AI illustrations of food adorn vibrant mosaic plates for dining table installation in hong kong

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

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

the installation invites visitors to a dining space rich with the culinary heritage of Yim Tin Tsai

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key dishes presented in mosaic

inspired by Chinese Hieroglyph of the word 'HOME家' the design evokes old village house wall that shelters poultry in the yard, resulting into the table form

plan - section | illustration by O&O Studio

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