Youth for Experimental Space
Description
With this project, I will construct a blueprint that will improve space usage and overall user efficiency. In order to first gain an understanding for the living conditions in subdivided flats and experience the space firsthand, I will conduct site visits through NGOs that work locally to improve subdivided units. By taking a look at all the components of a home, I can develop ideas for innovative solutions to problems tenants face. The Society for Community Organisation (SoCO) has a variety of projects based on improving living spaces for tenants of subdivided apartments. One of these projects is focused on creating furniture that maximises space. Architectural projects such as this will provide a foundation for my research. In addition to drawing research from existing organisations, I will also look at official government documents and any other public information.\r\n\r\nFrom my research, I will come up with a number of design concepts and sketches. I will be looking at maximizing vertical space, improving lighting, increasing organizational efficiency, and creating more space for movement. At the same time, I will be familiarising myself with computer software used by architects, such as AutoCAD and SketchUp, provided by TETRA Architects & Planners. I will then translate my hand-drawn sketches onto the rendering programs and assess the concept in the context of the entire flat. The primary goal is to create features within the home that maximise space while also improving its livability. Once each feature is decided upon, I will create a final digital blueprint that shows the plan from various perspectives. From this blueprint, I’ll be able to create 3D models and, eventually, a to-scale mockup.\r\n\r\nI will create small- and large-scale models of my blueprint. At the end of the project, I will present a 3D version of the blueprint to scale, in the form of an art exhibit. In order to achieve this, I will reach out to event spaces that may have an interest in hosting the exhibition. Then the event will be publicized across social media platforms and by invitation, and then the exhibit will be hosted. It will show an existing subdivided flat, inspired by my site visits and research at the beginning of the project, as well as the new, redesigned version.
An important factor of the project will be considering the final blueprint’s ability for reproduction over several subdivided units. It will be important to consider adaptability and use elements of design that are applicable in different spaces. The final blueprints for this project will serve as a template for designing the improvement of other subdivided flats in Hong Kong. In order to see the project implemented, I would have to approach the government, landlords, and tenants to seek funding and permission to renovate a flat. If necessary, I would also contact local organisations and relevant real estate corporates.\r\n\r\nI hope that my project is able to, through my exhibit, website, and podcast, inspire other youths to build upon my project or pursue their own individual ideas. From my exhibit, I hope that people with the means and resources to help take the opportunity and feel encouraged to do so. Including a range of youth projects on my website and podcast in the future can allow other aspiring architects and designers to learn how to develop their projects and motivate them to take action.
A part of my initial research will involve a site visit to an existing subdivided unit complex. In order to gain access and get permission to visit and talk to tenants, I will have to speak with NGOs in Hong Kong that focus on subdivided apartments and cage homes. Once I have the necessary permissions, I will be able to talk to the tenants and gain a better understanding about life in a subdivided home.\r\n\r\nAnother important part of my research is, beyond discovering the components of existing subdivided flats, also finding solutions and innovations people have already come up with. The Society of Community Organization (SoCO) in Hong Kong has several projects dedicated to helping tenants of subdivided apartments. One of these includes a project by a number of architects that designs furniture to maximize vertical space. By reaching out to SoCO, I can draw inspiration from their projects and potentially see them in real life as well.\r\n\r\nWhen I begin creating my own architectural concepts, I will start with hand-drawn sketches. When creating these sketches digitally, I will be doing so with the assistance and mentorship of Andrew Kinoshita, Director at TETRA Architects & Planners in HK. TETRA has provided equipment and software such as AutoCAD and SketchUp to create my digital blueprints.\r\n\r\nTo create my initial 3D mockups using discarded materials such as cardboard, foam boards, tape, etc. I will eventually need large, empty spaces such as a warehouse. Using these mockups, I will create to-scale models of an existing subdivided unit and the newly redesigned version. To exhibit these models in the form of an art exhibition, I will contact galleries in Hong Kong that have large, available spaces. I will display my work over a selected period of time and publicize it through social media, my website, and other forms of invitation. The art exhibit and project as a whole will hopefully inspire others to explore ways to help tenants of subdivided flats and take action.
SDGS & Targets
Goal 9
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
9.1
9.1.1
Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road
9.1.2
Passenger and freight volumes, by mode of transport
9.2
Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries
9.2.1
Manufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP and per capita
9.2.2
Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment
9.3
9.3.1
Proportion of small-scale industries in total industry value added
9.3.2
Proportion of small-scale industries with a loan or line of credit
9.4
By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities
9.4.1
CO2 emission per unit of value added
9.5
9.5.1
Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP
9.5.2
Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants
9.a
9.a.1
Total official international support (official development assistance plus other official flows) to infrastructure
9.b
9.b.1
Proportion of medium and high-tech industry value added in total value added
9.c
Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020
9.c.1
Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology
Goal 10
Reduce inequality within and among countries
10.1
By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40 per cent of the population at a rate higher than the national average
10.1.1
Growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita among the bottom 40 per cent of the population and the total population
10.2
By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status
10.2.1
Proportion of people living below 50 per cent of median income, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
10.3
Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard
10.3.1
Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed within the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law
10.4
Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality
10.4.1
Labour share of GDP
10.4.2
Redistributive impact of fiscal policy
10.5
Improve the regulation and monitoring of global financial markets and institutions and strengthen the implementation of such regulations
10.5.1
Financial Soundness Indicators
10.6
10.6.1
Proportion of members and voting rights of developing countries in international organizations
10.7
Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies
10.7.1
Recruitment cost borne by employee as a proportion of montlhy income earned in country of destination
10.7.2
Number of countries with migration policies that facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people
10.7.3
Number of people who died or disappeared in the process of migration towards an international destination
10.7.4
Proportion of the population who are refugees, by country of origin
10.a
10.a.1
Proportion of tariff lines applied to imports from least developed countries and developing countries with zero-tariff
10.b
10.b.1
Total resource flows for development, by recipient and donor countries and type of flow (e.g. official development assistance, foreign direct investment and other flows)
10.c
By 2030, reduce to less than 3 per cent the transaction costs of migrant remittances and eliminate remittance corridors with costs higher than 5 per cent
10.c.1
Remittance costs as a proportion of the amount remitted
Goal 11
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
11.1
By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums
11.1.1
Proportion of urban population living in slums, informal settlements or inadequate housing
11.2
11.2.1
Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
11.3
11.3.1
Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate
11.3.2
Proportion of cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban planning and management that operate regularly and democratically
11.4
Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage
11.4.1
Total per capita expenditure on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by source of funding (public, private), type of heritage (cultural, natural) and level of government (national, regional, and local/municipal)
11.5
By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations
11.5.1
Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population
11.5.2
Direct economic loss attributed to disasters in relation to global domestic product (GDP)
11.5.3
(a) Damage to critical infrastructure and (b) number of disruptions to basic services, attributed to disasters
11.6
By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
11.6.1
Proportion of municipal solid waste collected and managed in controlled facilities out of total municipal waste generated, by cities
11.6.2
Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities (population weighted)
11.7
11.7.1
Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
11.7.2
Proportion of persons victim of non-sexual or sexual harassment, by sex, age, disability status and place of occurrence, in the previous 12 months
11.a
Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning
11.a.1
Number of countries that have national urban policies or regional development plans that (a) respond to population dynamics; (b) ensure balanced territorial development; and (c) increase local fiscal space
11.b
By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels
11.b.1
Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030
11.b.2
Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies
11.c
Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials
SDG 14 targets covered
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Vitoria Carneiro Zhu, Founder