Choosing new use for round corner tong laus in Hong Kong : from the building regulations perspective

Abstract

As illustrated with demolition of the Tung Tak Pawn Shop in Wan Chai in 2015, the existence of pre-war Round Corner Tong Laus in Hong Kong has become rarer. It appears that only seven of them are still surviving. Dating back to the early 20th century, this type of Tong Lau was very common in accommodating Chinese immigrants. With such background, these heritage resources are crucial to the city not only because of their relationship with historical events, but also as they have given immigrants a safe and stable home, and have shaped their local identity. By conserving these Round Corner Tong Laus, to capture their inherited social virtues and architectural significances, the city is definitely more charming and appreciable as a result. However, given that the revitalization of such Tong Laus is a complex task in present Hong Kong, owners usually would rather demolish the Tong Laus and build new skyscrapers to gain more profit. A clear revitalization framework should be established in order to increase initiatives in conserving such precious Tong Laus. This paper investigates the adaptive reuse potential of Round Corner Tong Laus through the lens of the current building regulations in Hong Kong, which is identified as one of the most technically challenging parameters for conserving and revitalizing this built form. It is hoped that from this, a systematic and clear framework for owners to choose new uses for Round Corner Tong Laus can be established. Using the Corner House located at Yu Chau Street as a case study, it is hoped that concerns and confusions for revitalizing such Round Corner Tong Laus can be addressed. Such a revitalization framework might be further extended and applied to other heritage resources as well, to give the public a more concrete idea on how heritage revitalization can work in Hong Kong and that it is worth it.