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The weird and recycled world of Hong Kong's coolest design show (photos)

HONG KONG -- Artists created installations made (mostly) of trash in an old, disused dormitory for this year's Detour exhibition, which runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 11.
By Vanessa Ko, Contributor
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1 of 9 Vanessa Ko/ZDNET

The former Police Married Quarters, located a few blocks from Hong Kong's bustling financial district, once served as dormitories for police personnel. But the two buildings have been left empty for years, and they now sit behind closed gates with nary a visitor -- except during the next two weeks, when thousands will visit to see the design exhibition Detour 2011. Green-themed art installations and workshops populate the rooms on the first two floors, while the large courtyard sandwiched between the buildings offers plenty of space for sculptures and music performances.

In this photo, straws, plastic bottles and lights create a fiberoptic effect in one of the rooms.

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2 of 9 Vanessa Ko/ZDNET

Empty film cartridges (remember those?) fill the frames of these abstract portraits

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3 of 9 Vanessa Ko/ZDNET

Discarded wood pieces fashioned into interconnecting building material wind up a staircase behind rows of mailboxes

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4 of 9 Vanessa Ko/ZDNET

Several sculptures made of wood chips and yarn stand in the courtyard of the former police dormitory 

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5 of 9 Vanessa Ko/ZDNET

The stage for concerts, digital presentations and discussion forums is a kitschy imitation of an old Cantonese opera stage

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6 of 9 Vanessa Ko/ZDNET

If you thought an old laptop couldn't be used as a planter, think again

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7 of 9 Vanessa Ko/ZDNET

A few mannequins in an abandoned room and some swirly paper make an eerie fashion statement (especially if you go in the evening)

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8 of 9 Vanessa Ko/ZDNET

Visitors can walk through a glowing sculpture constructed out of plastic bottles

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9 of 9 Vanessa Ko/ZDNET

U.K. designer Anna Garforth created "The Atomic Nature of Matter" with cardboard cubes

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