Pop up Community (2021)



Residents of Wanchai know the needs of their community better than anyone else but few of them are ever consulted when changes are made to the spaces they inhabit. This time at Pop-Up Community @ M7, community members in Wanchai will be invited to examine their local neighbourhood in order to pinpoint problems in the public spaces. Specially crafted public furniture will then be designed and installed in the open spaces of 7 Mallory Street to respond to these issues.

灣仔公共空間的使用理應由居民共同創作。可是,縱然街坊有絕佳想法,有時也欠缺發揮空間。產品設計師陳韻淇決意為此出一分力!在3-4月的社區游動花園,灣仔街坊會考察社區,探討現時公共空間設計的不足。之後,街坊參加者將在Kay的協助下,製作解決灣仔公共空間問題的「傢俬」,並於茂蘿街7號展出。由街坊建立、為街坊所用的公共空間,由此邁出一步!

Part 1: Collaborative Public Furniture Design Workshop

Pop-Up Garden @ M7 comprises two major components: storytelling and design, both of which are tightly tied with the notion of community and made suitable for people of all walks of life. For design, product designer Kay Chan will lead Collaborative Public Furniture Design Workshops to realise ideas of residents for the community. Participants will be invited to collectively design benches that suit the needs of their community. These benches will then be displayed at 7 Mallory for public showcase.

第一部分:公共桌椅設計工作坊

「社區游動花園」的活動包含「故事」和「設計」兩大原素,適合任何人士參與。「設計」活動方面,產品設計師陳韻淇會舉辦「公共桌椅設計工作坊」,參加者將一同考察灣仔區內的公共空間,製作解決灣仔空間問題的公共傢俬,並於茂蘿街7號展出,體現由街坊建立、為街坊所用的公共設計!



Part 2:

Second-hand tables and chairs were donated by neighbours in the Wanchai District. Integrating the idea of the workshop, the product designer team will carry out the upcycling transformation project, transforming some old tables and chairs with stories, into public furniture at M7.

第二部分:

在灣仔社區中收集灣仔區街坊捐贈的二手的桌椅。整合工作坊的意念,產品設計師團隊將為其進行upcycling變裝工程,改造一些有故事的舊桌椅,將他們轉化成茂蘿街7號的公共傢俬。
Mirror

It was a white bench from a large multinational company. Four years ago, two of the same style were purchased by Sabina, a former Wanchai neighbourhood. Her family of four liked to sit on these two chairs looking at each other and enjoy dinner, talking about big and small anecdotes and thoughts. Later, when the children grew up, the benches were no longer suitable for the two of them to sit side by side, so they were moved to the outdoor terrace. The family sits on the white bench and takes a break in the shade, quieting themselves for a moment. When the family was about to move, they donated benches, hoping that people from all walks of life could sit together, chat easily, and exchange their lives.

The mirror reflects the surrounding, and the transparency allows you to gain clear eyes. The converted benches are equipped with mirrors and transparent countertops. You are welcome to come at any time with a cup of coffee in hand, slowly walk to M7 and sit down, enjoying the tranquillity in the busy city leisurely. I hope that when you are resting or reading on Mallory Street, you will not forget to pay attention to the surrounding environment - an oasis in a busy city; through the mirror reflection, it reminds you to read with your head down, and don't forget to look up to appreciate the blue sky and white clouds you encounter every time . When using the transparent countertop, it will shake slightly, and the sunlight will reflect the halo and ripples on the floor tiles, illuminating the surrounding historical traces.

