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Condition_Lab is a Design Research Laboratory based within the School of Architecture at CUHK. Established in 2018, our primary focus is to improve people’s lives through design.
The Lab’s research resolves around designing socially responsible architectural prototypes. By working hand-in-hand with local partners on real sites, our aim is to develop projects that foster a better sense of community. The prototype acts as a vessel to generate new knowledge about how people inhabit their environment.
Our philosophy revolves around the paradox embedded into the word “condition”, as a noun it refers to a context, a circumstance, or a situation, while as a verb it implies change - to condition something based on an original state.
Condition_Lab © 2021 School of Architecture,
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
All Projects
︎︎︎Research
︎︎︎Teaching
︎︎︎Design
News
People
Contact
Outreach
Facebook
Instagram
Issuu
Wechat
Condition_Lab is a Design Research Laboratory based within the School of Architecture at CUHK. Established in 2018, our primary focus is to improve people’s lives through design.
The Lab’s research resolves around designing socially responsible architectural prototypes. By working hand-in-hand with local partners on real sites, our aim is to develop projects that foster a better sense of community. The prototype acts as a vessel to generate new knowledge about how people inhabit their environment.
M2
Hong Kong, 2019
Hong Kong, 2019
Material Authenticity:
Searching for the meaning of Aunthenticity
through wood in Dong Minority villages, China
Student: WONG Yuk Tsin Beryl
In order to have a posititve approach, this thesis is to search for multiple understanding of material authenticity through the study of wood, not only conducted from the perspective of technology and structure, but would also look at the interactive relationship between surface proper-ties and the spatial characters of wood. Transparency, color and texture of wood are taking account to the spatial effect contributing two different expression of materialit, visible and invisible. Through the interpretation with the dual impli-cation of wood, This project is trying to balance the relation-ship between material, space, and spiritual culture.
Preserving Fragile Tradition:
Seasonal salt factory on the sea horse road
Student: LIN Hui Kevin
Yanjing is a small village located in the border area between Tibet and Yunnan. As an important node on the ancient tea-horse road, it has a long tradition of trading. At the same time, Yanjing also has a long history of salt making. They collected salt water from the riverside onto artificial salt fields built of wood and mud, and then crystallized the salt water by sunlight and wind. This original method of salt production is still an important source of income in the region. But with the influence of urbanization, it is not difficult to predict that traditional salt will continue to be threatened. On the one hand, this method of salt production is extremely inefficient and hard. The younger generation is reluctant to inherit the tradition but seeks opportunities in the big cities. On the other hand, the value of salt in Yanjing will be lower and lower due to quality and other issues. Both of these will undoubtedly make the salt industry and the salt-related culture in jeopardy.
A Notion of Picturesque Through Bricks:
The Brick Institute
Student: CHEUNG Kat Fu Eric
The architecture incorporates several brick types: new clay brick, new engineering brick, reclaimed brick and the composite cement brick made from demolition materials. It advocates a hybridization of traditional bricklayers and contemporary technological fabrication. Combining both traditional and contemporary method of production, the brickworks encourage interaction and experimentation with materials. The programme would include co-operative workshops, live/work scheme, local commerce and industry. It provides an environment in which local construction technicians, re searchers, students and public may refine and develop their crafts. As a mean of reintegrating brickmaking attentive to the environment, it recognizes the co-production and creative influence of nature. Incentive, it reimagines materials and narratives, reassessing the idea of English picturesque.
Searching for the meaning of Aunthenticity
through wood in Dong Minority villages, China
Student: WONG Yuk Tsin Beryl
In order to have a posititve approach, this thesis is to search for multiple understanding of material authenticity through the study of wood, not only conducted from the perspective of technology and structure, but would also look at the interactive relationship between surface proper-ties and the spatial characters of wood. Transparency, color and texture of wood are taking account to the spatial effect contributing two different expression of materialit, visible and invisible. Through the interpretation with the dual impli-cation of wood, This project is trying to balance the relation-ship between material, space, and spiritual culture.
Preserving Fragile Tradition:
Seasonal salt factory on the sea horse road
Student: LIN Hui Kevin
Yanjing is a small village located in the border area between Tibet and Yunnan. As an important node on the ancient tea-horse road, it has a long tradition of trading. At the same time, Yanjing also has a long history of salt making. They collected salt water from the riverside onto artificial salt fields built of wood and mud, and then crystallized the salt water by sunlight and wind. This original method of salt production is still an important source of income in the region. But with the influence of urbanization, it is not difficult to predict that traditional salt will continue to be threatened. On the one hand, this method of salt production is extremely inefficient and hard. The younger generation is reluctant to inherit the tradition but seeks opportunities in the big cities. On the other hand, the value of salt in Yanjing will be lower and lower due to quality and other issues. Both of these will undoubtedly make the salt industry and the salt-related culture in jeopardy.
A Notion of Picturesque Through Bricks:
The Brick Institute
Student: CHEUNG Kat Fu Eric
The architecture incorporates several brick types: new clay brick, new engineering brick, reclaimed brick and the composite cement brick made from demolition materials. It advocates a hybridization of traditional bricklayers and contemporary technological fabrication. Combining both traditional and contemporary method of production, the brickworks encourage interaction and experimentation with materials. The programme would include co-operative workshops, live/work scheme, local commerce and industry. It provides an environment in which local construction technicians, re searchers, students and public may refine and develop their crafts. As a mean of reintegrating brickmaking attentive to the environment, it recognizes the co-production and creative influence of nature. Incentive, it reimagines materials and narratives, reassessing the idea of English picturesque.
Thesis Instructor
Prof. Peter W. Ferretto
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