Page 32 - Reside Magazine Lusk Associates

City of Contrasts

very March, the global art fair Art Basel takes over Hong Kong,
E of the confluence between East and West: where old meets new, “
bringing together collectors, travelers, designers and artists
THERE’S A
from around the world—and highlighting the city’s unique
creative identity. Hong Kong is one of the world’s best examples
temples stand alongside skyscrapers, and tong lau walk-up GROWING

reputation of being the gateway to Asia, also known as “Asia’s World City,” APPRECIATION
tenement buildings live next to shiny penthouses. For decades, it has held the
becoming a center for major banks, hospitality, retail and home-grown talent.
“Hong Kong’s creativity is deeply tied to its role as a global commerce hub, FOR MORE
making its design scene highly commercial,” say Dilara Kan Hon and Bodin
Hon, the husband-and-wife founders of Yellowdot, a multidisciplinary studio EXPERIMENTAL
based between Hong Kong and Istanbul that makes colorful lighting and
furniture. “But there’s also a growing appreciation for more experimental, APPROACHES
artistic and sustainable approaches, fueled by a younger generation of designers
and makers looking to push boundaries.”
While Dilara was raised in Istanbul and Bodin grew up in Hong Kong,
the couple met when they were studying product design at Milan’s Istituto ”
Europeo di Design. Together, they challenge
and complement each other, combining Dilara’s
artistic flair with Bodin’s technical precision,
resulting in useful yet playful designs. One
project that embodies this is Hatch, a collection
of light pendants, cabinets and room dividers
that utilizes real eggshells within its products.
Collected from local homes and bakeries, the
recycled eggshells are cleaned before each shell
is delicately split and hand-arranged to form
a patterned texture, which creates a warm,
unique, light-scattering effect.
“We have always been fascinated by eggs—
their shape, the biology behind them, and the
science involved in their creation. They exemplify
natural design and connect to the rich tradition
of Asian egg-related art, such as egg carving and
eggshell lacquer,” they explain. “Hatch has
allowed us to merge this cultural heritage with
modern design techniques, creating pieces that
are both functional and artistic.” Photos: Steven Ko; Ozan Gür; HDP Photography; Yellowdot; Keith Chan.
Hong Kong’s design scene is still emerging,
however the city is quickly gaining recognition
as one of the art world’s major capitals. With
the spotlight on Hong Kong through Art Basel,
there is hope that design will soon follow in
art’s successful footsteps. Across architecture
and product and interior design, the city’s

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