Notable
Features |
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Reuse
of the existing building, avoiding total demolition of the building and
minimizing the generation of demolition waste. |
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Rehabilitation
of an old fort to accommodate the museum of coastal defense. |
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Reuse
of bricks from the Sai Ying Pun old mental hospital. |
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Basic
Information |
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Location: Lei
Yue Mun, Hong Kong. |
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Architects: Architectural
Services Department, Kenneth Tam. |
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Contractor:
Leighton Asia. |
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Conservation
cost: HK$273
million |
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Date of original
building construction: 1887 |
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Project and
construction date: 1993, construction 1997/1999. |
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Site Area: 12.9 Ha |
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History
of the Building |
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Built by the British
in 1887 to defend its interests against the hawkish French and Russians, it
was also the site of a fierce World War II battle between the British,
Canadian and Indian soldiers entrusted with the task of defending Hong Kong
and 20,000 Japanese soldiers.
The
site had been used as a holiday camp since it was handed over to the Urban
Council in 1987 but was otherwise closed to the public. The Civil Aviation
Department and Hong Kong Observatory also had equipment there.
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Description
of the Building |
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Apart
from a large courtyard and various tunnels and passages, the 1,600 m2
redoubt has more than ten underground casemates which were originally used as
the soldiers’ quarters, kitchen and ammunition store.
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Overview
of the new Building |
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This
project reuses the building structure of an old fort to accommodate the museum
of coastal defense. Almost no major demolition was required and additional
access and facilities were provided to the magnificent site. New structures
and facilities include a lift tower for visitor access (which is also used to
channel cables and pipelines to the redoubt, thus minimizing excavation
works), footbridge and road access, a viewing platform and a café. The
existing building containing a network of underground chambers used as
exhibition rooms is covered with a tension structure, which provide a great
volume for the museum preserving the original architecture of the building.
The tension structure is supported by 100 mini piles driven to a depth of 14m
at carefully chosen spots around the historical site. This project also reuses
old bricks from the Sai Ying Pun old mental hospital, to repair the battery
brick wall. The site provides promenades and great sea view, facing one of the
accesses of the Harbour. |
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