My practice focuses on social issues, sustainability and environmental rights. I design spaces to encourage, provoke and question new ways of thinking and possibilities about the relationships between technologies, living beings, and environments. I am passionate about making both digital and physical models and have a strong interest in 3D visualizations. I love to express and communicate my ideas in illustrations, mappings and renderings.
Hero Image of BIOLABHK+
BIOLABHK+ is Hong Kong’s first community biology lab of the future. It is located in the West Kowloon Cultural District in Hong Kong, developing space for arts education and various commercial structures. It provides hands-on synthetic biology workshops where visitors can participate, guided by scientists and robotics assistance. The BIOLABHK+ aims to provide education and design opportunities for the public. Its space is designed to open a dialogue around synthetic biology. It visually and spatially communicates the primary materials – microalgae and bioluminescent algae – through integrating them with facades, lightings, spatial divides, and systems.
AXO and Design Process
The design of the algae façade is developed from the shape of microalgae and biology cell pattern to design the algae façade. In this façade, microalgae will be harvested in the panels. Meanwhile, bioluminescent algae are used as subtle lighting to attract visitors.
The exploded axonometric drawing shows the overall architectural elements and equipment of BIOLABHK+.
The exploded axonometric drawing shows the overall architectural elements and equipment of BIOLABHK+.
Site Plan and Photosynthesis Diagram
The West Kowloon district of Hong Kong as my site. The district is in development and will eventually contain 17 arts and cultural venues, an ideal site for BIOLABHK+.
The algae façade is oriented to the sun to produce the most biomass. One of the strong concepts of this project is to utilise the algae façade to harvest biomass and provide to distributors.
The algae façade is oriented to the sun to produce the most biomass. One of the strong concepts of this project is to utilise the algae façade to harvest biomass and provide to distributors.
Sectional Perspective and North Elevation
The BIOLABHK+ is divided into four major parts: Info area, GMO area, Workshop area and The Rooftop.
The lab will focus on the interaction of visitors, advanced technology and algae.
The lab will focus on the interaction of visitors, advanced technology and algae.
Information and Workshop
In the Info area, briefings of projects and information on the space will be displayed. It is a place where visitors gather. The story of related synthetic biology content will be displayed on the interactive screens and tablets. Visitors can also observe the fluorescent green light generated by GMO bioluminescent algae light fixtures that light up the space.
The workshop provides GMO experiments of jellyfish DNA with bioluminescent algae to produce brighter and more light-consistent algae. In the workshop, visitors can learn, experiment, and create new species.
The workshop provides GMO experiments of jellyfish DNA with bioluminescent algae to produce brighter and more light-consistent algae. In the workshop, visitors can learn, experiment, and create new species.
GMO area and Rooftop
In the GMO area, advanced equipment such as bioreactors and 3D printers are facilitated. Visitors can conduct hands-on experiments with synthetic biology with the most advanced technology.
The rooftop is a place to store all biomass generated and transferred through tubes and sold to cosmetic and food industries.
The rooftop is a place to store all biomass generated and transferred through tubes and sold to cosmetic and food industries.
Simon Leung, Hero Image of BIOLABHK+
Simon Leung, AXO and Design Process
Simon Leung, Site Plan and Photosynthesis Diagram
Simon Leung, Sectional Perspective and North Elevation
Simon Leung, Information and Workshop
Simon Leung, GMO area and Rooftop
