What happens when contemporary design intersects with traditional craftsmanship and local memory through material transformation?
Craft is never a rigid rule frozen in history, but a boundless freedom to explore everyday life. Moderated by deTour 2026 THE IRL FIELD curator Dennis Cheung, this insightful dialogue brings together co-creators dou6 geoi6 so2 and Hong Kong Glaze Research Lab to explore how traditional handcraft can be thoughtfully integrated into modern design.
Every object serves as a microcosm and memory bearer of a city. Drawing from dou6 geoi6 so2’s “Beyond the Circle”—which challenges conventional standards of circular perfection in woodturning—and Hong Kong Glaze Research Lab’s “From waste to glaze, an urban alchemy”, which reformulates local waste streams into bespoke glazes using ancient techniques, this session delves deep into material alchemy. Join us to discover how the growth rings of wood and the mineral traces of urban consumption converge, bridging heritage craft with modern life to create living archives that reconnect people with their land.
Dennis is a Hong Kong registered architect and founding partner of Studio RYTE, focusing on sustainability and material innovation. His multidisciplinary work has earned the Architizer A+, AIA Sustainability, Dezeen and SaloneSatellite awards, with pieces in the permanent collections of M+ and SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection. He is currently Senior Lecturer and Deputy Programme Director of the Design+ programme at the University of Hong Kong.
dou6 geoi6 so2 is a Hong Kong-based creative practice founded by Chow Man in 2018. Working across furniture, functional objects and spatial installations, the studio explores the relationship between material, craftsmanship and everyday rituals through contemporary woodworking. Each project begins with a process of making—investigating the possibilities of timber through traditional techniques, experimentation and repeated refinement. Rather than pursuing novelty, the practice seeks to reveal new perspectives from familiar materials and ordinary experiences, creating objects that embody quiet functionality, material honesty and lasting emotional value.
Hong Kong Glaze Research Lab aims to inspire new thinking in ceramic creation, utilising urban waste to redefine the industry and offer sustainable alternatives. As a city lacking natural resources, Hong Kong relies heavily on imported raw materials across all sectors—a pattern that has cultivated a habit of overlooking the potential of local waste. Viewing the city through a different lens: could the material waste generated daily in Hong Kong be understood as an alternative raw material? When glaze formulations are thoughtfully combined with local waste streams, ceramic production becomes more accessible, driving the industry’s sustainable development. The project’s ultimate goal is to build an open platform that empowers creators to utilise local waste to craft objects that are both functional and beautiful.