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Design for Conservation

Environmental Futures Initiative


Studio Laos

Instructors: Ashley Scott Kelly; Xiaoxuan Lu

At The University of Hong Kong

Course abstract:

"Strategic Landscape Planning for the Greater Mekong" builds on seven years of design-based experiential learning across mainland Southeast Asia by the Division of Landscape Architecture. This year, focusing on the regional impacts of China's Belt and Road Initiative in northern Laos, students spend one term engaging issues of development vis-à-vis landscape architecture to define problems and produce innovative planning proposals. During this process, students develop and deliver a 150-page research report to civil society and international NGOs, conduct fieldwork, individually design future scenarios through large-format maps, diagrams and models, and have their work juried by a cross-disciplinary panel of experts.

    For the past two decades, the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos) has been reshaped physically, politically and environmentally by neoliberal development projects of the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and bilateral aid agencies. This investment includes complex, capital-intensive infrastructure projects coupled with new biodiversity conservation networks, resettlement of indigenous peoples, creation of new environmental policies, and transformation of rural agricultural economies. Today, the 2013 Belt and Road Initiative asserts China's rapidly advancing role in international development. One of its two key economic corridors in Southeast Asia follows the route of the future Kunming-Singapore Railway across the Mekong region. We will trace Laos's segment of this rail corridor, called the China-Laos (or Boten-Vientiane) Railway, in planning for 16 years, through geologically, culturally and politically complex terrain.

    Promotional video for HKU Studio Laos, 2020.
    HKU students present their planning and design strategies for the China-Laos railway. By Aristo Chan, 2018.
    HKU students present their planning and design strategies for the China-Laos railway. By Aristo Chan, 2018.
    HKU students present their planning and design strategies for the China-Laos railway. By Aristo Chan, 2018.
    HKU students present their planning and design strategies for the China-Laos railway. By Aristo Chan, 2018.
    HKU students present their planning and design strategies for the China-Laos railway. By Aristo Chan, 2018.
    HKU students present their planning and design strategies for the China-Laos railway. By Aristo Chan, 2018.
    HKU students present their planning and design strategies for the China-Laos railway. By Aristo Chan, 2018.
    HKU students present their planning and design strategies for the China-Laos railway. By Aristo Chan, 2018.
    HKU students present their planning and design strategies for the China-Laos railway. By Aristo Chan, 2018.
    HKU students present their planning and design strategies for the China-Laos railway. By Aristo Chan, 2018.
    HKU students present their planning and design strategies for the China-Laos railway. By Aristo Chan, 2018.
    HKU students present their planning and design strategies for the China-Laos railway. By Aristo Chan, 2018.
    HKU students present their planning and design strategies for the China-Laos railway, 2018.
    HKU students present their planning and design strategies for the China-Laos railway, 2018.
    Cultivating Compensation: Teaching landscape value through distributed demonstration grounds along the China-Laos Railway. By WONG Ying Yu Annette, 2018.
    Cultivating Compensation: Teaching landscape value through distributed demonstration grounds along the China-Laos Railway. By WONG Ying Yu Annette, 2018.
    Cultivating Compensation: Teaching landscape value through distributed demonstration grounds along the China-Laos Railway. By WONG Ying Yu Annette, 2018.
    Cultivating Compensation: Teaching landscape value through distributed demonstration grounds along the China-Laos Railway. By WONG Ying Yu Annette, 2018.
    Cultivating Compensation: Teaching landscape value through distributed demonstration grounds along the China-Laos Railway. By WONG Ying Yu Annette, 2018.
    Cultivating Compensation: Teaching landscape value through distributed demonstration grounds along the China-Laos Railway. By WONG Ying Yu Annette, 2018.
    Village survival toolkit for the Mekong's industrial sand grab. By SUN Jingyu Cecilia, 2018.
    Village survival toolkit for the Mekong's industrial sand grab. By SUN Jingyu Cecilia, 2018.
    Village survival toolkit for the Mekong's industrial sand grab. By SUN Jingyu Cecilia, 2018.
