For KIAN, our Brand Promise is something that we keep close to our hearts, and we are always proactively looking to partner ourselves with like-minded individuals who share the goal of creating a Better World. One such partnership particularly stood out for us, and we were thrilled to be presented with such an amazing opportunity.
On the outskirts of the bustling metropolis of Hong Kong lies the town of Shatin, a quaint location that runs alongside the Shing Mun River. Home to people from all walks of life, they go about their days in peace and harmony. But as with all areas with a sizeable population, the problem of pollution has been creeping up over the years, with the beauty of the Shing Mun River slowly being overshadowed by plastic waste.
In an effort to restore the image of the town and river, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Shatin initiated their “From Shatin, For Shatin” project. Collaborating with local waste collection organisations, plastic wastes from the residents would be collected and transformed into eco-friendly public benches to be placed in the Shatin Town Hall. To kickstart this project, the Shatin team needed the manufacturing expertise that could fabricate the bench from the recycled materials. And so began our beautiful journey.
Discovering KIAN through our global presence and local achievements, the Shatin project team approached our KIAN team in Hong Kong to inquire about a possible partnership. Impressed with our extensive manufacturing capabilities, they were keen on using our rotary moulding to bring the bench to life. As with all efforts concerning sustainability, we couldn’t pass on this chance to work with respected visionaries to make a positive impact on the community and environment. We were more than happy to join them on this noble cause.
Designed by Howard Chung of HIR Studio, the bench was inspired by the legendary Shing Mun River and features a unique curvilinear form that is reminiscent of the soft ripples on the river. The structure is comprised of multiple identical slabs, with each individual piece being made of recycled polyethylene that has been shaped into a trapezoid through rotary moulding. The slabs are then fixed together at varying angles onto a metal rod, thus giving the bench its signature wave-like pattern.
To complete the cycle of recycling, the finished benches are then placed in the Shatin Town Hall as public seating so that visitors may appreciate the apt concept of “from Shatin, for Shatin”. With the creation of this elegant bench, the town of Shatin and its iconic river are in return kept clean and pristine.
It was an honour for us at KIAN to have been a part of something bigger than ourselves. To be able to provide the means to help and to do good, we are grateful to the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Shatin. We hope that this project will educate others about the importance of recycling and sustainability, and that they will rise up and join the effort for a brighter future and a Better World. We would also like to give credits to HDP Photography for the wonderful photos in this blog.
To find out more about our sustainable efforts, you can visit our blog page to read our other articles in the link below.
And if you’d like to collaborate with us on a sustainable project, you can contact us at hello@kian.com.
We’re always excited to work with like-minded individuals who share a common goal.