Donor: Former Wanchai Neighbour, Sobina
Artist / Designer: Kay Chan Wan Ki / Winky Chung Wing Yee


《映》

它的前身只是一張來自一間大型跨國企業出品的白色長椅,由前灣仔街坊Sabina 於四年前購入兩張同款的。她一家四人喜歡對望而坐在這兩張椅上享用晚餐,暢談大小逸事與心事;後來孩子都長大了,長椅自以再難以讓二人並肩就坐,就被搬到室外露台,各家人白色長椅坐著乘涼小休,安靜自己,寧靜片刻。直到這家人要搬屋,他們就捐贈長椅,希望來自各方的人能一起共坐,輕鬆地談談天、交流各自的生活。


鏡面反照四周,透明叫你得著澄明的眼目。經改裝的長椅,加上了鏡面以及透明枱面,隨時歡迎你手携一杯咖啡前來,徐徐地遊走到茂蘿街7號坐下,悠然地享受鬧市中的一片寧靜。希望你在茂蘿街休息或閱讀時,亦不忘留意這四周的環境—一個在繁忙都市中的綠洲;透過鏡面反射,提醒你習慣低頭閱讀,也不忘多抬頭欣賞每次偶遇的藍天白雲。使用透明枱面時會輕微搖晃,借陽光在地上階磚折射出光圈與波紋,照射出周圍的歷史痕跡。

捐款者:前灣仔街坊 Sobina



2 sides

This chair was once a coffee table, witnessing the birth and growth of a family. Tim, who came to work in Hong Kong from a foreign country in the early years, specially bought this small coffee table for his new living room. Later, he met his wife, Kennis. But also because of having children, their home needs to free up more space, and the coffee table was transformed into a storage rack on one side of the living room. Kennis and Tim didn't want to waste the coffee table, hoping that donating it would give it a chance to "rebirth".


With the presence of children, at first sight, the coffee table seems to be no longer suitable. But with a little thought, it became a chair carrying laughter from parents and children who visit M7 after school— maybe it’s running around with school buddies, or maybe enjoying the snacks prepared by the parents. This stool that transformed from the black coffee table accommodates the family perfectly. The two-way seat back is like a bench on a ferry. Taking advantage of the unique local characteristics of Mallory Street, one side faces inward and the other side outward, everyone can adjust the direction of the back according to the scenery they want to see. Listening to the children’s laughter, watching the scenery of passers-by outside the street, smelling the aroma of the restaurant, and enjoying the lively atmosphere; meeting with friends to enjoy the exhibition and sit on the coffee table afterward,talking about life outside the balcony, bathing under the sunlight, blended into the surrounding dwellings perfectly.

Donor: Wan Chai Neighbours Kennis and Tim


2 sides

這張椅子的前身是一張茶几,見證著一個家庭的誕生與成長。早年由外國來港工作的Tim,特意為自己的小新居室添置這張小小茶几;後來他結識了現時的妻子Kennis,茶几見證著二人由拍拖、遷新居、結婚到生小朋友的歷程。但也因為有孩子後,家中大廳要騰出更多活動空間,茶几的轉變成儲物架,攔在家裡一側。Kennis 和 Tim 不想就此浪費茶几,希望捐贈出來可以為它帶來「重生」的機會。

因為有孩子的出現,茶几似乎變得不再合用,但花點心思改裝,它同樣可以成為承載著家長與小朋友到訪茂蘿街7號的玩樂時光、放學後的笑聲——也許是與學校的夥伴一起到處跑,也許是享受家長為小朋友準備的小點心,這張由黑色茶几改造的櫈剛好容納下這天倫之樂。雙向的椅背猶如渡輪上的長櫈,利用茂蘿街獨有的地方特色,一面向內、一向外,大家隨著自己想看的風景而調校整背方向。聽著孩子遊玩的笑容、看著街外行人路過的風景、嗅著餐廳散發的香氣,享受這熱鬧的氣氛;與三五知己相約觀展,過後坐到茶几上,對著陽台外暢談生活中的瑣碎事,晃如融入了四周的民居中,在天台上接受陽光的沐浴。


捐款者:灣仔街坊Kennis 和 Tim




Arts and Cultural Partnership Programme in Old Urban Districts
Presented by Urban Renewal Authority


「藝術文化融入舊區」夥伴項目市區重建局主辦