Liberal Studies Teaching Kit for Senior Secondary Curriculum Hong Kong Today Conservation & Revitalization of Historic Buildings [Teacher notes] Organizer Sponsor Research Team Contents Liberal Studies | Preamble Conservation and Revitalization of Historic Buildings Conservation and Revitalization Teaching plan i Lesson 1: Conservation and Revitalization of Historical Buildings 1.1 What is Conservation? What is Revitalization? 07 1.2 Methods of Building Conservation 08 1.2.1 Preservation 09 1.2.2 Maintenance 09 1.2.3 Restoration 10 1.2.4 Reconstruction 11 1.2.5 Adaptation 13 Summary, Key words and Further reading 15 Class activity: Role Play 16 Disclaimer Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region provides funding support to the project only, and does not otherwise take part in the project. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials/events (or by members of the project team) do not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. © 2012 Hong Kong Institute of Architects Topic 08 Conservation and Revitalization of Historic Buildings Liberal Studies | Major teaching areas Interdisciplinary teaching areas Liberal Studies: Module 2 Hong Kong Today Visual Arts: • Theme 1: Quality of life • Visual Arts Appreciation and Criticism in context of Historic Buildings Conservation and Revitalization • Theme 2: Rule of law and socio-political participation • Theme 3: Identity Visual Arts Making Design and Applied Technology: Related teaching areas • Strand 3 Value and Impact Liberal Studies: Module 6 Energy Technology and the Environment • Theme 2: The environment and sustainable development Learning objectives • To learn the definitions of conservation and revitalization • To learn the common methods of building conservation • To evaluate case studies demonstrating how buildings can be preserved • To understand various perspectives and concerns about conservation through activities Teaching plan Lesson Contents Lesson 1 • 1.1 Definitions of conservation and revitalization Conservation and • Discussion on the importance of conservation revitalization • 1.2 Introduction of 5 main conservation methods • Discussion on pros and cons of each method using local cases Class activity: role play • Discussion on various concerns over conservation through role play • Summary of views raised by students during role play as conclusion of the topic This topic is related to Topic 09: ‘Conservation Policy in Hong Kong‘ and Topic 10: ‘Revitalizing Historic Buildings in Hong Kong‘. i Liberal Studies | Conservation and Revitalization of Historic Buildings Conservation and Revitalization Lesson 1 Conservation and Revitalization of Historic Buildings 01 Lesson 1 Conservation and Revitalization of Historic Buildings Introduction: do you know these historic buildings? Liberal Studies | t Kom Tong Hall, Mid-Levels (Sun Yat-sen Museum) - Former residence of Ho Kom Tong and the headquarters of the Church Conservation and Revitalization of Historic Buildings Conservation and Revitalization of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Status: declared monument Year of completion: 1894 Architectural style: Edwardian The Edwardian style was popularised in Britain during 1910s. Key features include a rough exterior surface (rustication) on the ground floor and colonnades on upper floors. t Blue House, Wanchai - Chinese medicine clinic on the ground floor and residential units on upper floors Status: grade 1 historic building Year of completion: 1920s Architectural style: Balcony-type tong lau Tong Laus are Hong Kong shop houses. On the ground floor, there is usually a shop, and narrow residential units fill the upper floor. Teaching Tips More information about Tong Lau architecture can be found under Topic 01: ‘Culture in Vernacular Architecture’. 02 Liberal Studies | Conservation and Revitalization of Historic Buildings Conservation and Revitalization p Tsang Tai Uk, Shatin - Walled village Status: Grade 1 historic building Year of completion: 1867 Architectural style: Hakka walled village, Guangdong vernacular architecture Hakka walled village is a subset of Lingnan architecture. The building usually occupies a rectangular lot and is made of green bricks, with wok yee gable wall. Teaching Tips More information on Walled Village architecture can be found under Topic 01: ‘Culture in Vernacular Architecture’. Further reference can be made under Science Topic 01: Forces in Buildings- A Historical Review u Hong Kong City Hall, Central - Cultural complex including a public library, a concert hall, a theatre, an exhibition hall, marriage registrar, restaurants and offices Status: Grade 1 historic building Year of completion: 1960s Architectural style: Modernist In contrast with classical architecture, modernist buildings are asymmetrical in form, with exposed structures. The form of the building is determined by its functions. 