「GUTS吉人吉事」是一個資源分享的創新平台，透過分享世界各地及本地案例，向公眾推廣地方營造的概念，一起從日常生活入手，活用城市中的閒置資源及空間。

在人煙稠密的城市，每一吋空間都彌足珍貴。當我們苦惱缺乏資源及空間的時候，只要認真細看周遭環境，便能發現其實有不少閒置的空間及資源，例如空置的店舖、公園及土地等。雖然這些地方容易讓人感到死寂，在活化計劃時難以重生，但我們希望用積極的態度去正視這個問題。

若然我們能夠建立一個平台，啓發公眾一起去思考每個閒置資源及空間的可能性，將能有效把閒置資源分配到有需要的人手上。我們相信善用空間資源是推動城市設計及規劃的重要元素，在千絲萬縷的社會問題下，我們可透過學習世界各地活用閒置資源的案例，思考每個活化空間資源的新方法。

「GUTS吉人吉事」由一口研究策動，團隊來自一群熱愛城市發展和喜歡探索公共空間的建築師、設計師、記者和修讀城市設計的學生等。

過去三年，一口設計 和一口舍群 聯合起動了「壹屋計劃」，而一口研究 團隊則在背後作閒置資源研究。在探討過程中，團隊發現大眾對活用資源的接受程度和彈性，十分取決於對地方營造的認識。與此同時，當社區和地方營造在香港萌芽，不少關心這個議題的朋友，卻缺乏一個平台，把相關資訊推及至普羅大眾。

有見及此，一口研究 希望透過「GUTS吉人吉事」創新平台，向不同界別分享研究內容和連結社區，結集大家的力量，發揮最大成效。GUTS 的英文解釋為「膽量」，喻意在空間資源問題上必須以新視覺和方法看待未來城市和社區發展。在中國語文裡，「空」和「凶」同音，為免令大眾覺得「空」的空間為不利和凶險，普遍習慣用「吉」代替，比喻吉利和祝福。團隊亦希望以「吉」作寄語，予我城注入正能量和開拓空間資源的力量。

願吉人有福。

"GUTS” stands for “Generative Utilization & Transformation of Spaces”. We aim to promote the better use of underutilized resources in our city, focusing on People, Time, Day, Shop and Places at different scales and physical settings. It is a knowledge-sharing platform to empower the citizens to learn from international and local advocates.

Our city has advanced through building with density. Sharing the same struggle with other developed cities, density has created a tight supply of resources. Yet, idling resources can be spotted across the city, especially in districts awaiting regeneration. We have learnt to develop fast, we forgot to learn to establish wisely and effectively with the neighbourhood. Idling resources, which can be a shop, a pocket park or a piece of land, have caused a significant negative impact on community development. Vacancy of space breaks the connection between the people in a neighbourhood which requires tens of years to be rebuilt. The third spaces in our city have more potential than we could have imagined if we start to take a different step with the community.

Mission of GUTS is to take a positive approach to look at the issue of idling resources by creating a platform for inspiration and knowledge-sharing. Everyone is the future city builder, and every one of us can initiate activation of spaces around us. From the many global case studies we are going to mention, the scale of resources is not the determining factor of the success of activation. GUTS team believes that each tiny resource could make a change and inject positive movement in the planning of our city.

“GUTS” team includes a group of passionate city-lovers from architecture, journalism, urban designers and more!!! Powered by One Bite Research, the idea of “GUTS” has evolved since the “Project House” initiative was started by One Bite Design and One Bite Social three years ago. When One Bite Research is working behind the scenes on the study of underutilised public resources for Project House, most findings and challenges are pointing to the lack of common knowledge and know-how in the community. While “placemaking” is becoming a hot topic in the city, a knowledge-sharing platform is necessary to create a common open source for everyone. GUTS believes learning from others could facilitate the city to explore our own methodology in placemaking.

GUTS means courage and fortitude. We use GUTS to symbolise the need for taking new steps and stamina to work towards the betterment of our city with new insights and community development knowledge. The pronunciation of ‘GUTS’ in Cantonese is also the same as ‘Luck’, representing our blessing to the city.

Trust your GUTS, best of Luck!