Designing Y‧PARK, a Yard Waste Recycling Centre 

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) had planned to develop Y‧PARK, a yard waste upcycling centre at the previous site of Fanling Environmental Resource Centre in order to facilitate and promote yard waste upcycling in Hong Kong. To attract a different target market to visit and use the centre, EPD collaborated with students to promote and design the centre, develop innovative product prototypes by upcycling yard waste and create an attractive, interactive and vibrant promotional campaign to foster sustainable behaviour in Hong Kong and showcase the innovative facilities. Taking into account the synergy to promote both yard waste upcycling and recycling, the centre finally forms the Resources Centre of Y‧PARK at Tsang Tsui, Tuen Mun.

Prior to proposing design concepts and developing promotional campaign ideas for Y‧PARK, the student team carried out substantial research on the topic, including the wood waste problem, wood recycling difficulties and types of  yard waste, and examined case studies of global wood-making workshops with specific furniture and space requirements. The student team also paid visits to the site and surrounding area in Fanling to better understand the context, background and circulation.

Advertising students then created a branding strategy proposal for Y‧PARK, which included designing and producing a logo, key visuals, MTR ads and a promotional video for the target audience. See the video here.

Environment & Interior Design students developed zoning, circulation and lighting plans, proposed material choices and designed an interactive wall for the centre. The finalised spatial design concept for Y‧PARK was centralised yet open, interactive and communicative, including functional working and machinery areas, displays and free discussion zones in a flexible setting, as well as storage, a conference area and a play zone.

Product Design students worked hard to design and prototype modular furniture for the space based on different user behaviours, carefully considering ergonomics, flexibility, visuals and ways to enhance the productivity of yard waste in the process. An animation of the modular furniture joinery system is shown here.

The branding strategy, promotional video, spatial designs and modular furniture designs were licensed to EPD in 2021. The team of students continued to work closely with EPD after the nine-week project to adapt and realise their design ideas. This project was collaborated with Waste Infrastructure Planning Division, Environmental Protection Department, The Government of the HKSAR.

Participating students include —

Advertising Design Year 4 students

NG Hoi Ying and YUEN Hau Lam

Environment and Interior Design Year 4 students

CHAN Shuk Ting, LAI Pui Ying, LAM Yi Ting, LAU Hoi Yung, LI Pak Wah, SIN Pik Yu, SUM Yuk Ting Angela and YAU Pui Kwan

Product Design Year 4 students

CHIN Yan Li and YUNG Tsz Chiu

Project Tutors —

Horace PAN

School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Work-integrated Education in PolyU brings students together with real-world clients both inside and outside the classroom. Students’ fresh ideas, energy and passion lead to exciting opportunities for clients and collaborators. 
The Cooperative Project is undertaken as a compulsory subject in the first semester of students’ final year of study. Collaborators ranging from commercial enterprises to government departments and non-profit organisations work together with tutors to come up with design briefs that meet the needs of their target audiences.