Amid Hong Kong’s bustling cityscape, a group of urban designers hope to direct people’s focus to the plants blossoming quietly in this concrete jungle – more than just decor, they are a means to forge community.
In 2021, One Bite Social launched a Community Plant Library to share stories of the city’s plants. The inspiration for this project stemmed from a job invitation to promote sustainability in San Po Kong.
“We initially thought the place was just an industrial area, but after a visit, we found it to be diverse. Many shops have plants, and we felt that each plant held a captivating story, like a book waiting to be read,” recalled Sarah Mui, who is the co-founder of One Bite Social, the charity branch of One Bite, an architecture company dedicated to creating positive impact through design.
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The plant library gathered stories from the shops and designed installations about their plants. The team encouraged residents to build connections by donating and adopting plants, and they hosted workshops on topics such as plant dyes and upcycling coffee grounds.
“I found the public had an overwhelming response to and interest in plants, so we tried to find more funding to continue the library in other areas,” Mui noted.
With funding from Partnerships for Community Development, the project expanded to Sheung Wan and Sham Shui Po and ended last October.
Mui added: “Our goal is to help people rediscover their surroundings and gain a new perspective of a community through plants.”
Seeds of change
Although the project has ended, its impact remains. The team trained volunteers to become plant librarians for their neighbourhoods. They also compiled a community map for Sheung Wan with more than 20 spots where people can find plants, learn about their stories and get involved with interactive installations.
For example, a shelf placed outside the Indigo Coffee shop is a spot for residents to donate and adopt plants.
“We built a good relationship with the shop, and they welcomed putting the shelf there for kai fong to share their plants, seeds and tools,” said Chloe Ting, an urban researcher at One Bite Social who led the project in Sheung Wan.
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The map also shares a fun story about the wisteria outside the coffee shop. Ting explained: “The staff told us that there was an old lady who always hit it because she said this could help it grow taller. And after a while, it actually grew incredibly well, almost hitting the ceiling.”
Catherine Chao, another urban designer leading the project, recounted a story from a Japanese cafe, Mixo, where some customers used a nearby Dracaena fragrans to dispose of cigarette butts.
“To address this issue, we placed an ashtray next to the plant with a sign that read ‘Save our plant,’” Chao said. “It is helpful as people did place their cigarette butts in the ashtray. The situation has improved a lot.”
Branching out
Not only did the plant library teach participants about their local greenery, but it also brought them closer to each other.
Ting noted that the project was helpful for newcomers in the neighbourhood: “Usually when moving to a new place, people can only rely on themselves to explore the area. But plants provide us with an interesting angle to understand ... a place.”
Even for those who had been living in the area for decades, the project offered a fresh perspective.
Chao explained: “There were some shops they had never visited ... However, by using plants as a starting point, it opened up their relationships with the stores.”
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The plant library has helped these communities establish roots that will hopefully continue to branch out.
“Plants are ... one of the elements that allow us to observe the changes in the community, including the comings and goings of people and stores. What matters is having the skills and patience to understand the places you live in,” Chao noted.
Ting added: “Beautifying [a place] doesn’t require too much work or expertise. Sometimes, you just need to water the plants or pick up cigarette butts to help them contribute and thrive in the community.”
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