https://yi-may.com Olivia Yi-May Cheung Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:05:23 +0000 https://yi-may.com en https://yi-may.com/Gardens-of-Record-1 Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:58:44 +0000 Olivia Yi-May Cheung https://yi-may.com/Gardens-of-Record-1 Work: Research &amp; Photography, History of Design Dissertation, 2025 Award: Award of Distinction Location: England View: Dissertation (redacted) This project challenges the authority of the historical archive by exploring the garden as a living site of Afro-Diasporic memory. Where institutional records have long been shaped by colonial power, erasure, and control, Afro-Diasporic histories have persisted through oral, performative, and everyday practices. I trace the living lineage from the colonial slave gardens in the Caribbean to contemporary gardens in Britain, showing how materials, knowledge, creative agency and diasporic cultural identity have survived through time, proposing the garden as an insurgent archive. Through interviews and photography of contemporary gardens and their gardeners, I establish oral and visual histories that constitute the design history dissertation as a living Afro-Diasporic archive in and of itself. <img width="1500" height="2251" width_o="1500" height_o="2251" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c9ad84621d662efcf67c5af481caf8f879a4f2e77114bbfa1bd81bc38d5a7276/AR_PortraitGreenhouse-copy.jpg" data-mid="250955754" border="0" data-scale="42" alt="Advolly Richmond in her greenhouse" data-caption="Advolly Richmond in her greenhouse" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c9ad84621d662efcf67c5af481caf8f879a4f2e77114bbfa1bd81bc38d5a7276/AR_PortraitGreenhouse-copy.jpg" /> <img width="3120" height="1866" width_o="3120" height_o="1866" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/069d640621dd656226ee918a3067c3806d4239aab1f78a068f37f130db408deb/AR_Garden.jpg" data-mid="250957191" border="0" alt="Richmond's garden" data-caption="Richmond's garden" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/069d640621dd656226ee918a3067c3806d4239aab1f78a068f37f130db408deb/AR_Garden.jpg" /> <img width="1885" height="2831" width_o="1885" height_o="2831" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8adcb3cf51e018863c0c41c6b0bf63a0b41fc77a007b6913400ddbcc36e4beca/DSCF0585.jpg" data-mid="250959282" border="0" data-scale="42" alt="Wayne Amiel in his garden" data-caption="Wayne Amiel in his garden" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/8adcb3cf51e018863c0c41c6b0bf63a0b41fc77a007b6913400ddbcc36e4beca/DSCF0585.jpg" /> <img width="1271" height="1299" width_o="1271" height_o="1299" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c9280e55a97062083714adf944a8255161cab0d9673b957f9b7d567982e495b2/DSCF0537.jpg" data-mid="250959292" border="0" data-scale="55" alt="Amiel's mother's garden, Jamaica" data-caption="Amiel's mother's garden, Jamaica" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/c9280e55a97062083714adf944a8255161cab0d9673b957f9b7d567982e495b2/DSCF0537.jpg" /> <img width="3120" height="2080" width_o="3120" height_o="2080" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5a47a4d2e4112f7686c0b0988859677599b9b1777a2db19ae74e5509b5dee320/DSCF0330_sm.jpg" data-mid="250959498" border="0" data-scale="93" alt="Marchelle Farrell's garden" data-caption="Marchelle Farrell's garden" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5a47a4d2e4112f7686c0b0988859677599b9b1777a2db19ae74e5509b5dee320/DSCF0330_sm.jpg" /> https://yi-may.com/Publications Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:09:38 +0000 Olivia Yi-May Cheung https://yi-may.com/Publications Work: Published Writing View: Azure article sample View: TDSB Community Hubs Report View: Public Restroom Design Publications I have written pieces for span pieces for Azure Magazine, architectural books, a report for the City of Toronto. Commissioned as a freelance writer for Azure Magazine, I extensively researched and wrote features articles on emerging materials, designers, and architectural projects. &nbsp; &nbsp; Previously, I was also invited to write a section of the book, Public Restroom Design, providing a brief overview of historical aspects of the development of public restrooms and design ideas based on research and exceptional precedents.