    Village survival toolkit for the Mekong's industrial sand grab. By SUN Jingyu Cecilia, 2018.
    Village survival toolkit for the Mekong's industrial sand grab. By SUN Jingyu Cecilia, 2018.
    Village survival toolkit for the Mekong's industrial sand grab. By SUN Jingyu Cecilia, 2018.
    Village survival toolkit for the Mekong's industrial sand grab. By SUN Jingyu Cecilia, 2018.
    Village survival toolkit for the Mekong's industrial sand grab. By SUN Jingyu Cecilia, 2018.
    Strategic Soil Sourcing: Compensation uncertainty and agricultural resiliency along the China-Laos Railway. By LEE Ying Chik Vanessa, 2018.
    Strategic Soil Sourcing: Compensation uncertainty and agricultural resiliency along the China-Laos Railway. By LEE Ying Chik Vanessa, 2018.
    Strategic Soil Sourcing: Compensation uncertainty and agricultural resiliency along the China-Laos Railway. By LEE Ying Chik Vanessa, 2018.
    Strategic Soil Sourcing: Compensation uncertainty and agricultural resiliency along the China-Laos Railway. By LEE Ying Chik Vanessa, 2018.
    Land-for-Landscape: Compensation and landscape-specificity on the China-Laos Railway. By CHAN Lok Tim, 2018.
    Land-for-Landscape: Compensation and landscape-specificity on the China-Laos Railway. By CHAN Lok Tim, 2018.
    Waste-scapes for a Vang Vieng construction boom. By CHUNG Kwan Yu Lillian, 2018.
    Waste-scapes for a Vang Vieng construction boom. By CHUNG Kwan Yu Lillian, 2018.
    Waste-scapes for a Vang Vieng construction boom. By CHUNG Kwan Yu Lillian, 2018.
    Waste-scapes for a Vang Vieng construction boom. By CHUNG Kwan Yu Lillian, 2018.
    Hydrologic Corridor: Landscapes for water security during Luang Prabang's urban expansion. By LEE Jung Bin Max, 2018.
    Hydrologic Corridor: Landscapes for water security during Luang Prabang's urban expansion. By LEE Jung Bin Max, 2018.
    Development Detour: Planning the environmental futures of rural Laos's new corridors. By LI Aijing Jane, 2018.
    Development Detour: Planning the environmental futures of rural Laos's new corridors. By LI Aijing Jane, 2018.
    Choreographing investments: Multisector responses to an expanding China-Laos mineral corridor. By Saw Yu Nwe Sandra, 2018.
    Choreographing investments: Multisector responses to an expanding China-Laos mineral corridor. By Saw Yu Nwe Sandra, 2018.
    Choreographing investments: Multisector responses to an expanding China-Laos mineral corridor. By Saw Yu Nwe Sandra, 2018.
    Choreographing investments: Multisector responses to an expanding China-Laos mineral corridor. By Saw Yu Nwe Sandra, 2018.
    Choreographing investments: Multisector responses to an expanding China-Laos mineral corridor. By Saw Yu Nwe Sandra, 2018.
    Choreographing investments: Multisector responses to an expanding China-Laos mineral corridor. By Saw Yu Nwe Sandra, 2018.
    Living Heritage: Redefining protections for urban expansion in Luang Prabang. By SHUM Hiu Lam Haylie, 2018.
    Living Heritage: Redefining protections for urban expansion in Luang Prabang. By SHUM Hiu Lam Haylie, 2018.
    Sewage to Usage: Resiliency planning and public-private partnerships on Vang Vieng's Song River. By WONG Oi Ling Ellena, 2018.
    Sewage to Usage: Resiliency planning and public-private partnerships on Vang Vieng's Song River. By WONG Oi Ling Ellena, 2018.
    Sewage to Usage: Resiliency planning and public-private partnerships on Vang Vieng's Song River. By WONG Oi Ling Ellena, 2018.
