2015 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Hong Kong) Invites Hong Kongers to Explore VISIONS Lifestyle and the City

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1 2015 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Hong Kong) Invites Hong Kongers to Explore VISIONS Lifestyle and the City 11 December February 2016 at Kowloon Park #UABBHK #HKBiennale #VISIONS2050 (Hong Kong, 14 October 2015) The 2015 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Hong Kong) (UABB(HK)) invites Hong Kongers to explore the future development of their city. An event of international standards, Hong Kong s Biennale brings together the public and the creative industries to examine the enrichment of Hong Kong s living culture. Themed 'VISIONS Lifestyle and the City', the fifth edition of UABB(HK) takes place from 11 December 2015 to 28 February 2016 across 34,000 m 2 of Kowloon Park and at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre. Admission is free. UABB(HK) is organised by The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation, in conjunction with The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Hong Kong Institute of Planners and Hong Kong Designers Association, and with Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as the leading sponsor. The curatorial team is led by Chief Curator Christine Hawley with Sarah Lee, Roger Wu, Yutaka Yano and Paolo Zaide. Professor Bernard Lim, Board of Directors of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation and Chair of the Steering Committee of UABB(HK) 2015 said, As platforms for discussion and contemplation, Biennales around the world have become significant cultural drivers in promoting awareness around the importance of understanding a city and facilitating a diverse platform for the exchange of knowledge, information, expertise and ideas. Hong Kong is a dynamic city that has evolved rapidly over the past 35 years. Hong Kong s 2015 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture encourages us to look ahead to 2050 and consider how we want, and need, our city to evolve over the next 35 years. The Hong Kong public, particularly our youth, are an important part of this discussion and we want to engage Hong Kongers alongside international experts in an open dialogue about their vision for the future of our city. UABB(HK) allows us to consider the questions of how the city shapes our lifestyle and how our lifestyle shapes the future of our city. UABB(HK) puts the future of Hong Kong s urban development in the spotlight with the public invited to contribute to the discussion through a number of activities and programmes. With the objective of being a platform for public discussion, the Biennale is designed for a broad audience. Recognising that it is the younger generation of Hong Kong that will be responsible for the city of the future, the curatorial team seeks to create an exchange of ideas with today s youth. Chief Curator Christine Hawley said, The rich and varied culture of our past is an important legacy and cornerstone that our younger generations can build upon in

2 growing the identity of the city. This year s theme of 'VISIONS Lifestyle and the City' focuses on the future of Hong Kong and the intrinsic relationship between how we conduct our daily life and the physical environment around us. The vision of our younger generation is critical in developing a more sustainable framework within which future generations should live, and the programme has been designed with a particular emphasis on brining students and youths into the discussion. Above all, UABB(HK) is a time for celebration of Hong Kong s vibrant and inspirational community to address issues that are both critically difficult and critically inspiring. With over 60 exhibitors, the Biennale is a curated showcase of inspirational works from local and international creatives. The contributors range from academia and business sectors to the collective community, including architects, planners, ecologists, fashion and product designers, filmmakers, photographers and students. UABB(HK) consists of four main components: the Lecture and Forum Programme, Thematic Screening Programme, Education Programme and Special Programme of Lifestyle in the Smart City, and Hong Kongers are invited to engage in performances, film screenings, symposium, forums, workshops and guided tours. Lectures and Forums Established lecturer and architectural writer, Sir Peter Cook will lead the special opening event forum joined by prominent architects and designers. Thematic Screening Programmes Showcasing a selection of prominent short films that look at our urban environment such as The Human Scale by Andreas M.Dalsgaard and Watermark by Edward Burtynsk. Education Programmes Children and youth are invited to participate in an educational programme that examines the future of the city, run in partnership with certain organisations. Outdoor Programme of Lifestyle in the Smart City Leading creatives, practitioners and thought leaders build exhibits at the Satellite Venue inside the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park demonstrating how architects and urbanists look at issues surrounding the contemporary city. To download hi-resolution images, download from : ###

3 Images & Sample of Exhibitors: Caption: The curatorial team of 2015 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Hong Kong) is led by Chief Curator Christine Hawley with Sarah Lee, Roger Wu, Yutaka Yano and Paolo Zaide. Caption: 2015 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Hong Kong) site model Kowloon Park and Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre Caption: 2015 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Hong Kong) will be displaying artist, Sarah Choi s work Hong Kong Legacy in the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre Architecture of Protest by Jimmy Ho It is an architectural interrogation of social activism in spatial practices, demonstrates the amorphousness of conflicts in the era, and exaggerates to a futurist manner which the gestures and spaces are dominated by the behavioural protest. Hong Kong Newsstands by Rufina Wu & Stefan Canham A Vancouver-based architect and researcher, and a photographer based in Hamburg, Germany collaborate to document informal in contemporary cities and the representation of alternative spaces. This time they will focus on the different characteristics of newsstands in Hong Kong and the everyday life of the owner around it.

4 Hong Kong Legacy by Sarah Choi Sarah showcases the beauty of the dynamic and colourful moment in the modern city of Hong Kong which has a faded history at the same time. Tree Gun Farm by Very MK Tree Gun Farm is a 100 ft 2 farm inside UABB(HK). The concept is to connect the public with local farming. Utilizing the quiet place in Kowloon Park, which is also located in the midst of a busy district in Hong Kong, in the hopes of expanding the imagination of the use of public place. Hong Kong Wetlands Park and Wo Hop Shek Columbarium by ArchSD Signature public buildings of Hong Kong Xi by Jim Hu Jim believes that it is difficult to forecast Hong Kong in The fate of this city is not only its own, but also as an indicator of future world progressions. These are questions for both Hong Kong citizens and the Chinese Government to bear, but it is also a turning point, a chance for possible breakthroughs. About 2015 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Hong Kong) Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Hong Kong) (UABB(HK)) was first presented in Led by The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation, and coorganised by The Hong Kong Institute of Architects, Hong Kong Institute of Planners and Hong Kong Designers Association, with Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as the Leading Sponsor, Hong Kong s 2015 Biennale brings together the creative industries with the wider public.

5 One of the most prestigious of its international and Asian counterparts, UABB(HK) is an open platform for artists, designers and architects to interact with the Hong Kong and international community to envision and engage on the subjects of art, design, architecture, planning and city development and how they impact our lifestyle. This year s theme is 'VISIONS Lifestyle and the City', focusing on the vision for Hong Kong and the intrinsic relationship between how we conduct our daily life and the physical environment around us. As Hong Kong s inaugural architecture, design and planning exposition, Hong Kong s Biennale aims to invigorate local creative professionals and raise public interest in critical architectural and urban design as well as enhance cultural dialogue and synergy between Hong Kong and the rest of the world. Follow Hong Kong s 2015 Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture Website: Facebook: /UABBHK Instagram: /UABBHK Hashtag: #UABBHK #HKBiennale #VISIONS2050 The 2015 Bi-city Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Hong Kong) Theme: VISIONS 2050: Lifestyle and the City Date: 11 December February 2016 Venue: Kowloon Park and Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre The 2015 Bi-city Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Shenzhen) Theme: Re-Living the City Date: 4 December March 2016 Venue: Former Dacheng Flour Factory 8# Warehouse, Shekou, Shenzhen Leading Organiser: Co-organisers: Collaborating Party: Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture Organizing Committee

6 Leading Sponsor: Disclaimer: Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) are those of the project organizers only and do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Communications and Technology Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee. Media Contacts: For more information or interviews, please contact Sinclair Communications. Karishma Dalani (852) / Emily Chow (852) /