Who Needs Snow?

The Design Trust brightened up winter with an event full of sunflowers and palm trees

Eric Wilson

In the world of the Design Trust, run by the executive director and co-founder Marisa Yiu, there is no such thing as the winter doldrums. In fact, to cap off a year of accomplishments, last month Yiu collaborated with artists and architects William Lim, Elaine Yan Ling Ng, and Mak Ying Tung 2 on an ambitious gala dinner, titled Winter Playscapes, for which the three interpreted the theme of “play” in the context of the season. To be fair, it’s the best time of year in Hong Kong.

For the benefit, with Prada as its title sponsor, the trio incorporated palm trees, sunflowers, cityscapes, and elements of the wildly popular micro parks Design Trust Futures Studio introduced in Yi Pei Square and Portland Street Rest Garden in 2021, interpreted here as video installations and dynamic sets surrounding a path of “socially interconnected” tables. Even a large barrier dividing the room (necessitated by Covid-19 restrictions) was designed by Lim as a large glowing shield in the signature pink of the Portland Street park. Here, the collaborators discuss their visions for a Winter Playscape.

William Lim, managing director of CL3 Architects