    Sewage to Usage: Resiliency planning and public-private partnerships on Vang Vieng's Song River. By WONG Oi Ling Ellena, 2018.
    Sewage to Usage: Resiliency planning and public-private partnerships on Vang Vieng's Song River. By WONG Oi Ling Ellena, 2018.
    Sewage to Usage: Resiliency planning and public-private partnerships on Vang Vieng's Song River. By WONG Oi Ling Ellena, 2018.
    Sewage to Usage: Resiliency planning and public-private partnerships on Vang Vieng's Song River. By WONG Oi Ling Ellena, 2018.
    Sewage to Usage: Resiliency planning and public-private partnerships on Vang Vieng's Song River. By WONG Oi Ling Ellena, 2018.
    Before the bulldozer: Strategic agricultural cooperation for an uncertain rail alignment. By ZOU Wenyao May, 2018.
    Before the bulldozer: Strategic agricultural cooperation for an uncertain rail alignment. By ZOU Wenyao May, 2018.
    Curating Rural Connectivity: Strategic maintenance of the temporary access roads of the China-Laos Railway. By LAM Hoi Lok Heather, 2019.
    Curating Rural Connectivity: Strategic maintenance of the temporary access roads of the China-Laos Railway. By LAM Hoi Lok Heather, 2019.
    Curating Rural Connectivity: Strategic maintenance of the temporary access roads of the China-Laos Railway. By LAM Hoi Lok Heather, 2019.
    Curating Rural Connectivity: Strategic maintenance of the temporary access roads of the China-Laos Railway. By LAM Hoi Lok Heather, 2019.
    Organic or Ecological: Redeveloping agriculture in Vientiane's rural-urban transformation. By CHAU Li Yin Sabrina, 2019.
    Organic or Ecological: Redeveloping agriculture in Vientiane's rural-urban transformation. By CHAU Li Yin Sabrina, 2019.
    Low-labour Landscapes: An Agricultural response to short-term construction employment on the China-Laos Railway. By CHEANG Brian, 2019.
    Low-labour Landscapes: An Agricultural response to short-term construction employment on the China-Laos Railway. By CHEANG Brian, 2019.
    Low-labour Landscapes: An Agricultural response to short-term construction employment on the China-Laos Railway. By CHEANG Brian, 2019.
    Low-labour Landscapes: An Agricultural response to short-term construction employment on the China-Laos Railway. By CHEANG Brian, 2019.
    Low-labour Landscapes: An Agricultural response to short-term construction employment on the China-Laos Railway. By CHEANG Brian, 2019.
    Low-labour Landscapes: An Agricultural response to short-term construction employment on the China-Laos Railway. By CHEANG Brian, 2019.
    Landscape Knowledge: Challenging "smart city" plans at the China-Laos border. By LEUNG Shui-kay Kerry, 2019.
    Landscape Knowledge: Challenging "smart city" plans at the China-Laos border. By LEUNG Shui-kay Kerry, 2019.
    Invasive Science: Pluralizing conservation metrics in China-Laos knowledge flows. By TANG Chun Wah Richard, 2019.
    Invasive Science: Pluralizing conservation metrics in China-Laos knowledge flows. By TANG Chun Wah Richard, 2019.
    Local Habitat, Transnational Trade: Conservation awareness-building under increasing tourism and illegal wildlife trafficking in the Golden Triangle. By TONG Siyu Yuki, 2019.
    Local Habitat, Transnational Trade: Conservation awareness-building under increasing tourism and illegal wildlife trafficking in the Golden Triangle. By TONG Siyu Yuki, 2019.
    Local Habitat, Transnational Trade: Conservation awareness-building under increasing tourism and illegal wildlife trafficking in the Golden Triangle. By TONG Siyu Yuki, 2019.
    Local Habitat, Transnational Trade: Conservation awareness-building under increasing tourism and illegal wildlife trafficking in the Golden Triangle. By TONG Siyu Yuki, 2019.
    Negotiating with ethno-ecology: Landscape management strategies for northern Laos's ecotourism boom. By ZHANG Mengting Yani and WEI Gongqi William, 2020.
