venice
Exhibitors of the Hong Kong Exhibition will share their responses to the curatorial theme followed by discussion with the Curators.
Speakers: Dennis Ho (Arup), Jeffrey Cheng (Building Narrative), Hiroyuki Shinohara & Peter Chan, Tobias Klein & Victor Leung, Dennis Cheung (Studio Ryte)
Respondents: Sarah Lee, Hendrik Tieben, Yutaka Yano
Talk 4: “Transformative Hong Kong"
Date and Time 19.05.2023 (Fri), 11:00 - 12:00
Location Courtyard, Campo della Tana, Castello 2126-30122 Venice
As we embark on a journey to explore the future of Hong Kong, we are confronted with a myriad of challenges. What will become of this highly urbanised and densely populated city in the face of climate change and ecological crises? What if we could transform our high-rise buildings and neighbourhoods into living, breathing ecosystems that harness the power of nature and urban microclimate to create sustainable and liveable spaces? How can we create a sustainable and liveable city that is resilient to the challenges of tomorrow?
This is where transformative architecture comes into play in our quest for a future-ready city. We must harness the power of innovation and collaboration to create a vertical city that is not only decarbonised but also resilient, compact but also liveable, and fit for purpose but also flexible for future changes.
Speakers: MK Leung, Ronald Lu and Partners
Moderator: Hendrik Tieben
Talk 5: “Transformative Lighting and the City – Sustainability and Greenology"
Date and Time 19.05.2023 (Fri), 12:30 - 13:00
Location Courtyard, Campo della Tana, Castello 2126-30122 Venice
Lighting is the essential element in which we perceive space and architecture, at times, it is simply necessary element to function within a space. We understand light as the fourth dimension of architecture – and in time of climate change era, it is an integral part of sustainable building strategy. Matteo Menghini will share ERCO’s Greenology approach which combines ecological responsibility with technological expertise and their strategy for sustainable lighting and its four pillars of Innovation, efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability.
Speaker: Matteo Menghini (Erco)
Moderator: Yutaka Yano
Talk 6: “Transforming Cultures"
Date and Time 20.05.2023 (Sat), 14:00 - 15:00
Location Courtyard, Campo della Tana, Castello 2126-30122 Venice
A panel of international experts discusses Hong Kong's culture and how cities develop as a result of urban regeneration as well as regional and cultural influences in the discussion panel on "Transforming Cultures." We investigate how architecture affects habitation and the way of life in our city, as well as the role that architects seek to transform in the process.
Speakers: Rocco S.K. Yim, Prof. Murray Fraser (UCL), Pablo Castro (Obra Architects)
Moderator: Thomas Tsang (HKU)
Talk 7: "Fluid Ground - Stories of Transformation"
Date and Time 20.05.2023 (Sat), 15:30 - 16:30
Location Courtyard, Campo della Tana, Castello 2126-30122 Venice
Presenting a series of mini lectures from former and current curators, architects and artists of the Venice Architecture Biennale to discuss the cultural and environmental transformations in the city, and to ask how we can re-awaken the presence of water, ground and landscape as elements held ‘in common’ in our urban imaginaries. How do we experience ‘water’ and ‘ground’ and how can the idea of ‘fluid ground’ serve as common thread for experience, understanding and knowledge of place? Our interaction with water and ground form multiple stories, with water as source, sewer, and communication channel, and shared ground driving the process of city transformation.
Speakers:
Era Savvides and Nasios Varnavas (Urban Radicals ("A Brick for Venice" -European Cultural Centre Pavilion)
Jan Jongert ("BuildingEco-Systems"- Dutch Pavilion)
Sam Domingo & Choie Y. Funk (‘Tripade Gallina:GutsofEstuary” Curators, Philippine Pavilion)
Justin Hui ("UnsettledGround" - Hong Kong to African Continent, Contributor to Hong KongPavilion 2023)
Moderator: Dr Paolo Zaide (University of Westminster)
Talk 8: "Automated Landscapes' Discussion and Book Presentation"
Date and Time 20.05.2023 (Sat), 17:30 - 18:30
Location Courtyard, Campo della Tana, Castello 2126-30122 Venice
Speakers: Víctor Muñoz Sanz, Marina Otero Verzier, Merve Bedir
Respondents: Tobias Klein, Hendrik Tieben
Multimedia
Media Coverage
Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), 29.7.2023, "Vibrant Hong Kong, Part 2: Two architecture-themed roving exhibitions outside of Hong Kong"
Zolima City Mag, 10.6.2023, “A Future for Hong Kong’s Heritage at the Venice Biennale of Architecture”
SCMP, 01.06.2023, “Hong Kong at Venice Biennale 2023: sustainable, humane architecture to the fore as designers explore future of city at a crossroads”
Perspective, 23.05.2023, “Transformative Hong Kong architecture capturing global attention in Venice”
China Daily, 19.05.2023, “The architects of Hong Kong’s future”
ArchDaily, 18.05.2023, “9 Collateral Events to Explore While Visiting the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale”
FuturArc, 17.05.2023, “Exploring territorial, architectural and urban space issues in Hong Kong”
Azure Magazine, 16.05.2023, “15 Must-Sees at the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2023”
World Architecture Community, 09.05.2023, “Transformative Hong Kong Exhibition Will Explore Hong Kong’s Future In Venice Biennale”
Mingpao, 22.5.2023, 〈威尼斯建築雙年展 「港創未來」揭幕〉
Oriental Daily News, 21.5.2023, 〈「港創未來」建築展 威尼斯開幕〉
Singtao, 20.05.2023, 〈威尼斯「港創未來」建築展即日起開始 展期至11.26〉
Wen Wei Po, 20.5.2023, 〈威尼斯雙年展「港創未來」建築展由5·20展至11·26〉
Dot Dot News, 20.5.2023, 〈威尼斯「港創未來」建築展 展期今起至11月26日〉
Hong Kong China News Agency, 20.5.2023, 〈威尼斯雙年展港創未來建築展開幕〉
Oriental Daily, 20.5.2023, 〈威尼斯「港創未來」建築展 展期至11月26日〉
Opening Ceremony
Talk Series