&nbsp; The Community Hubs research report was commissioned by the Toronto District School Board, at a critical moment when a growing number of public schools were closing in attempts to redistribute school lands to private developments. After comprehensive research, I wrote this report, presenting the idea of converting under-enrolled schools into community hubs with an integrated pedagogical model by providing precedents and evidence-based research. <img width="967" height="798" width_o="967" height_o="798" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d3e8243b07e4b54b99975ea8e0b7de4448551b777e3696e2b44ef4a5909fe745/PRD_img2.jpg" data-mid="250965045" border="0" data-scale="70" alt="Source: Public Restroom Design, 2019" data-caption="Source: Public Restroom Design, 2019" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/967/i/d3e8243b07e4b54b99975ea8e0b7de4448551b777e3696e2b44ef4a5909fe745/PRD_img2.jpg" /> <img width="918" height="531" width_o="918" height_o="531" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/128c088dc14e440cf037a6082e6421f4ff777c38ccac715f0cf1a104e9221fb1/azure-new-kid-on-the-block-02.jpg" data-mid="250965044" border="0" alt="Source: Azure Magazine, 2017" data-caption="Source: Azure Magazine, 2017" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/918/i/128c088dc14e440cf037a6082e6421f4ff777c38ccac715f0cf1a104e9221fb1/azure-new-kid-on-the-block-02.jpg" /> https://yi-may.com/The-Great-Migration Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:58:45 +0000 Olivia Yi-May Cheung https://yi-may.com/The-Great-Migration Work: Research &amp; Photography Location: People’s Republic of ChinaView:&nbsp;Full text The Rural, The Urban and The Great Migration: China’s Migrating Peasant and the Rise of the Urban Village is a research project that began as a look into the informal settlements called ‘urban villages’ in China’s urban-peripheral regions. It became a larger study into the country’s transitioning politico-economic structures and the mechanisms that led to its development. Of particular focus is the trajectory of the mass of rural peasants who now live in these settlements, and the systemic marginalization they face. I visited one such region, Shenzhen, Guangdong, to document the contrasting density and street life of the urban villages and their associated informal economies against the rapidly developing areas of the city where glass and steel highrises are found. These areas often existed side-by-side. As the country’s first Special Economic Zone, Shenzhen has been swiftly developing from a small agricultural city into a global economic hub for the last 45 years thanks, in large part, to the massive migrant labour force. <img width="1936" height="1296" width_o="1936" height_o="1296" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6d61067df53d51017f1a5f03edfa3ebdaf0c6a43fdebea6c6c3e01524cd4e4bc/DSC_6569.JPG" data-mid="250961874" border="0" data-scale="90" alt="Street within an urban village, Shenzhen" data-caption="Street within an urban village, Shenzhen" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/6d61067df53d51017f1a5f03edfa3ebdaf0c6a43fdebea6c6c3e01524cd4e4bc/DSC_6569.JPG" /> <img width="640" height="863" width_o="640" height_o="863" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b6601ad40f62592d57330c1cb3852cd8667f497d94ecb13c1dcbe64d40a68d06/Urban-Village-from-above_Futian-by-Gianni-Talamini.jpg" data-mid="250962542" border="0" data-scale="45" alt="Urban village, Shenzhen (Source: Gianni Talamini)" data-caption="Urban village, Shenzhen (Source: Gianni Talamini)" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/640/i/b6601ad40f62592d57330c1cb3852cd8667f497d94ecb13c1dcbe64d40a68d06/Urban-Village-from-above_Futian-by-Gianni-Talamini.jpg" /> https://yi-may.com/True-North-Trails Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:58:06 +0000 Olivia Yi-May Cheung https://yi-may.com/True-North-Trails Work: Urban &amp; Architectural Design Location: Iqaluit, Nunavut Presented with the task of designing snowmobile trails for Iqaluit, the small capital city of Nunavut in northern Canada, we travelled there to experience its landscape and speak with its officials and residents. The majority of the population is of indigenous Inuit heritage and we discovered their need for more gathering spaces and the desire to preserve their rich cultural heritage and subsistence-based way of life. This proposal consists of a network of public spaces linked by snowmobile trails through the use of the snow fence—a familiar device commonly used in Iqaluit to protect neighborhoods by diverting snow and wind. The network of trails were developed and informed by interpolating existing trails, and through public consultation with community members. Designs for the neighbourhood hubs followed the principles of the snow fence and snow drift formation, whereby the snow fence and snow drifts were both designed to act as protection and enclosure, drawing from traditional