    Negotiating with ethno-ecology: Landscape management strategies for northern Laos's ecotourism boom. By ZHANG Mengting Yani and WEI Gongqi William, 2020.
    Negotiating with ethno-ecology: Landscape management strategies for northern Laos's ecotourism boom. By ZHANG Mengting Yani and WEI Gongqi William, 2020.
    Negotiating with ethno-ecology: Landscape management strategies for northern Laos's ecotourism boom. By ZHANG Mengting Yani and WEI Gongqi William, 2020.
    Negotiating with ethno-ecology: Landscape management strategies for northern Laos's ecotourism boom. By ZHANG Mengting Yani and WEI Gongqi William, 2020.
    Negotiating with ethno-ecology: Landscape management strategies for northern Laos's ecotourism boom. By ZHANG Mengting Yani and WEI Gongqi William, 2020.
    Negotiating with ethno-ecology: Landscape management strategies for northern Laos's ecotourism boom. By ZHANG Mengting Yani and WEI Gongqi William, 2020.
    Negotiating with ethno-ecology: Landscape management strategies for northern Laos's ecotourism boom. By ZHANG Mengting Yani and WEI Gongqi William, 2020.
    Immense nature: Constructing public awareness of the illegal wildlife trade through northern Laos. By CHAN Sze Wah Naomi, HE Jingsu Tinnix, and NGAN Yuk Ying Wendy, 2020.
    Immense nature: Constructing public awareness of the illegal wildlife trade through northern Laos. By CHAN Sze Wah Naomi, HE Jingsu Tinnix, and NGAN Yuk Ying Wendy, 2020.
    Scientific stewardship: Indigenous and ecosystem territories across the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor. By CHAN Syl Yeng Michelle and WONG Wae Ki Sammi, 2020.
    Scientific stewardship: Indigenous and ecosystem territories across the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor. By CHAN Syl Yeng Michelle and WONG Wae Ki Sammi, 2020.
    Scientific stewardship: Indigenous and ecosystem territories across the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor. By CHAN Syl Yeng Michelle and WONG Wae Ki Sammi, 2020.
    Scientific stewardship: Indigenous and ecosystem territories across the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor. By CHAN Syl Yeng Michelle and WONG Wae Ki Sammi, 2020.
    Empowering a labour transition during enclosure and securitisation of Luang Prabang's natural heritage. By MA On Ki Rachel and LEE Chi Hang Haven, 2020.
    Empowering a labour transition during enclosure and securitisation of Luang Prabang's natural heritage. By MA On Ki Rachel and LEE Chi Hang Haven, 2020.
    Water risk and responsibility: A political-chemical land genealogy for the Muang Sing Valley, Laos. By SONG Ziqi Sally and WONG Nok Yiu Vanessa, 2020.
    Water risk and responsibility: A political-chemical land genealogy for the Muang Sing Valley, Laos. By SONG Ziqi Sally and WONG Nok Yiu Vanessa, 2020.
    Water risk and responsibility: A political-chemical land genealogy for the Muang Sing Valley, Laos. By SONG Ziqi Sally and WONG Nok Yiu Vanessa, 2020.
    Water risk and responsibility: A political-chemical land genealogy for the Muang Sing Valley, Laos. By SONG Ziqi Sally and WONG Nok Yiu Vanessa, 2020.
    Water risk and responsibility: A political-chemical land genealogy for the Muang Sing Valley, Laos. By SONG Ziqi Sally and WONG Nok Yiu Vanessa, 2020.
    Water risk and responsibility: A political-chemical land genealogy for the Muang Sing Valley, Laos. By SONG Ziqi Sally and WONG Nok Yiu Vanessa, 2020.
    Water risk and responsibility: A political-chemical land genealogy for the Muang Sing Valley, Laos. By SONG Ziqi Sally and WONG Nok Yiu Vanessa, 2020.
    Water risk and responsibility: A political-chemical land genealogy for the Muang Sing Valley, Laos. By SONG Ziqi Sally and WONG Nok Yiu Vanessa, 2020.
