Oct 1 2009
The Commissioner for Heritage's Office of the HKSAR Development Bureau is now inviting proposals from non- profit-making organizations for the second batch of historic buildings under its Revitalizing Historic Buildings through Partnership Scheme.
As one of the active industry associations in Hong Kong, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors ("RICS") welcomes such proactive approach taken by the Government and will be contributing to the program in collaboration with the Government.
The scheme aims to preserve and put historic buildings to innovative use, transform them into unique cultural landmarks, promote active public participation in the conservation of historic buildings and in particular create jobs at the district level. This echoes the objective set by RICS when historical buildings are concerned, "RICS welcomes the revitalization of historic buildings (second phase) so as to provide adaptive re-use of old buildings as well as to make use of the expertise of NGOs and to introduce social enterprise," said Mr. Ben Chong, Chairman of Building Surveying Professional Group Committee, RICS Hong Kong.
Mr. Albert So, Chairman of RICS Hong Kong, commented, "Although the idea to revitalize old buildings sounds quite new to local practitioners, there are a lot of case studies from overseas markets which can offer us with better understanding. RICS can offer the Government with plenty of overseas' successful showcases and assist throughout the planning and implementation stage."
Some of the overseas' showcases worth taking reference from include:
1) The Urban Development Corporation in Liverpool has successfully regenerated the abandoned Grade I Victorian Warehouseing in Liverpool's docks and turned it to a mixed use development incorporating shops, offices, hotels and residential with a link into the city centre and new shopping centre.
2) Bermondsey Square, London, which is a mixed use redevelopment project incorporating a market, shops, residential accommodation a hotel and offices - all focused on the creative industries and aiming to be 'cool'. Old buildings were refurbished, new ones built, pavement cafes were incorporated.
3) Leeds, UK, a city centre industrial refurbishment scheme, where old industrial building have been transformed into a mixed use development, including a visual media centre, now occupied by creative industries such as architects, graphic designers and computer games manufacturers.
Batch II historical buildings covers: the Old Tai Po Police Station (re- launched), the Blue House Cluster, Former Fanling Magistracy, Old House at Wong Uk Village, and Stone Houses. With all the technical and financial supports provided by the Government, RICS Hong Kong is confident that the Government is going to receive overwhelming response from the NGOs and professional institutes.
Source: http://www.ricsasia.org/