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Tai Kwun: A space that soothes and stimulates

Kilian Chan: “I really enjoy every part of Tai Kwun. For me, this is a space for people to catch their breath in Central.”

Kilian Chan can’t recall how many times he has visited Tai Kwun. Sometimes he goes there for concerts or exhibitions. Other times, to meet friends at the restaurants there. “I really enjoy every part of Tai Kwun. For me, this is a space for people to catch their breath in Central,” says Kilian.

Central resident Kilian Chan likes Tai Kwun for giving the public a space to catch their breath in Central.

Kilian grew up around Central and Sheung Wan and still lives in the neighbourhood. Aside from his day job in finance, he is an amateur cellist who loves the arts, architecture, and classical music. As a child, he was drawn to the elegant neoclassical building on Hollywood Road on his way to school, though he had no idea what kind of place it was back then.

For more than 180 years, these buildings have borne witness to significant chapters of Hong Kong’s history. The former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison were listed as Declared Monuments in 1995. In 2008, the Hong Kong SAR Government and The Hong Kong Jockey Club announced a joint partnership to revitalise the Central Police Station compound in a not-for-profit model. The site includes heritage buildings, two new buildings – JC Cube and JC Contemporary – and several outdoor spaces – Parade Ground, Prison Yard and Laundry Steps – with a mix of restaurants and shops that together create a lively art, cultural and leisure destination for all to enjoy.

After a decade of conservation and revitalisation, Tai Kwun – Centre for Heritage and Arts officially opened to the public in 2018. The meticulously restored historic buildings have drawn streams of visitors since. Tai Kwun invites the public to go in for a stroll, take a break under the giant mango tree or relax in the Parade Ground. In 2019, Tai Kwun received the Award of Excellence in the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. This is the highest honour of the prestigious Awards, recognising the project’s revitalisation efforts.

Kilian Chan grew up around Central and Sheung Wan. Ever since Tai Kwun opened, he has been going there regularly for concerts, exhibitions, or to meet friends.
Central resident Kilian Chan likes Tai Kwun for giving the public a space to catch their breath in Central.
The Central Police Station Compound, conserved and revitalised by the Club, opened as Tai Kwun - Centre for Heritage and Arts in 2018. It is the largest surviving cluster of heritage buildings in Hong Kong and the Club has spent 10 years on the revitalisation project. It also received the highest Award of Excellence in 2019 at the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation. Today, the meticulously restored historic buildings attract visitors from far and wide.

“In land-scarce Hong Kong, every inch of space must be used for something.”

“In land-scarce Hong Kong, every inch of space must be used for something,” says Kilian. “But Tai Kwun is low density. It has kept the spacious courtyards and I love the pleasant vibes.” Seated on a courtyard bench, Kilian soaks in the weight of the century-old buildings and the energy of contemporary cultural activities. He knows this is where the city’s past and future meet.

The Laundry Steps is a lively destination for the arts, culture and leisure.

Did you know?

As the largest surviving heritage site in Hong Kong, Tai Kwun comprises 16 historic buildings built between 1862 and 1931. The complex consists of buildings of the Victoria Prison, Central Magistracy and Central Police Station (including the Barrack Block, Police Headquarters Block and other police station buildings). The Barrack Block and Police Headquarters Block are both examples of neoclassical architecture, with the former marked by elegant symmetry and fine arches, while the red brickwork and Doric columns of the latter make it the grandest building of the complex. The Central Magistracy features concrete pillars and granite retaining walls, creating an ambience of solemn grandeur.

In a bid to preserve the precious heritage, the Club brought together professional groups and individuals from various disciplines such as architecture, archaeology, and paint analysis to expertly restore the historic structures over the course of ten years. The historic buildings have been meticulously conserved to the highest standard, with unfailing attention to authenticity, while serving new purposes, such as exhibition spaces and performance venues.

After a decade of conservation and revitalisation, Tai Kwun – Centre for Heritage and Arts officially opened to the public in 2018.
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