Everyday I walk by the city's very first police station, prison and courthouse, dating back to the late 1800's. Each of these structures are within a walled compound which has secured some of the last remaining British colonial buildings in Hong Kong. Empty, boarded up and slowly deteriorating, I have often envisioned how the village like compound could easily be transformed into a lifestyle center filled with museums, restaurants, local shops and outdoor courtyards, perfect for enjoying a coffee from a local sidewalk cafe. But with shortage of land in Hong Kong I knew the site was simply to valuable to be redeveloped as-is. But earlier this summer this happened...
 |
| Scaffolding covering Central Police Station, Hollywood Road |
I did some investigating and guess what? It's happening! No, not demolition BUT A FULL RESTORATION!
A partnership between Hong Kong government and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, aims to transform one of the largest remaining clusters of historically significant buildings into a center for heritage, contemporary art and leisure with access for the city's residents to enjoy. The project includes the conservation of 16 buildings of historical and architectural significance and several open spaces on the approximately 3 and half acre site.
Among the buildings in the walled compound is the site's earliest datable remaining building, D Hall, which was a prison erected in 1858. Also, the Central Magistracy which was constructed between 1912 and 1914 and opened for its judicial sessions in 1915 as the city's first symbol of the power of the court. The Police Headquarters Block was completed in 1919 and widely recognized as the public facade of the Central Police Station on Hollywood Rd. To support the activities on the revitalized site, two new buildings will be built to provide additional floor space for contemporary art and exhibition areas. The two new structures will help reduce major alterations to the historic quality of the existing buildings. Both old and new structures will provide 300,000 square feet of interior space and the old Prison Yard and Parade Ground will provide over 40,000 square feet of outdoor pedestrian space. After completion, by the end of 2015, the site will provide a new venue for restaurants, cafes and shops, heritage museums, art galleries, theaters along with outdoor leisure spaces. Along with Soho, Noho, LKF, Sheung Wan, the city will soon have a whole new neighborhood... before you know it "CPS" will be rolling of our tongues!
I will post updates throughout the progress of this huge undertaking. But for now, here are images of the site.
.JPG)
 |
| Central Police Station, 1919 |
 |
| Central Magistracy Courthouse, 1915 |
 |
| Prison, 1858 |
 |
| D Hall |
