Former Hong Kong prison and police station turned arts complex to open this month after US$485 million, eight-year restoration
With city’s biggest heritage conservation project, covering 16 buildings of former Central Police Station and Victoria Prison, some of them 150 years old, nearly complete, public will have their first chance to look inside this month
Hongkongers can finally visit the restored Central Police Station and Victoria Prison compound. With the city’s most expensive and exacting heritage restoration project nearing completion after years, the cultural complex will open to the public on May 29.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s charities trust has spent HK$3.8 billion (US$485 million) so far on converting its 16 buildings – the oldest built 150 years ago – into a centre for heritage and contemporary art called Tai Kwun, the club’s chief executive officer said on Wednesday.
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“Our purpose is to conserve and restore the heritage site, showcase best practice in conservation, and promote and develop the arts in Hong Kong,” said Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.
The 13,600 square metre compound between Hollywood Road and Chancery Lane, Central district is in one of the areas of Hong Kong Island first settled by British colonists.
Its conservation and conversion is the biggest adaptive reuse of heritage yet undertaken in Hong Kong. Most of the city’s historic colonial architecture had been bulldozed for redevelopment well before the British government handed it back to China in 1997.