03 [Discussion] Read the following information and discuss the outcomes of the 1881 Heritage revitalization project. The original main building Liberal Studies | Conservation and Revitalization of Historic Buildings Conservation and Revitalization The Former Marine Police Headquarters Compound before revitalization © Curry Tse p The Former Marine Police Headquarters Compound, Tsim Sha Tsui (now the 1881 Heritage) was converted into a hotel with shops while certain historical features, such as the time ball, tower were retained. Background information Neoclassicism is a movement of the mid-18 century. Its architecture Status: Declared monument employs features similar to Greek Year of completion: 1884 buildings, such as classical orders and Architectural style: Neoclassical open porches with pediments. Use: (2009 - Present) Tourist Attraction, hotel and retail shops Major events in the revitalization process: May Flying Snow, a subsidiary of Cheung Kong (Holdings) was awarded the tender for the site on a 50-year land 2003 grant at HK$352.8 million. Dec There were 192 trees on the site. The developer agreed to plant 92 trees to compensate for the 149 lost. To 2003 make way for the widening of Canton Road, a century-old granite retaining wall was demolished. May Cheung Kong unveiled a scheme to convert the former Marine Police headquarters into a hotel and retail 2004 complex. Nov Conservationists found Cheung Kong wiped out the original landscape at the site and transplanted 2006 century-old trees into huge pots. Source: South China Morning Post <http://topics.scmp.com/news/hk-news-watch/article/Error-nets-HK15b-bonus-for-developer>. Changes of the former Marine Police Headquarters: Part of the site Current situation Main building Adapted and reused as a hotel, the outer wall is changed from white and blue colour into cream colour Granite retaining wall Dismantled for the widening of Canton Road and re- stored on Kowloon Park Drive Tsim Sha Tsui Hill (underneath the Main Building) Wiped out and replaced by a retail complex Signal tower (Time ball tower) Retained Stable Block Adapted and reused as a restaurant 192 trees 24 are kept and 19 transplanted 04 The Burra Charter (1979) originally provided basic principles and procedures to be followed in conservation projects in Australia. Because of its usefulness and practicability, the Antiquities and Monuments Office often refers to the articles in the Burra Charter as guidelines on conserving heritage places. ‘Conservation requires the retention of an appropriate visual setting and other relationships that contribute to the cultural significance of the place. New construction, demolition, intrusions or other changes which would adversely affect the setting or relationships are not appropriate.’ - Article 8, Burra Charter ‘New work such as additions to the place may be acceptable where it does not distort or obscure the cultural significance of the place, or detract from its interpretation and appreciation. New work may be sympathetic if its siting, bulk, form, scale, character, colour, texture and material are similar to the existing fabric, but imitation should be avoided.’ Liberal Studies | - Article 22.1, Burra Charter 1. What were the original functions of 1881 Heritage? Can you guess its original functions from its current form of Historic Buildings Conservation and Revitalization and appearance? 2. A modern shopping mall with classical motifs has been built where Tsim Sha Tsui Hill (underneath the main building) was wiped out. Do you think this is appropriate? Possible perspectives 1. It was the Marine Police Headquarters from 1881 to 1996. 2. For: It is a successful revitalization project because it converted the site into a cultural and shopping landmark in Hong Kong. This will bring huge economical benefits and stimulate local tourism. Besides, the new setting of the 1881 Heritage is compatibly integrated into the urban area after revitalization. Against: The revitalization project fails to conserve the historic and cultural significances of the Former Marine Police Headquarters. According to Article 8 of the Burra Charter, Tsim Sha Tsui Hill was a major element reflecting the historic relationship of the site , and it should not have been destroyed. The Headquarters was built there because the elevated landscape had the superiority to monitor and control the harbour. The demolition of the hill is irreversible so it is inappropriate. According to Article 22.1, the mall replacing the hill cannot show the historic significance so it ‘detracts from its interpretation and appreciation’. The