MEET’N MEAL Installation by O&O Studio and REhyphenation
O&O Studio and REhyphenation collaborate on spatial and cultural installation Meet’n Meal, taking part in the Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival, in Hong Kong. The project explores the relationship between architecture, cultural heritage, and community gathering, reinterpreting Hakka traditions through spatial design, and using a dining table as the central element to symbolize reunion and shared history. The three-year pilot tourism project Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival aims to diversify the tourism offerings and enrich local and non-local visitors’ experience. The installation is located at the historic front wall of a former village house, a key site reflecting the island’s past. A circular table, constructed from steel framing, fiberglass, and stone-textured paint, references the island’s salt pans, an essential element of its economy and cuisine. The round shape signifies inclusivity and community participation, while the design draws inspiration from the Chinese hieroglyph for ‘Home’ (家) and incorporates symbolic references to traditional village life.
Rather than relying on physical artifacts, the project collects oral histories and Hakka culinary traditions to evoke memories. Sixteen plates, including traditional Hakka bowls, feature AI-generated representations of local dishes such as fish, puffer fish, pork stew, steamed glutinous rice cake, and glass candy, highlighting the historical and cultural significance of food in the village. The plates are created using vibrant mosaics, mirroring the stained glass of the island’s Catholic church and symbolizing the connection between past and present.
Meet’n Meal is hidden in the verdant Yim Tin Tsai region | all images by Ji Xiang unless stated otherwise
Meet’n Meal table design Bridges Heritage, Nature, and Community
Multidisciplinary design practice O&O Studio and artist Joyce Fok from REhyphenation opt for materials and design elements that emphasize a strong connection to nature. The installation incorporates light-filtering effects, absorbing sunlight during the day and subtly warming the space. This interplay between materiality and natural elements reflects the island’s rural lifestyle, where food and resources were traditionally sourced from the surrounding environment. By focusing on cross-generational participation, Meet’n Meal reconnects former villagers with their cultural roots while inviting visitors to engage with the island’s history. The project fosters dialogue and interaction, encouraging storytelling, poetry writing, and conversations between guests and long-time residents.
Meet’n Meal extends beyond artistic expression, serving as a symbolic gathering space that bridges architecture, memory, and cultural preservation. The installation offers a multi-sensory experience, inviting visitors to rediscover Yim Tin Tsai’s heritage through its culinary and spatial narratives while contributing to the revitalization of the historic Hakka village.
the project reinterprets Hakka traditions through art and design
a circular dining table symbolizes reunion and shared history
a historic village house wall serves as the installation’s backdrop
an artistic gathering space uniting history, cuisine, and community
Glass Candy and the stainless steel plates reflect the surrounding environment and sunlight | image by Eric Chan
sixteen plates depict local flavors, from fish to glutinous rice cakes | image by Eric Chan
the project celebrates cross-generational connections through design, food and heritage | image by Eric Chan
Meet’n Meal installation explores food as a vessel for storytelling and remembrance| image by Eric Chan
AI-generated Hakka dishes preserve culinary heritage through art
the installation invites visitors to a dining space rich with the culinary heritage of Yim Tin Tsai
project info:
name: MEET’N MEAL
designer: O&O Studio | @o_and_o_studio
collaborator: REhyphenation | @rehyphenation
location: Yim Tin Tsai, Sai Kung, Hong Kong, China
area: 30 sqm
design team O&O Studio: Eric Chan, Suzanne Li, Hazel Fung,
design team REhyphenation: Joyce Fok
organizer: Hong Kong Tourism Commission
curatorial partner: One Bite Design Studio
photographer: Jason Ji – Ji Xiang, Eric Chan
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
