Daniel Elkin

PolyU Scholars Hub

Associate Professor

Deputy Discipline Leader, Department of Environment and Interior Design

V1002c
+852 2766 5483
dkelkin@polyu.edu.hk
Expertise: Housing Sciences, Design Making, Spatial Agency Research

PolyU Scholars Hub

ORCID ID

SCOPUS ID

Google Scholar

Research Gate

Biography

Daniel Elkin is a researcher and designer specializing in spatial agency research and agency driven design. He is Assistant Professor and Deputy Discipline Leader of the Department of Environment of Interior Design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Educated at Cranbrook Academy of Art (MArch) and the University of Cincinnati (MArch, BSArch), Mr. Elkin’s career spans between architecture, product design, art, and activism. Since moving to Hong Kong, Elkin established a research focus in spatial agency, contributing to publications and agency-driven design work. He served as the Cubic Journal Design Making issue first editor, as the fabrication supervisor for the School of Design’s 2020/21 Venice Biennale contribution and is the founder of the HomeWise Research and Design housing data gathering platform. His recent work studies the unique development conditions of Tai O Village in a spatial agency living lab format, for which the research team received a 2021 Smart50 Award.

Education and Academic Qualifications

Master of Architecture, Cranbrook Academy of Art
Master of Architecture, University of Cincinnati
Bachelor of Science in Architecture, University of Cincinnati

Academic and Professional Experience

Adjunct Instructor, University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture, January 2016-June 2016.
Adjunct Instructor, Lawrence Technological University, August 2014-June 2016.
Adjunct Instructor, UCDAAP, August 2011-June 2013.

Research Outputs

Situated Knowledge Utility and Emergence in Tai O Village: A living lab in the back-loop of COVID-19
Elkin, D. K., Leung, C. Y., Wang, X. & Wernli, M., 8 Sep 2021, (Accepted/In press) International Social Innovation Research Conference 2021: Enabling the change! Social innovation and enterprises for a better future. Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.

Between Transitional Centre-Hinterlands: assessing urban futures in Cape Town and Hong Kong
Louw, M., Bruyns, G. & Elkin, D. K., 31 May 2021.

Pixel City: School of Design 2020 Venice Biennale Contribution
Elkin, D. K., Bruyns, G. & Hasdell, P., 22 May 2021

Pixel City: The Hong Kong Collateral Event at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia
Elkin, D. K., Bruyns, G. & Hasdell, P., 22 May 2021

Tectonic Agency in Africa: Reinvigorating collective making through repair
Louw, M. & Elkin, D. K., 23 Apr 2021, (Accepted/In press) Interstices 21: Fixing. Twose, S., Douglas, C. & Gatley, J. (eds.). Wellington, NZ: Stout Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington

Projects

Awards

2021 Smart 50 Award. Elkin, Daniel Keith, 26 May 2021
Faculty/School Awards for Outstanding Achievement-Teaching (Team). With Giencke, Anneli (Recipient), Bruyns, G, & Hasdell, Peter (Recipient), Jul 2020