Zurich University of the Arts, Aalto University
Andreas Kohli
Hong Kong was regarded as a prime example of urbanity, as an ideal form of capitalism. The city has emerged as a multifaceted focal point of current issues. Together with students from Polytechnic University School of Design (PolyU) in Hong Kong, twelve students from the Zurich University of the Arts and Aalto University explored social and cultural life as well as the urban structures of a specific area in Hong Kong. Students from Zurich and Helsinki first planned a “guided tour” in Hong Kong by using Google Street View. Then they traveled to Hong Kong and did the tour for a group of local students. By first doing research on Google Street View, the students made a combination of the expected place based on their cultural prejudices. Being on-site, the different qualities of media-space and real space are obvious. The feedback of the locals gave students a different impression of the use of public space.