    Planting plan politics: The ecological economics of a community forest, Laos. By CHAN Wing Han Penny, 2021.
    Planting plan politics: The ecological economics of a community forest, Laos. By CHAN Wing Han Penny, 2021.
    Planting plan politics: The ecological economics of a community forest, Laos. By CHAN Wing Han Penny, 2021.
    Planting plan politics: The ecological economics of a community forest, Laos. By CHAN Wing Han Penny, 2021.
    Bear bile and green tape: Slow strategies for securing Luang Prabang's endangered socio-natures. By CHEANG Yuk Ching Sarah and MOK King Hei Jack, 2021.
    Bear bile and green tape: Slow strategies for securing Luang Prabang's endangered socio-natures. By CHEANG Yuk Ching Sarah and MOK King Hei Jack, 2021.
    Ground truthing compensation: A livelihood-based landscape impact assessment for Namtha basin. By FONG Joyce, 2021.
    Ground truthing compensation: A livelihood-based landscape impact assessment for Namtha basin. By FONG Joyce, 2021.
    Ethno-botanical endangerment: Preventing over-exploitation during the industrialization of Laos's medicinal plant species. By LEUNG Chun Fai Anson, 2021.
    Ethno-botanical endangerment: Preventing over-exploitation during the industrialization of Laos's medicinal plant species. By LEUNG Chun Fai Anson, 2021.
    Ethno-botanical endangerment: Preventing over-exploitation during the industrialization of Laos's medicinal plant species. By LEUNG Chun Fai Anson, 2021.
    Ethno-botanical endangerment: Preventing over-exploitation during the industrialization of Laos's medicinal plant species. By LEUNG Chun Fai Anson, 2021.
    Co-constructing nature: Culturing ecosystem science under the East 101 Longitude Scheme. By LI Ho Lok Klaus, 2021.
    Co-constructing nature: Culturing ecosystem science under the East 101 Longitude Scheme. By LI Ho Lok Klaus, 2021.
    Extinction landscape: Cultivating public awareness of the global wildlife trade at the Laos-China border. By ZHAI Qifei Frances, 2021.
    Extinction landscape: Cultivating public awareness of the global wildlife trade at the Laos-China border. By ZHAI Qifei Frances, 2021.
    Development detours: Landscape genealogies for post-pandemic ecotourism in northern Laos. By Wong Hon Ting Bryan, 2022.
    Development detours: Landscape genealogies for post-pandemic ecotourism in northern Laos. By Wong Hon Ting Bryan, 2022.
    Development detours: Landscape genealogies for post-pandemic ecotourism in northern Laos. By Wong Hon Ting Bryan, 2022.
    Development detours: Landscape genealogies for post-pandemic ecotourism in northern Laos. By Wong Hon Ting Bryan, 2022.
    Development detours: Landscape genealogies for post-pandemic ecotourism in northern Laos. By Wong Hon Ting Bryan, 2022.
    Development detours: Landscape genealogies for post-pandemic ecotourism in northern Laos. By Wong Hon Ting Bryan, 2022.
    Development detours: Landscape genealogies for post-pandemic ecotourism in northern Laos. By Wong Hon Ting Bryan, 2022.
    Development detours: Landscape genealogies for post-pandemic ecotourism in northern Laos. By Wong Hon Ting Bryan, 2022.
    Development detours: Landscape genealogies for post-pandemic ecotourism in northern Laos. By Wong Hon Ting Bryan, 2022.
    Development detours: Landscape genealogies for post-pandemic ecotourism in northern Laos. By Wong Hon Ting Bryan, 2022.
    Development detours: Landscape genealogies for post-pandemic ecotourism in northern Laos. By Wong Hon Ting Bryan, 2022.
    Development detours: Landscape genealogies for post-pandemic ecotourism in northern Laos. By Wong Hon Ting Bryan, 2022.
    Bear cartography: Coordinating slowness in ecological and social science for a Luang Prabang sanctuary. By Liu Jiani Vicki, 2022.
