The exhibition raises important questions about how to ensure the representation of diverse stakeholders, how architects can act for the public, design urban social infrastructures, and support the commons. Studio D has focused its efforts on investigating architecture in relation to urban dynamics, emphasizing the perspectives of the city and its users. Inspired by Lefebvre's spatial triad, our students have analyzed and represented spaces within their site area as conceived, perceived, and lived. By considering these dimensions, they have designed spaces that respond to the needs of the community, making them not only functional but also meaningful to the people who use them.

During this semester, our students explored institutional places as social condensers: spaces for gathering and socializing. We particularly focused on such spaces - or the lack thereof - in Hong Kong's Tung Chung. While new urban developments often prioritize residential buildings, they are often deprived of crucial public functions. Our students have sought to address this issue by incorporating a variety of public programs in their designs to generate vibrant public life and foster a collective urban identity. Each of the four sections of the studio, led by Inge Goudsmit, Kelly Chow, Han Man, and Ioana Pricop, explores a specific programmatic framework, aiming to inject a socially-oriented program that caters to the needs of society.