"Everything's in PLACE" Asia Placemaking Convention

"Hats Off to All Who Make Magic in Space” Hong Kong Placemaking Archive Exhibition & Sharing

What do you think of when you first hear the word “Home”?

Do you think of a soft, well-worn bedspread with a desk nearby, each adorned with its own charm? Or perhaps a bowl of steaming soup, sitting gently on the table, waiting for you to come home and feel the day’s weariness melting away?

‘Homes’ are not just physical spaces. They can be a form of tethering, a style of living, and a sense of community belonging.

Placemaking is the extension of the boundaries of ‘home’ to a whole community. A group of people, within the same space, come together to harmonise, symphonise, intertwine, and galvanise one another, fearlessly sculpting a shared vision of the future. Space, as a result, is endowed with a new meaning. Through placemaking, we become fellow travellers, joining hands in shaping our vision of the places we call home. The “magic” of placemaking comes from the love we harbour for our communities, the devotion we hold for creating a future of promise, and the blood, sweat, and tears we’ve shared throughout the voyage of placemaking.

The essence of magic is not an illusion, the creation of ‘home’ is never a coincidence. Join us to indulge yourself in 100 intriguing stories of how ‘homes’ were made, retrace the footsteps of the people behind these tales, and experience for yourself the magic of placemaking.

"Everything's in PLACE" Asia Placemaking Symposium

Lesson 1 - Embracing the Diversity: Encouraging Equal Participation of Stakeholders in Placemaking

Every stakeholder has different backgrounds, needs, core values and vested interests. When it comes to building common ground to take a project ahead, it is never easy to spark their chemistry in ensuring equal participation. This sharing brings together three community partners whose work specialises in empowering the youth, the elderly and the homeless . Join us in a dialogue to unravel how different groups find strength in public participation, and explore possible methods to enable creative, unbiased collaboration between them and the wider community.

Guest List
1. Mr. CHEUNG, Kim-kwok (Project-in-charge, Yan Oi Tong Youth Space)
Sharing Topic - An Approach to Empower Youth Involvement in Community
Mr. Kim Cheung is a registered and experienced youth social worker. He currently works as the project-in-charge of Yan Oi Tong Youth Space. In recent years, he actively develops an innovated community work approach (Youth x Social innovation) to facilitate youth participation. “Dreamcrafter Social Innovation Incubation Scheme” is established, more than 55 youth social innovative teams are successfully incubated. Under his leadership, Youth Space was rewarded 2019 Best Practice Awards in Social Welfare and 2018-19 Outstanding Youth Activity Commendation Scheme. Mr. Kim Cheung is a registered and experienced youth social worker. He currently works as the project-in-charge of Yan Oi Tong Youth Space. In recent years, he actively develops an innovated community work approach (Youth x Social innovation) to facilitate youth participation. “Dreamcrafter Social Innovation Incubation Scheme” is established, more than 55 youth social innovative teams are successfully incubated. Under his leadership, Youth Space was rewarded 2019 Best Practice Awards in Social Welfare and 2018-19 Outstanding Youth Activity Commendation Scheme.

2. Mr. TAMURA, Koichiro (Board Member, Sotonoba)
Sharing Topic - An Approach to Empower Youth Involvement in Community
Koichiro leads the placemaking movement in Japan and has been actively engaged in projects, advocacy, and research since he acquired MS Urban Placemaking and Management at Pratt Institute in New York City. The movement, Placemaking Japan, won the Good Design Award 2021. He co-authored/edited the first Japanese book of “Tactical Urbanism”. Also, Koichiro helps real estate developers plan and execute innovative area-based or place-based projects in collaboration with local governments and communities. Furthermore, his passion to placemaking extends to self-motivated actions in his local community and teaching a studio course in Tokyo University of Science.

3. Ms. CHU, A-Yong (Co-founder, Do You A Flavor)
Sharing Topic - When They See Each Other: Find the Way "Back" to the Society with People Unhoused and Experienced Poverty
Ms. Chu A-Yong is the Co-founder of "Do You A Flavor" and the Curator of "Poor People's Taipei". Her co-authored works include "A Guide to Live at Street", "The "Home and Homeless Women: Gender, Intimacy and Working Poverty" and "City Commoning".

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Lesson 2 - Capitalising Local Assets: Rejuvenating Ordinary Spaces for Social Good

When it comes to community revitalization, many believe stocktaking local assets and needs is the most effective and ultimate first step to human-centric planning. Join us and three speakers to investigate their keys in mobilising communities in rural villages , residential cores and historic districts to inject new vitality into ordinary spaces!

