PolyU Environment and Interior Design

[YEAR 4 SCHEMATIC REVIEW]

Our Year 4 students are working on their final year projects - a round of applause for their effort !

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The Capstone Project integrates four years of spatial design, technical skills, knowledge and competencies gained during the BA in Environment and Interior Design course. The Capstone Project is the most critical and important studio and is structured to enable individual and personal definition of a Capstone Project in relation to design research and contemporary issues in design and society.

[YEAR FOUR - CAPSTONE RESEARCH + PROJECT BEST OF SHOW:[IS]_Chromatic Impact] by WONG Chun Jun, Juno; | Tutor: Gerhard Bruyns
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Shaping Environmental And Spatial Colour Coding

Colour often gets undervalued. Everyone holds limiting notions about how colour should be used, but I think that colour can accomplish more, which is why I decided to do a colour project in Tai O.

This site-specific project focuses on the use of colour to structure an improve to the urban environment. I will apply the method of color decoding to examine the surrounding objects and environment in order to determine the importance and influence of different community functions. Following this analysis, I will employ innovative colour coding techniques to reconfigure the experience, movement, circulation and structure meaning within Tai O. It is more about how the to use colour to associate the certain functional aspects. To provide a certain degree of readability, I naturally combine colour and other structures based on the research in addition to painting colours. The final intention is to use colour to develop a new language for Tai O.

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[YEAR FOUR - CAPSTONE RESEARCH + PROJECT]: [IS]_Intelligent Space Research by WONG Chun Jun, Juno; YUNG Kwok Hei, Harry; WONG Pak Yiu, Patrick | Tutor: Gerhard Bruyns, Peter Hasdell, Jennifer Lee
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How does monochromatic colour influence human perception of space?

Intelligent Spaces are environments designed to adapt and respond to human interaction through an understanding of sensory perception. These spaces leverage principles of design and psychology to enhance user experiences, fostering a deeper connection between individuals and their surroundings. By considering various factors such as color, light, and spatial arrangement, Intelligent Spaces aim to create inclusive environments that cater to diverse needs. The exploration of how these elements influence perception can lead to innovative applications in architecture and design, ultimately shaping the way people navigate and experience their environments.

The research employs a multi-method approach that unfolds in several stages. Initially, first-hand data is collected by manipulating environmental colours in digital simulations using Photoshop. Following this, field studies are conducted with different colored lenses to capture photographic images directly from various sites. The next stage involves constructing a physical model box with walls painted in different colours, which is then photographed under various lighting conditions. Finally, the effects of various eye diseases are simulated within this physical model box to document the visual changes that occur in these colored environments. While findings are still forthcoming, the research seeks to provide insight into the colour that plays a significant role in shaping our spatial experiences, which may have broader implications for design practices in future environments accommodating individuals with vision deficiencies.
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[YEAR FOUR - CAPSTONE RESEARCH + PROJECT BEST OF SHOW]: Folding Earth System by LU Xiaoxin, Effa | Tutor: Gerhard Bruyns
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The project explores the integration of spatial intelligence and system dynamics modelling to address complex challenges in contemporary urban and environmental systems.

Through the application of Dymaxion projection and foldable cartography, this study reimagines geospatial representation, enabling a more equitable and adaptable understanding of networked spatial interdependencies. By employing complex system stratification and dynamic layer prioritisation, the project seeks to uncover hidden patterns and optimise decision-making across interconnected systems.

Central to this exploration is a commitment to decarbonisation, advancing sustainable and inclusive approaches that redefine spatial governance. This work ultimately aims to provide a transformative framework for engaging with dynamic, multi-scalar systems in an era of rapid global change.
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[YEAR FOUR - CAPSTONE RESEARCH + PROJECT BEST OF SHOW]: Nocturnal Weaver by SUM Ka Po, Kristen | Tutor: Gerhard Bruyns
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The project “Nocturnal Weaver” examines the relationship between dreams and memory. It draws on research that shows how dream-like spaces reflect elements from daily life, aiming to abstract these elements to highlight the dreaming process. By deconstructing the narrative into stages—perception, progression, function, collage, and dreaming—the project visualises these concepts through sketching, drawing, and modelling to test the structure of the Nocturnal Weaver.

Presented as a weaver that engages the audience, it illustrates how our brains create dreams at night. This approach showcases the connections between these phases and provides a lived experience that helps the audience understand the progression from capturing daily memories to entering the dreaming stage.
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[YEAR FOUR - CAPSTONE RESEARCH + PROJECT BEST OF SHOW]: Whisper Grid by YEUNG Chung Wing, Trinity | Tutor: Gerhard Bruyns
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Whisper Grid reimagines auditory accessibility by using material acoustics to simulate hearing impairments. Installed in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Innovation Tower, this interactive piece transforms ambient noise into a visceral experience of hearing loss, revealing the fragmented soundscapes of hearing aid or cochlear implant users.
Instead of digital simulations, it employs modular cardboard geometries and organic to distort frequencies, disrupt speech, and challenge sound localisation.

The project repurposes recyclable materials to mirror the adaptive struggles of the hearing-impaired, turning passive listening into tactile engagement. Visitors interact with surfaces that selectively mute, amplify, or scramble sounds, the reliance on visual cues like lip-reading. By avoiding technological complexity, the design fosters empathy
through raw sensory exchange, bridging gaps between hearing and non-hearing communities. Its scalable structure encourages reinterpretation, advocating for inclusive spaces that prioritise sensory diversity over uniformity.
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YEAR FOUR - CAPSTONE RESEARCH + PROJECT]: Fragments of Consequence by NG Chun Yung, Nicole | Tutor: Evonne Tam
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This project reinterprets the painting “Introduction on the Painting of the Scene of Punishment”- 地獄變相圖 within Hong Kong Central. It aims to fragment and reimagine the original artwork, exploring how its portrayal of suffering can resonate with a contemporary urban audience. By combining textual and visual narratives, the project simulates a distressing experience in public spaces to enhance the emotional impact of punishment.

The concept of torment is spatially translated through a mechanical structure, questioning the responsibility of punishment, as the figures in the painting do not deserve it. This reinterpretation emphasises individual accountability, as people activate the mechanical system to enact punishment.

Different representations of suffering will address social issues in Hong Kong, prompting discussions about morality and justice. This approach ensures the artwork becomes a familiar part of urban life, encouraging ongoing reflection on moral responsibilities.
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[YEAR FOUR - CAPSTONE RESEARCH + PROJECT BEST OF SHOW]: Echoes of the Past by GONG Yanni, Coco | Tutor: Daniel Elkin
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This project explores the creation of a coastal aeolian memorial at Thunder Cave, Cape D’Aguilar, Hong Kong. Designed to endure for millennia, the structure sits within an expected Geo gap formed by a collapsed sea cave, emulating the cave’s natural soundscape through its interaction with wind, water, and pebbles.

Inspired by resonating tubes and wind instruments, the design incorporates elements such as a dual windway with a shared central cavity to amplify the edge tone frequencies triggered by the wind hitting the sharp blade inside the concrete structure. The upper level remains unoccupied to ensure optimal airspeed and functionality, drawing on architectural concepts of “unoccupiable voids.”

The memorial is no longer a representation but an experience of time and space, designed for those who appreciate the symbiosis between landscape and soundscape. It aims to prolong the acoustic legacy of Thunder Cave, offering a sensory experience that honours its significance as a geographical identity.
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