VIVA bLUE HOUSE WANCHAI ADAPTIVE RE-USE OF HERITAGE BUILDINGS IN HONG KONG, A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS KEEP COMMUNITY SPIRIT ALIVE A future for the past: How to make it work: defining the dream creating the team & format Address: 72-74A Stone Nullah Lane (Blue Hse), 2-8 Process & partnership Hing Wan Street (Yellow Hse), 8 King Sing Street (Or- The St. James’ Settlement (SJS) is Hong Kong’s premier provider of social ser- ange Hse), Wanchai VISION: Rehabilitate the existing residents, vices to the needy originally established in Stone Nullah Lane in 1849. They- Old Use: Residence, shops local networks and cultural heritage of the collaborated with the Wanchai District council, academics and the local New Use: Residence and community to frame a community-led revitalisation concept in 2006 for the multi-functional services Wai Chai Blue House Cluster through resto- Urban Renewal Authority (URA). In 2009, the SJS, along with co-applicants complex ration and revitalisation. Community Cultural Concern and Heritage Hong Kong Foundation, devel- Historic Grading:1 oped the Viva Blue House Project (VBH) that was selected under Batch II of Area: 2 369 sq m the Revitalisation Scheme by the Development Bureau (DEVB). Cost: HK$75.4 M 1900 2000 2010 Development context Construction of Yellow House ber of Commerce for Fishmongers) School, Yat Chong College, Cham (Wah To Temple, Kang Ham Free 1920s: House school; construction of Orange 1950s: placed by osteopathy clinic 1960s: the Government 1978: Housing Society (HKHS) thority (URA) and the Hong Kong ect by the Urban Renewal Au House Cluster Preservation Proj 2006: Revitalisation Scheme 2009: multi-functional services complex transform the Cluster into a Blue House Project selected to 2010 2016: The Government provided funding (HK$75.4 M) over 2012-16 for essential structural and building works and a start-up cost (HK$4.2M) to meet the oper- : St James’ Settlement’s Viva Transferal of buildings to Implementation of the Blue Expect to complete Operator: Inclusion in Batch II of the Construction of Blue House Established martial arts Martial arts school re ating deficits for the initial two years. Viva Blue House Consortium Funding Partner: HKSAR Government Commercial sustainability Development Partners: St. James’ Settlement (SJS) The VBH Project is self-financing. It will cover the cost of building mainte- Community Cultural Con- nance during a tenancy period of six years. Income streams come from cern, Heritage Hong Kong Foundation, Development - tenants renting the commercial and residential spaces, fees from the - Bereau (DEVB) - museum, events, guided tours and the “Friends of Blue House” association. The Blue House attracts over 100 000 visitors a year and expects to break Architect: - LWK & Partner (HK) even by the third year. Building history The process: celebratory moments & sleepless nights The Blue House Cluster (Blue, Yellow, Orange Houses) showcases the typical con- figuration of the early 20th century Chinese tenement buildings (‘Tong Lau’), where shops occupy the ground floor with residential quarters on the upper floors. The Wah To Hospital and a temple that served the Deity of Chinese Medicine used Key success factors to occupy the site in the late 19th century. In the 1920’s, the shophouses were con- structed to accommodate Chinese tenants and for a variety of purposes - from an • Participatory bottom-up approach to revitalisation championed by an NGO strongly trust- ed by the local community English School to an osteopathy clinic. • Collaboration of the district authority, NGO and passionate academics to work closely with the local residents and neighbourhood throughout the revitalisation project • Commitment to upgrade and revive a dilapidated building while maintaining its original Revitalisation concept function, architecture and residents • Promotion of sustainable rental policy and fair processes to identify new tenants that con- • Upgrades housing conditions for existing tenants and restores character defin- tribute to the human capital of the Blue House Cluster ing elements of the building fabric • Adaptively converts space into a multi-functional service complex that per- petuates the wisdom and cultural heritage of the community • Preserves intangible cultural knowledge through the establishment of social Key challenges enterprises (Dessert House and Vegetarian restaurant serving traditional treats) and educational services (Hong Kong House of Stories) • To avoid temporary relocation of the residents, a phased approach to the renovation pro- • Encourages social networks and skills exchange at the Community Oriented cess had to be adopted Mutual Economy Hall • Tireless efforts to meet building ordinance requirements and other regulations while chang- ing