dwellings, as well as spaces for activity. This scheme endeavours to provide a platform for the sharing of knowledge and new experiences between generations and cultures. <img width="900" height="513" width_o="900" height_o="513" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8aefd3099219ff0afc88d5cfbea5472d1fb34c4635218b2a3d553fdc22a3be9a/Iqaluit--3.jpg" data-mid="250984709" border="0" alt="Source: Library &amp; Archives Canada, 1951" data-caption="Source: Library &amp; Archives Canada, 1951" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/900/i/8aefd3099219ff0afc88d5cfbea5472d1fb34c4635218b2a3d553fdc22a3be9a/Iqaluit--3.jpg" /> <img width="1600" height="2000" width_o="1600" height_o="2000" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a7b509d4c307a03a9ebc3ccd91777ab4e490ddd8971ee5e85775181c522e204e/Iqaluit_renderSummer-C.jpg" data-mid="250985016" border="0" data-scale="49" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/a7b509d4c307a03a9ebc3ccd91777ab4e490ddd8971ee5e85775181c522e204e/Iqaluit_renderSummer-C.jpg" /> <img width="900" height="600" width_o="900" height_o="600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d8c69e3983f99d2db0591b4591e53c6d0f97f522b99243907eb73a20e0e99ac4/Iqaluit_Summer-6-C.jpg" data-mid="250984992" border="0" data-scale="88" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/900/i/d8c69e3983f99d2db0591b4591e53c6d0f97f522b99243907eb73a20e0e99ac4/Iqaluit_Summer-6-C.jpg" /> <img width="771" height="514" width_o="771" height_o="514" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c0922713e75bfaf266b3347b83f9c83a279d09e355b646471f2a1ca0a4ea3b4c/Iqaluit_Summer-5-C.jpg" data-mid="250985225" border="0" data-scale="88" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/771/i/c0922713e75bfaf266b3347b83f9c83a279d09e355b646471f2a1ca0a4ea3b4c/Iqaluit_Summer-5-C.jpg" /> https://yi-may.com/Joinery-of-Things Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:58:46 +0000 Olivia Yi-May Cheung https://yi-may.com/Joinery-of-Things Work: Furniture Design &amp; Fabrication Location: Toronto Experimental furniture pieces I designed and fabricated with a focus on the simple beauty of natural materials and structural joints. The short-legged table (31” x 14”) features with maple plywood top and hand-turned poplar legs. A new take on the traditional floor-seat table, this was assembled using the ancient woodworking technique of wedged through-mortise-tenon wood joinery, without the need of screws or nails.. <img width="2368" height="1840" width_o="2368" height_o="1840" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/292474ce0121e2da33b641ada1ffeadc5cacfb1030a4885bc8c836d9a279f729/Table-top-2-S.jpg" data-mid="250964598" border="0" data-scale="77" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/292474ce0121e2da33b641ada1ffeadc5cacfb1030a4885bc8c836d9a279f729/Table-top-2-S.jpg" /> https://yi-may.com/Rubber-Soul-1 Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:06:27 +0000 Olivia Yi-May Cheung https://yi-may.com/Rubber-Soul-1 Work: Architectural Research &amp; Design Location: Toronto Contemporary urban life increasingly relies on cognitive, spatial and technological forms of protection that reshape how we relate to one another and our surroundings. Drawing on Georg Simmel’s The Metropolis and Mental Life (1903) and Peter Sloterdijk’s Spheres Volume III: Foam (2011), this project examines how modern cities encourage self-protection, efficiency and social separation. As our environments become more technologically mediated, homes and buildings function as “spatial immune systems,” reinforcing the divide between “safe” interiors and “invasive” exteriors. Rather than accepting this trajectory of isolation, the project explores how architecture can restore instinctive, corporeal connections with the environment and with one another. Rubber is used as the primary material for its tactile, responsive qualities, acting as an interface that challenges conventional boundaries of floor, wall and roof. Through touch and environmental responsiveness, the material encourages curiosity, play and sociability within corporate urban settings. The resulting experience may be playful, uncomfortable or sublime; yet in all instances you are aware of the moment, as your body and senses become engaged.