In a hyper-dense city like Hong Kong, where mountains and sea are just around the corner, can we imagine new ways of coexisting with nature inside our homes? How do you pack an island to go, or welcome living soil and sprouting seeds into your room?
Faced with constrained living quarters and relentless urban rhythms, design serves not as a rigid solution, but as a poetic invitation to bring nature back indoors. Moderated by writer and photographer Chan Kit, this dialogue brings together the creative teams behind “Portable Islands” and “Seed Terrain”. Together, they share how island adventures and ceramic micro-landscapes can be transformed into tactile, companionable furniture and distinctive interior elements. Discover how cultivating a corner of wilderness—whether within a compact bedroom or across shared city spaces—makes room for grounding, warmth, and fresh imaginations of everyday life.
1. Tang Chi Chun (Chi)
Chi is a Hong Kong architect and founder of the award-winning practice Absence from Island Studio, a collective of designers and professionals collaborating on contextual architecture and experimental art. His design approach pushes conventional boundaries while emphasizing site-specific uniqueness and timelessness, reflected in projects like Elf in the Library Home and TIL Cafe. Supported by Design Trust, he launched the Island Research Project alongside his partner Leroy, uncovering the distinct character of Hong Kong's outlying islands and translating these findings into innovative design strategies and public installations.
2. Leroy Yuen
Leroy is a London-based architect and Royal College of Art alumnus whose practice remains deeply connected to his hometown of Hong Kong. Inspired by the territory's multifaceted coastal geography, he co-founded Island Works—a collaborative initiative combining archiving, field research, and contextual design to explore where technology and nature overlap. Driven by a passion for material culture and tactile making, Leroy also co-founded What Waste?, a studio focused on circular design principles that transforms discarded plastics into refined furniture and objects. His work was showcased at the London Festival of Architecture.
3. Carolyn Tam
Carolyn Tam is an architectural designer with a dual background, holding an MArch from MIT (2022) alongside earlier training in Innovation Design Engineering. Deeply fascinated by the dialogue between technology and artistry, she weaves these elements together to create narrative-rich product and spatial designs. Her interdisciplinary approach enables her to synthesize diverse perspectives into memorable spatial experiences. Her work has been featured internationally in publications including the Financial Times, Dezeen, ArchDaily, and Domus, and shared through public lectures for Swire Properties and the Hong Kong Designers Association.
(1) éphēlis - Kwan Wai Chan
éphēlis was founded in 2018 by KwanWai Chan, a Hong Kong-based ceramic artist. After graduating with a BA in Fashion Knitwear from Central Saint Martins, London, in 2014, she worked as a Fashion Designer at Christian Dior in Paris.
Returning to Hong Kong in 2017, KwanWai established éphēlis to explore themes of intimacy, memory, nature, and healing. Rooted in Zen principles and Buddhist philosophy, her practice encourages slowing down and appreciating the present. Shortlisted for the Dezeen Awards China 2024 (Craft and Collectible Design), her work has been featured in Design Anthology, Vogue Living Hong Kong, and Elle Decoration Japan, and exhibited across Seoul, Tokyo, Kyoto, Paris, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou.
(2) Carolyn Tam
Carolyn Tam is an architectural designer who earned her Master of Architecture from MIT in 2022, following a background in Innovation Design Engineering. Fascinated by the dialogue between materiality, technology, and artistry, she crafts narrative-driven sculptures and spatial designs.
For deTour 2026, Carolyn explores material layering strategies by combining clay with bio-medium for surface plant growth. She employs 3D printing to create ceramic sculptures with precise micro-structures, controlling capillary action and water retention to sustain plant life. Her work has been featured in the Financial Times, Dezeen, ArchDaily, and Domus, and presented at lectures hosted by Swire Properties and the Hong Kong Designers Association.