Circus Tram Hong Kong is the first-of-its-kind mobile social club. It imaginatively transforms the city’s age-old public transportation into a social space where beautiful human interactions take place.
Hong Kong’s trams are the city’s beloved cultural heritage and are intrinsically tied to the fabric of urban life.
The question that Circus Tram asks is whether trams can function more than merely a mode of transportation. Given the paradoxical proximity of passengers and their typical non-communication on the usual passenger tram, Circus Tram is a tram re-purposed to encourage dialogues.
In place of passenger benches, Circus Tram is designed with three cabins where small groups of passengers (from 4 to 16) can engage in face-to-face conversations over drinks and food.
The tram runs through diverse streetscapes in the heart of Hong Kong Island, driving past historical colonial buildings, bustling (and romantically chaotic) street markets, atmospheric local neighbourhoods, iconic skyscrapers and vibrant urban lights at night. Its exterior is designed as a city-dweller’s response to this amazing, dynamic range of cityscape Hong Kong is known for.
At night, its transparent façade lights up and it shines all gold yet mellow. Against a backdrop of luminous modern buildings, Circus Tram joins in the symphony of night-time urban vibrance.
In the day, its striking yellow wooden frame stands out in the cacophony of city people’s busy activities; its distinguished rectangular motif both echoes and contrasts the characteristic, charming hodge-podge of architectural styles on Hong Kong Island.
And the wooden frame of Hong Kong’s trams has its history. It epitomises the fine work of dexterous craftsmen who work with traditional mortise and tenon technique, yet artisan woodwork is now being crowded out by newer, industrial methods. Circus Tram resurrected an abandoned wooden frame of a retired tram to honour this artisanal heritage.
Credit: Alvin Yip Circus, Editecture, Hong Kong Tramways, Jenny Choi Circus, Billy Potts Handsome.Co, Kevin Chiu Circus
Credits:
- Hong Kong Tramways - Partner
- Circus - Design Manager - Jenny Choi
- Circus - Curator-in-chief - Alvin Yip
- Circus - Graphic Designer - Kevin Chiu
- Handsome.Co - Furniture Designer - Billy Potts
- Editecture - Design Development
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