&nbsp; <img width="1200" height="1200" width_o="1200" height_o="1200" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1034804f35ff90460e1ab07d5f3bf85ccfb82d70916a2465ec0eb3ca28b63ec6/Metropolis.jpg" data-mid="251115908" border="0" data-scale="58" alt="Metropolis (film)" data-caption="Metropolis (film)" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/1034804f35ff90460e1ab07d5f3bf85ccfb82d70916a2465ec0eb3ca28b63ec6/Metropolis.jpg" /> <img width="900" height="600" width_o="900" height_o="600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bb66e28f46bd28c7ba4326646d590959b45dd3e945d2411daa8b60c8757e65d2/Thesis-Water-Drops.jpg" data-mid="250988290" border="0" data-scale="90" alt="Rubber ceiling collecting precipitation" data-caption="Rubber ceiling collecting precipitation" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/900/i/bb66e28f46bd28c7ba4326646d590959b45dd3e945d2411daa8b60c8757e65d2/Thesis-Water-Drops.jpg" /> <img width="900" height="600" width_o="900" height_o="600" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c14d8dc363cd259a01ac9fb2336a2a418d97f5fbdfef961c7f618f5988310f6d/Thesis-Falling-B.jpg" data-mid="250988640" border="0" data-scale="90" alt="Rubber vertical transportation" data-caption="Rubber vertical transportation" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/900/i/c14d8dc363cd259a01ac9fb2336a2a418d97f5fbdfef961c7f618f5988310f6d/Thesis-Falling-B.jpg" /> https://yi-may.com/Medicine-Garden-1 Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:05:23 +0000 Olivia Yi-May Cheung https://yi-may.com/Medicine-Garden-1 Work: Garden Design &amp; Construction, Community Project Location: Pictou Landing, Nova Scotia Pictou Landing First Nation, a Mi'kmaq community in northern Nova Scotia, was one of three pilot communities in the First Nations Community Planning Project, launched in 1999 to strengthen communities through participatory planning and local decision-making. The Pictou Landing Health Centre was built by community members using traditional bent wood trusses sourced from certified local forests and simple, energy-efficient design strategies. Serving as both a healthcare and cultural centre, it embodies community ownership and long-term sustainability. As part of the project, I collaborated on the design of the Medicine Garden, using locally transplanted native medicinal plants and rocks to create a garden including a Mi'kmaq medicine wheel to reflect traditional healing practices and the cycles of the natural world. .&nbsp; <img width="660" height="879" width_o="660" height_o="879" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b39593ae7f780c48c8cd347db79adc4e2d2a1c3da9f060cd7735bd80640dc5af/Pictou-Landing-Garden.jpg" data-mid="251025717" border="0" data-scale="44" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/660/i/b39593ae7f780c48c8cd347db79adc4e2d2a1c3da9f060cd7735bd80640dc5af/Pictou-Landing-Garden.jpg" /> <img width="966" height="580" width_o="966" height_o="580" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a38b81975f40d5f0ab8cc50f3f44c616d93f2a75c3b6ccd792fb099692c10de0/Pictou-Landing.jpg" data-mid="251022804" border="0" data-scale="91" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/966/i/a38b81975f40d5f0ab8cc50f3f44c616d93f2a75c3b6ccd792fb099692c10de0/Pictou-Landing.jpg" /> <img width="659" height="879" width_o="659" height_o="879" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/28fe3caf5e1a97bf1dc1c7713b6b5b35b41d1ee5a9fd78dabf45da790873df7b/Pictou-Landing-Garden2.jpg" data-mid="251022797" border="0" data-scale="44" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/659/i/28fe3caf5e1a97bf1dc1c7713b6b5b35b41d1ee5a9fd78dabf45da790873df7b/Pictou-Landing-Garden2.jpg" /> https://yi-may.com/Homepage Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:58:47 +0000 Olivia Yi-May Cheung https://yi-may.com/Homepage <img width="4398" height="2880" width_o="4398" height_o="2880" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e502dd6210d3435b4055def9d3139cc3d444146382863bf59e3a711f2b07e2aa/PP_HiRes_B_.jpg" data-mid="251050860" border="0" data-scale="92" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/e502dd6210d3435b4055def9d3139cc3d444146382863bf59e3a711f2b07e2aa/PP_HiRes_B_.jpg" /> https://yi-may.com/Information Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:58:47 +0000 Olivia Yi-May Cheung https://yi-may.com/Information As a Chinese-Canadian designer and researcher, I seek to identify, investigate and reimagine politico-cultural themes within architecture, landscape, urbanism, and history. I seek to understand the reaches of design’s social agency, how it can inform equitable futures, and honour our diverse, yet kindred communities.&nbsp; “Space is not a scientific object removed from ideology or politics. It has always been political and strategic. There is an ideology of space. Because space, which seems homogeneous, which appears as a whole in its objectivity, in its pure form, such as we determine it, is a social product.” - The Survival of Capitalism, 1976