Dialogue | Open Cities: Observations from Open House Events Worldwide

In 1992, architect Victoria Thornton launched the inaugural “Open House” in London, with only 20 buildings agreeing to open their doors to the public. Initially facing numerous rejections, the London Open House team has, this year, opened over 800 venues, with nearly 60 cities worldwide participating, including the recently joined Hong Kong.

Starting from a straightforward concept, how does this event stir up participation from the architectural industry, the public, and governments, and change everyone’s perception of cities and architecture? What are the differences among Open House events around the world? What expectations does the Hong Kong version carry? We have invited friends who have participated in Open Houses in London, Melbourne, Hobart, and Osaka to share their experiences and observations.

DIALOGUE
Date: 22 Sep 2024 (Sun)
Time: 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Venue: Taste Library (H504, 5/F, Block B, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong)
Language: Cantonese
Moderators: Helen Fan (Arts Practitioner, Researcher), Charles Lai (Architectural Historian, Architect (UK) )
Guests: Tidus Shing (Architect (Australia), Co-host of ArchiPodcastHK), Don Hong (Architect (UK), Co-founder of Kongcept), Ronald Wong (Architect (UK), Project Manager)
Capacity: 30

MODERATORS
Helen Fan (Arts Practitioner, Researcher)
Fan Lok Yi is a Hong Kong-based curator who explores the connections between urban spaces, history, and the environment through research and collaborative artistic processes. She has led multiple community projects and has recently dedicated herself to studying the evolution of children's playscapes. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Architectural Studies from the University of Hong Kong and an MA in Fine Art from the University of the Arts London.

Charles Lai (Architectural Historian, Architect (UK) )
Charles Lai is an architect (RIBA) and an architectural historian. He graduated from the AA School of Architecture in London and the University of Hong Kong. His works explore the history of modern architecture in East and Southeast Asia, the material culture and history of Shanghai plaster, as well as the conservation of historical built heritages.

GUESTS
Tidus Shing (Architect (Australia), Co-host of ArchiPodcastHK)
Co-host of ArchiPodcastHK, Architect (Australia), and author of Urban Ugliness Uncovered. Tidus is currently working in a Melbourne architectural practice. He also taught master's and bachelor's architectural design studio at the university. He is active in design, publishing, and exhibition curation, with articles published in architectural magazines and newspapers. He has been an enthusiast for open house events since the 2012 Melbourne Open House.

Don Hong (Architect (UK), Co-founder of Kongcept)
Don Hong is an architect, researcher and cultural entrepreneur. His research focuses on public housing design history across different nations. He co-founded the on-offline cultural platform “Kongcept” to preserve local cultures through innovative digitisation and mapping cultural networks. Don is currently working on architecture and heritage projects in London, sponsored by Hong Kong Design Centre.

Ronald Wong (Architect (UK), Project Manager)
Ronald is an architect with over 10 years of professional experience, currently in the role of a Senior Project Manager. He was educated at the Architectural Association in London and had been working at Foster + Partners and KPF.
He specialises at mixed-use developments and has been leading multiple award-winning projects in the UK, the Middle East, the mainland China and Hong Kong.

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