In fast-growing Hong Kong, urban artifacts such as utility tricycles and folded-metal fixtures, once hand-crafted, are now disappearing and being replaced by manufactured items. This project, Folding Custom Bike, is an installation for the Space+ community festival in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. By adopting a coupling design approach, the project merges the declining art of traditional folded galvanized metal crafting with the decreasing use of utilitarian tricycles. This transformation converts two cargo-bikes into a temporary and adaptable installation, occupying a pocket park to showcase and engage with the public.

Customized bicycles/tricycles have a rich historical presence in Chinese cities, and they can swiftly convert urban spaces into lively hotspots through temporary deployment. These modified street vendor bikes/ trikes come in various designs, featuring larger loading spaces, canopies, lids, and other elements that facilitate street vending activities. However, this form of urban intervention has gradually disappeared in recent decades due to regulations in the motorized society.

Metal folding craft, known as "white steel" due to its unique pale and shiny appearance, was widely practiced in southern China during the mid-20th century. It was used to make everyday objects such as mailboxes, furniture, and building fixtures. However, with the rapid growth of the automated manufacturing industry, such craftsmanship is now facing the threat of being lost in Hong Kong. Recognizing metal folding craft as an intangible heritage, this project attempts to preserve the craft as a cultural practice by utilizing these techniques to customize tricycles. Functionally, it aims to enhance the spatial experience in underutilized urban areas through the deployment of transformable tricycles.

DESIGN OF THE TWO CUSTOM TRICYCLES
The two box-shaped components were fabricated out of 0.6mm thick galvanized steel sheets. The first component measures 1150 x 775 x 1300mm (LWH), while the second measures 1150 x 605 x 1300mm (LWH). These components were purposefully designed for easy attachment to a tricycle with a cargo bed height of 655mm, readily available from the local market. Inspired by the traditional custom bikes/trikes used by street vendors, the design of these two components prioritizes the ease of transportation and deployment while maintaining a human-scale proportion.

To construct the boxes, basic scissors and other simple tools were used, employing traditional folding techniques. Different folding and seaming methods, known as "bones" due to their structural significance, were utilized in various parts of the boxes to correspond with specific functions and loading conditions. The "Japanese Seam" (Pittsburg Seam) was typically used to join two sheets perpendicularly.

One of the trikes serves as a welcome booth and an information stand. By opening the cover lids, the trike transforms into a shaded area with horizontal canopies and a tabletop. The other trike serves as a display board. By horizontally unfolding the panel frames, the bulletin boards extend to 4.5m in length and serve as a space dividing element for the surrounding area. Strategically positioned at the park entrance, these folded galvanized steel trikes effectively attract the attention of passersby, contributing to the urban space and the public event.

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