The 2017 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism Architecture (Hong Kong) will hold exhibitions at 9 highly accessible vacant or shared urban locations and cultural hubs in Hong Kong and Shenzhen in which the 8 local venues are connected by MTR. Themed ‘City Smarts: Density 2.0′, it shows the smart design of Hong Kong architecture and provides an public interactive platform for raising wider awareness and a greater general understanding about the sustainability of Hong Kong architecture and city planning.
| Name | 2017 Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Hong Kong) (UABB(HK)) |
| Theme | City Smarts: Density 2.0 |
| Duration | 12 December 2017 – 11 February 2018 |
| Location | 9 highly accessible vacant or shared urban locations and cultural hubs in Hong Kong and Shenzhen |
| Admission Fee | Free |
| Total no. of exhibitors | Over 80 exhibitors |
| Scope of events | Exhibitions, talks and seminars and public guided tours |
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| Hashtag | #UABBHK2017 #HKBiennale #CitySmart |
| Curation team | Dr. Chan Lai Kiu, Chief Curator Mr Jeffery Wong, Co-Curator Mr Tony Ip, Co-Curator Prof. Fai Au, Co-Curator Mr Allen Poon, Co-Curator Ms Fanny Ang, Co-Curator Ms Sunnie Lau, Co-Curator |
| Organiser | Leading Organiser : The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale FoundationCo-organisers : The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA) Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP) Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA) Collaborating Party : Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism \Architecture Organizing Committee Lead Sponsor : Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region |
Organisers
Leading Organiser：
The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation
The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation is a non-profit making organization established and incorporated in 2014 for charitable purposes. The objects for which the Biennale Foundation is established are:
- To promote creativity and advance the understanding, appreciation and interest of architectural and design excellence
- To encourage cross-border and cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration between creative professionals from Hong Kong, Greater China region and overseas
- To support art, design, architectural and cultural education for students and youth, the community, and policy makers
- To create a favourable environment for study, research and experimentation of design, art and architectural works in an exhibition scale
- To energise and revitalize specific sites of interests by introduction of cultural and creative events
Co-Organisers：
The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA)
Established in 1956, HKIA aims to advance architectural education and practices in Hong Kong as well as to promote and facilitate the acquisition of knowledge of the various arts and sciences connected therewith. The Institute is committed to raising the standard of architectural creativity in Hong Kong, maintaining code of professional conduct among members, providing services to the public and nurturing architectural talents by offering courses and counsel in professional practice and practical experience in architecture. To take Hong Kong to the fore in international circle, HKIA is also actively engaged in various international union and council.
Hong Kong Institute of Planners (HKIP)
The Hong Kong Institute of Planners was officially established in 1978. It became a statutory body with the enactment of the Hong Kong Institute of Planners Incorporation Ordinance in 1991, and is responsible for the accreditation of town planners in Hong Kong. The objectives of the Institute include, but are not limited to: promoting and safeguarding development and the environment in Hong Kong in the best interests of the community; raising the status and safeguarding the interests of the town planning profession; and promoting the community’s awareness of the contribution of town planning. Since 2007, the HKIP has been a co-organizer of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Biennale.
Hong Kong Designers Association (HKDA)
The Hong Kong Designers Association was founded in 1972. The Association is the first of its kind in Hong Kong, and is a design body to advocate public interest in design and higher professional status for practising designers in government, cultural, entertainment, commercial and industrial sectors, for full-time, part-time teachers and administrators on the academic side of design.
Collaborating Party：
Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism \Architecture Organizing Committee
Lead Sponsor：
Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) is a dedicated office set up by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to spearhead the development of Hong Kong’s creative industries. Set up in June 2009, CreateHK co-ordinates the Government policy regarding creative industries, focuses Government’s resources catering for the promotion and speeding up of the development of creative industries in Hong Kong, and works closely with the trade to boost the development of creative industries. CreateHK sponsors the Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (Hong Kong) since 2011, and other projects such as the setting up of a Hong Kong pavilion in the Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition, to promote Hong Kong’s architecture sector.
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 Creative Industries Branch of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Create Hong Kong, the CreateSmart Initiative Secretariat or the CreateSmart Initiative Vetting Committee.
Curatorial Statement
Do you know that Hong Kong is a city in possession of the largest proportion of country parks in the world? In view of Hong Kong’s severe housing problems and the great demand for ‘boarding’ the first flat purchase, it is about time to review Hong Kong’s land uses, including the country parks, and to re-think and re-invent the extreme density of the city.
The success of Hong Kong is, undoubtedly, a legend. Despite the fragmented and hilly landscape, limited natural resources and a very high population density, Hong Kong has managed to become one of the most livable cities in the world and a renowned metropolis in the region. This relies heavily on its smart citizens, designers, professionals and practitioners in the building and real estate industry. Equipped with fast, efficient and flexible abilities, Hong Kongers are very good at “improvising” according to the actual situations and constraints. These wisdom, experience and culture, collectively named as “City Smarts”, may point ways to solve some of the current problems, and help Hong Kong to become a more appreciative, positive and inclusive society. These “City Smarts” may also be shared with other cities facing similar challenges of land shortage while striving to achieve quality living and high environmental sustainability.
