Melody is an urban designer and researcher focusing on cultural architecture and urban/cultural development policy, currently a Research Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Having lived and worked in the US, London, and Shanghai, she was involved in major master planning projects in China and Asia, with recognition for award-winning master plans and urban landscape projects. Since returning to Hong Kong in 2018, she has integrated this professional knowledge and insight with her involvement in the cultural sector to pursue research in urban/cultural topics and artistic collaboration projects. Building upon the upcoming monograph publication on the development history and design of Hong Kong’s municipal cultural buildings in the 1970s/80s, her current research further investigates through an architectural lens how culture emerged as a public service in late-colonial Hong Kong and the diverse typology of urban cultural spaces in Asian cities.
Introduction
Research Interests
- Urban Design and Public Space
- Cultural Infrastructure and Architecture
- Urban and Cultural Development
- Participatory Arts and Cultural Practices
- Public Architecture and Modern Heritage
Publications (selected)
Melody Hoi-lam YIU (forthcoming 2025), Cultural Architecture and Late-Colonial Space: Constructing Cultural Centres in Hong Kong. Research in Architecture Series, Routledge.
Melody Hoi-lam YIU (2024), “No room for culture? A brief review of cultural and urban planning in Hong Kong since the late 20th century”. In Ian Morley and Hendrik Tieben (eds.), International Planning History Society Proceedings, 20th IPHS Conference, TU Delft Open. DOI: 10.7480/iphs.2024.1.7636
Melody Hoi-lam YIU (2023), “From Cultural Landmark to Everyday Public Space: an infrastructural approach towards cultural development”. Resilience/Resistance – The 23rd Annual International Conference of Cultural Studies Association. Taichung, Taiwan.
Melody Hoi-lam YIU (2022), “Cultural Centers in Hong Kong: Welfare Provision or Economic Instrument?” Architecture and Culture. 10:1, p58-75, DOI: 10.1080/20507828.2021.2020040
Francesco ROSSINI, Melody YIU (2020) “Public Open Spaces in Private Developments in Hong Kong”. Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability. 14:2, p237-261. DOI 10.1080/17549175.2020.1793803.
Honours and Recognitions
2020 7th edition INU Award for Urban Planning Literature (Premio INU Letterature Urabnistica). First Prize, Journal Article category. “Public Open Space in Private Developments in Hong Kong: New Spaces for Social Activities” (co-author with Prof. Francesco Rossini)
2019 World Architecture Festival. Future Project of the Year. “Shenzhen Bay Avenue Streetscape and Master Plan” (i.c.w.: Morphis Ltd. + Wilkinson Eyre)
2016 Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects Design Awards. Silver Award. “Qinhuangdao Eco-Tourism Master Plan” (urban design lead, Perkins+Will, i.c.w.: Morphis Ltd.)
Research Projects (selected)
“Practice-as-Research: Producing Knowledge through Participatory Creative Practice”.
Sept 2024 – Jun 2025.
(co-PI with Prof. YIM Sui Fong and Prof. Ashley Lee WONG)
CUHK Faculty of Arts Research Institute for Humanities Fund for Interdisciplinary Research
“Market Life: Understanding Domesticity in Public Space”.
May 2024 – April 2025.
(Co-PI with Dr Veera Fung Sze-Wai as AtelierIn)
Design Trust Seed Grant.
“Startup Space for Aspiring Musician: Connecting Culture and Urban Space through Resource Matching Platform”. (Ground Music)
Apr 2024 – Sept 2025.
CUHK ORKTS Knowledge Transfer Fund.
“Public Space as Cultural Infrastructure: a spatial survey for cultural participation in Hong Kong”.
Jun 2023 – Feb 2025.
CUHK Faculty of Social Science Direct Grant for Research
“From craft to production: mapping craft in contemporary architecture application in Hong Kong”
Jun 2022 – Nov 2023.
(PI: Prof. Hiroyuki Shinohara).
CUHK Faculty of Social Science Direct Grant for Research
Creative Works (selected)
"Curiosity Cabinet of Gendered Objects"
Nov-Dec 2022.
(Co-PI with Dr Veera Fung Sze-Wai as AtelierIn)
deTour Design Festival 2022. Presented by PMQ, supported by CreateHK, HKSARG.
A Thousand Plateau: space design for black-box theatre production
Aug 2021.
(Artist Co-Creators: Rita Hui, Wong Pik-kei, Wong Ka-ying)
Presented by the West Kowloon Cultural District (performing arts)
Research Assistant Professor
Executive MSc in Cities (LSE)
PhD in Architecture (CUHK)