    Bear cartography: Coordinating slowness in ecological and social science for a Luang Prabang sanctuary. By Liu Jiani Vicki, 2022.
    Bear cartography: Coordinating slowness in ecological and social science for a Luang Prabang sanctuary. By Liu Jiani Vicki, 2022.
    Bear cartography: Coordinating slowness in ecological and social science for a Luang Prabang sanctuary. By Liu Jiani Vicki, 2022.
    Linguistic landscapes: Promoting plural identities and nonformal learning in Luang Prabang province. By Zhao Ruoning Nina, 2022.
    Linguistic landscapes: Promoting plural identities and nonformal learning in Luang Prabang province. By Zhao Ruoning Nina, 2022.
    Negotiating habitat: Strategic appropriation of the infrastructures of ecotourism in a Laos protected forest. By Chung Won Seok John, 2022.
    Negotiating habitat: Strategic appropriation of the infrastructures of ecotourism in a Laos protected forest. By Chung Won Seok John, 2022.
    Negotiating habitat: Strategic appropriation of the infrastructures of ecotourism in a Laos protected forest. By Chung Won Seok John, 2022.
    Negotiating habitat: Strategic appropriation of the infrastructures of ecotourism in a Laos protected forest. By Chung Won Seok John, 2022.
    Negotiating habitat: Strategic appropriation of the infrastructures of ecotourism in a Laos protected forest. By Chung Won Seok John, 2022.
    Negotiating habitat: Strategic appropriation of the infrastructures of ecotourism in a Laos protected forest. By Chung Won Seok John, 2022.
    Ethnobotanical endangerment: Productive friction between ex-situ and in-situ cultural conservation for Laos's first botanical garden. By Lee Kai Chi Adam, 2022.
    Ethnobotanical endangerment: Productive friction between ex-situ and in-situ cultural conservation for Laos's first botanical garden. By Lee Kai Chi Adam, 2022.
    Ethnobotanical endangerment: Productive friction between ex-situ and in-situ cultural conservation for Laos's first botanical garden. By Lee Kai Chi Adam, 2022.
    Ethnobotanical endangerment: Productive friction between ex-situ and in-situ cultural conservation for Laos's first botanical garden. By Lee Kai Chi Adam, 2022.
    Ethnobotanical endangerment: Productive friction between ex-situ and in-situ cultural conservation for Laos's first botanical garden. By Lee Kai Chi Adam, 2022.
    Ethnobotanical endangerment: Productive friction between ex-situ and in-situ cultural conservation for Laos's first botanical garden. By Lee Kai Chi Adam, 2022.
    Ethnobotanical endangerment: Productive friction between ex-situ and in-situ cultural conservation for Laos's first botanical garden. By Lee Kai Chi Adam, 2022.
    Ethnobotanical endangerment: Productive friction between ex-situ and in-situ cultural conservation for Laos's first botanical garden. By Lee Kai Chi Adam, 2022.
    Ethnobotanical endangerment: Productive friction between ex-situ and in-situ cultural conservation for Laos's first botanical garden. By Lee Kai Chi Adam, 2022.
    Ethnobotanical endangerment: Productive friction between ex-situ and in-situ cultural conservation for Laos's first botanical garden. By Lee Kai Chi Adam, 2022.
    Boten Special Economic Zone at China-Laos border. By Ashley Scott Kelly, 2018.
    Boten Special Economic Zone at China-Laos border. By Ashley Scott Kelly, 2018.
    Nam Tha River. By Ashley Scott Kelly, 2018.
    Nam Tha River. By Ashley Scott Kelly, 2018.
    HKU students presenting their studies in Laos. By Ashley Scott Kelly, 2018.
    HKU students presenting their studies in Laos. By Ashley Scott Kelly, 2018.
    Tunnel portal under construction for China-Laos Railway. By Ashley Scott Kelly, 2018.
    Tunnel portal under construction for China-Laos Railway. By Ashley Scott Kelly, 2018.