as little as possible the defining elements of the heritage site The Result: what brings the new future? Keeping heritage alive The residents and people in the direct neighbourhood open markets. The dessert house and vegetarian restau- Keeping the people, telling the have fully embraced the Blue House Cluster as a centre rant keep the food tradition alive, while the Livelihood for community activities. All events are self-initiated and Museum contributes vividly to the neighbourhood’s past stories, keeping the place. community driven, including the mid-autumn festival, kids by showcasing over 400 pieces of objects donated by classes, music nights, art jamming, movie screenings and local residents. Social / Environmental Cultural Economic Living conditions of the original residents of The story of Blue House today is the story of 71 jobs have been created during renova- the Blue House Cluster will be improved Blue House yesterday. The Blue House has tion, of which 17 FT and 7 PT positions were while remaining affordable. Reintegration made Stone Nullah Lane into an increas- created for underprivileged groups in the of social resources into the neighbourhood ingly popular destination among locals and local community. Visitors attracted to the will make the social networks in the Wan- visitors looking for a vibrant, diverse and local area will bring vitality to the local chai community stronger. charming leisure destination. economy. jao tsung-i academy LAI CHI KOK ADAPTIVE RE-USE OF HERITAGE BUILDINGS IN HONG KONG, A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS CULTURAL SERENITY ON A REMOTE HILLTOP A future for the past: How to make it work: defining the dream creating the team & format Address: 800 Castle Peak Rd, Lai Chi Kok Process & partnership Old Use: Psychiatric hospital New Use: Cultural centre The Hong Kong Institution for Promotion of Chinese Culture (HKIPCC) was se- and heritage hotel VISION: Create a unique cultural landmark lected by the Development Bureau (DEVB) to renovate the former Lai Chi Historic Grading: 3 that contributes to the renaissance of the Kok Hospital into a Chinese cultural centre under Batch I of the Govern- Area: 32 000 sq m ment’s Revitalisation Scheme in 2009. Cost: $HK274.9M Chinese culture around the world while en- riching the life of Hong Kong people. Development context The Government provided funding (HK$270.31 M) for building works and a one-off grant (HK$4.6M) to meet the initial operating cost. 1887 1900 2000 2010 Operator: The Hong Kong Institution for Promotion of Chinese Cul- loon customs station 1887 bourer’s quarters 1904: station for infectious diseases 1908: 1920: infectious diseases 1938: for psychiatric patients 1975: Home 2000: 2004: alisation Scheme 2008: nese culture academy to transform the hospital into a Chi Chinese Culture (HKIPCC) selected 2009: 2011: 2012: 2014: Commercial sustainability ture (HKIPCC) : Construction of the Kow Funding Partner: Replaced by the Chinese la Replaced by a quarantine Replaced by a prison Replaced by a hospital for Replaced by a sanatorium Replaced by HACare HK Institution for Promotion of Opening of Jao Tsung-I Academy Opening of Heritage Lodge Buildings vacated Inclusion in Batch I of Revit Construction began Income is generated from the rental of conference facilities, hostel rooms HKSAR Government and F&B outlet on the premises. The gallery, museum and grounds with Development Partners: walking trails are freely accessible to the public. The operation aims to Development Bureau break even in three years. (DEVB) Architect: P&T Architects and Engi- neers Ltd - - - - The process: celebratory moments & sleepless nights Building history Key success factors The site served as a customs station at the end of the 19th century, a quarantine station in 1908 and a prison in 1920. With the outbreak of small pox in 1937, the site • Unique pairing of a cultural landmark with a hostel that provides accommodation for over- became a hospital for infectious diseases. It later became a residential rehabilita- seas and local exchange groups who participate in the programmes held at the Academy tion centre for long-term psychiatric patients and was finally closed in 2004. The • Enhancement of public visitation via free-of-charge access to the exhibition areas, infor- Hospital compound comprises a cluster of 15 low rise utilitarian buildings. mation centre, reading room, Chinese courtyards, covered outdoor performance area and outdoor activities Revitalisation concept Key challenges • Readapts the old hospital grounds into a centre that promotes Chinese culture and cultural exchange in honour of Jao Tsung-I, the world-renowned sinologist, • HKIPCC had little experience in overseeing a renovation project of this scale and in operat- poet, artist and calligrapher ing