Guest List
1. Mr. LOONG, Tsz-wai (Chief Executive, Land Education Foundation)
Sharing Topic - Pineapple in Muiwo? Investigating Community Development in Rural Hong Kong through Agriculture
Mr. Loong Tsz-wai is the Chief Executive of Land Education Foundation. Mr. Loong is academically trained as a scientist and political theorist and has professionally grown as a community organiser and campaigner. He is actively involved in walkability, sustainability and community engagement projects. Four years ago, he started his adventure with community-supported agriculture and farmland conservation in villages. Recently, he opened a community hub called "Good Old Soil" to sell made-in-Lantau products, including the craft beer made by wampee fruit produced in the Lantau. Believer in asset-based community development. He is a book writer and columnist and the HKJC Chicago Booth EMBA Scholar.

2. Ms. KIM, Hyue-jang (Chief Director, Ewoo School Education Foundation)
Sharing Topic - Little by Little: Co-creating the Common Ground with Villagers
Ms. Hyue Jang KIM is one of the resident representatives of Seongmisan Village in Seoul. The village was built upon Woori Daycare, the pioneering cooperative childcare center in South Korea, which she co-founded with parents who shared the same educational vision in the community. Recognizing the potential for community engagement, she spearheaded the establishment of Ullim Dure Living Cooperative in Seongmisan Village to promote the sharing of locally sourced organic food, and participated in various other community activities. Her fruitful experiences with community-building have motivated her to co-establish the Ewoo School, an alternative secondary school. Presently, she serves as the Chief Director at the Ewoo School Education Foundation. In this role, she engages in various community initiatives with the Ewoo parents in Dongcheon-dong, such as village markets, village trips, and the operation of ‘happycoocie’ Korean native wheat bread cafe.

3. Ms. CHUA, Yee-ling (Founder, Village Vision)
Sharing Topic - Malaysia's Village Vision - Charismatic Neighbourhoods Rooted in Community and Culture
Previously served as the State Assembly Representative for Kuala Sepetang, Perak, during which she focused on improving the community environment and promoting community development. In 2020, she initiated the Village Vision Community Togetherness Coalition, aiming to redefine the role of Malaysia new villages with a new perspective. Currently, she also serves as the Manager of Industrial Development for Selangor Tourism Board, dedicated to promoting tourism and cultural industries in Selangor state. She strongly believes that community development should be built on mutual respect and assistance among residents, emphasizing the importance of community soft power.

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Lesson 3 - Adapting to the Everchanging: Sustaining Local Efforts in Situ

Placemaking strives to empower community members to voice out and take action in public spaces. However, often hurdled by resource constraints, not every placemaking project could own their permanent "base". Three speakers will share how they utilised shop fronts, pop-up street stations, and rental spaces to ensure long-term community participation in face of the ever-changing social trend and resource availability.

Guest List
1. Ms. TJHAN, Pauline Jessica Hillary (Community Organizer, Community Cultural Concern)
Sharing Topic - Try Not To Bored Ourselves in Community Building
A Community Organizer in Community Cultural Concern (CCC) since 2017, To Kwa Wan means not only a job but also a living. Founded in 2013, CCC has rooted in To Kwa Wan and set up an unusual community centre - "To Home". It is a space that allows diversity and rule-breaking, cultivates and leaves numberous stories in the community. Been through the redevelopment and diaspora, she is on a testing ground in reconnecting the community.

2. Ms. JIN, Jing (Co-founder, Big Fish Community Design Center)
Sharing Topic - Empower Local Collaboration, Co-creating Community Resilience: Community Design Practice in Shanghai Xinhua Neighborhood
Co-founder/Director of Bigfish Community Design Center. Graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan University in Urban Planning and Community Development. She co-founded the Bigfish Community Design Centre in 2018 and established the Shanghai's first community development centre wth multi-sectors in 2022. She focuses on public participation in organic urban renewal, and is committed to hosting capacity-building programmes, designing tool-kits, promoting international exchanges, publishing books and executing projects related to community development and urban planning.

3. Mr. MA, Ming-Yi (Social Worker, Taiwan Community Practice Association)
Sharing Topic - Making Wanhua a Place Called Home: Flexible Utilization of Community Spaces
Mr. Ma Ming-yi is a social worker from Taiwan Community Practice Association (TCPA). He works closely with the children and family in the Wanhua district of Taipei, and actively engages in diversity in early childhood development and advocacy work about poverty issue. Since 2007, TCPA strive to develop various inititatives based on the community needs, and operates different spaces where people can support each other. He is currently the board of director of Taiwan Twilightbox and Homeless Taiwan Association.