Wan Chai Market

The Wan Chai Market was constructed in 1937.It is located at 264 Queen's Road East Wan Chai,Hong Kong Island [ [http://www.fehd.gov.hk/pleasant_environment/tidy_market/Markets_CFC_list.html List of FEHD Public Markets and Cooked Food] ] . It is a Grade III Historic Building. [http://www.arch.cuhk.edu.hk/serverb/resch/livearch/projects/WanchaiMarket/Wan%20Chai%20Market%20study_final.pdf A Study on Historical and Architectural Context of Wan Chai Market] ]

Its architectural style is influenced by Streamline Moderne (also known as Streamlined Moderne or Art Moderne) architecture, a popular style of building of the 1930s. It is often erroneously referred to as a Bauhaus-style building. [http://www.fso-tela.gov.hk/lib/locations_details.cfm?Photo_Num=00552 Film Service Office: Wan Chai Market] ]

History

During Japanese occupation, the basement of the Wan Chai Market was occupied by the Japanese troop for the storage of corpses. [http://www.arch.cuhk.edu.hk/serverb/resch/livearch/projects/WanchaiMarket/Wan%20Chai%20Market%20study_final.pdf A Study on Historical and Architectural Context of Wan Chai Market] ]

In 1961, the Market underwent a renovation to improve its facilitiesand environment so that the Market could compete with other market places in the district. [http://www.arch.cuhk.edu.hk/serverb/resch/livearch/projects/WanchaiMarket/Wan%20Chai%20Market%20study_final.pdf A Study on Historical and Architectural Context of Wan Chai Market] ]

The Land Development Corporation obtained approval from the Executive Council to acquire land in Wan Chai, including this site, for redevelopment as part of an urban renewal project. A consortium was formed comprising Chinese Estates (40%), Kwong Sang Hong (25%), Chi Cheung Investment (20%) and Peregrine Group (15%). [Joshua Fellman, [http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=&art_id=32104&sid=&con_type=1&d_str=19961005&sear_year=1996 LDC gets approval for Wan Chai site development] , The Standard, October 05, 1996]

Chinese Estates, controlled by Joseph Lau Luen-hung, agreed with the Urban Renewal Authority in 1996 to jointly redevelop the site into a luxury residential-commercial complex. Phase two of the project, which requires the demolition of the building, was scheduled to start early 2008 and completion by mid-2011. [Una So & Stephanie Tong, [http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=2&art_id=50548&sid=14791822&con_type=1&d_str=20070804&sear_year=2007 Hopes raised for historic market] , The Standard, August 04, 2007]

In 2007, the Urban Renewal Authority and the Development Bureau jointly announced that the facade and the front part of the historic market building will be preserved in the redevelopment project; the front part will be used as a shopping centre. A residential building will stand at the back of the market building. [ [http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=59021&sid=16838197&con_type=1&d_str=20071221&sear_year=2007 Wan Chai facelift to save historic market] , The Standard, December 21, 2007]

Facilities

There is a basement and staff quarters in the building. [http://www.fso-tela.gov.hk/lib/locations_details.cfm?Photo_Num=00552 Film Service Office: Wan Chai Market] ]

In Popular Culture

In the successful video game by Eidos, "Deus Ex", Wan Chai Market is used as the basis for a portion of the game.

Gallery

References