Everybody's Talking About Tai Kwun

Hong Kong has a new cultural hub with the revitalisation of the Central Police Station.

- Melissa Stevens

An ambitious project to revitalise the Central Police Station has come to fruition with the opening of the Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts, creating an exciting new precinct for Hong Kong’s art scene.

Tai Kwun, which translates to “big station”, is the colloquial name used by police officers and the public alike to refer to the former police headquarters and the surrounding compound – the former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison.

The oldest structure dates to 1864, and its heritage significance was officially recognised in 1995 when the compound buildings were listed as Declared Monuments. The complex was in use in different forms until 2006, when it was decided its prime location should be preserved as a public space of benefit for all.

The biggest restoration project in Hong Kong’s history began in 2010 when the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Hong Kong Government joined forces to return the 16 buildings that form the complex to their original state. The project’s lead designers were Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron, who had previously worked on Tate Modern, and the heritage architects were Purcell, who had worked on St Paul’s Cathedral.

Where possible, original materials were restored and reinstated; when that wasn’t possible, replacements were fabricated that were as close to the originals as possible. Two new buildings – JC Contemporary and JC Cube, an art gallery and performance space respectively – were carefully designed to be sympathetic to the site.