6 Hong Kong historic buildings repurposed into modern, artistic spaces

PMQ, which stands for Police Married Quarters, used to be the site of Queen’s College in 1941 before it was reconstructed into a dormitory for police officers after World War II when the school buildings were severely destroyed. Being the first of its kind to provide official residence for married officers and their families, the PMQ provided 140 single room units and 28 double room units for the officers working in the nearby Central police station. Derelict for a decade, the venue was even used as a location for a Chinese horror film. In 2010, the complex was listed as a Grade III historic building in Hong Kong to honour its historical significance, and soon after that the revitalisation and renovation began. 

Since 2014, PMQ has transformed into a contemporary creative hub that we know today. It showcases a mix of creative shops and businesses, a selection of fashion labels, as well as cafés and bars. The original foundation of the former Victoria College is still there, and to promote its history, there's a tunnel that allows visitors to go through the foundation. 

The site of Camlux Hotel was previously the manufacturing home for the Hong Kong premium brand Camel vacuum flask for over two and half decades. The factory was at the forefront of manufacturing and thus accommodating the machinery was indeed an engineering feat. Not only did the building have an industrial-scale glass furnace weighing over 100 tonnes on the third floor, but there were also metal pressing machines, paint spray shops, plastic injection moulding facilities and many others, all carefully arranged in a relatively small space.

Today, this specially optimised building has been transformed into the Camlux Hotel which still maintains its factory aesthetic, serving as both a unique spatial experience and a homage to engineering. With 185 rooms across six floors, the hotel's guests' rooms display artworks featuring the Camel products in contemporary modern designs, and Camel vacuum flask fixtures are peppered in various details of the hotel. You can learn about Camel's 75 years of history at the exhibition located just in the lobby and appreciate the importance and symbolism of Camel House as a Hong Kong-only story of success.

Tai Kwun is a compound comprising the former Central Police Station, Victoria Prison and the Central Magistracy. It was one of the earliest low-rise structures built under British colonial rule. This historical site was left abandoned for years after the police station and prison were decommissioned in 2004 and 2006 respectively.

In 2008, the government announced a plan to revitalise the compound, and in 2018, this unique cluster of low-rise buildings re-emerged as Tai Kwun – a cultural hub in Central with exhibition spaces, shops, and excellent dining options.

Originally a textile factory in the 1950s, The Mills in Tsuen Wan has undergone a significant facelift to re-emerge as an art and design hub that preserves the city’s industrial history. As textile manufacturing served as the base for Hong Kong's early developments in the 1950s, The Mills’ revitalisation project issued by the Nan Fung Group is both a monument to Hong Kong's history and an inspiration for future development. Today, The Mills houses cafes, restaurants, local designer shops, and a lot of creative spaces worthy of a snap on the 'gram. 

Located in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, 1881 Heritage is a 130-year-old historical building that served as the former Marine Police Headquarters from 1880 to 1996. A victorian architecture with rich colonial characteristics, this compound – except for the main block of the old Kowloon fire station – has been declared a monument under the Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance since 1994.

In 2019, the restored colonial-style building transformed into a cultural and shopping landmark on Canton Road. It reopened with new restaurants, a boutique hotel, and an array of luxurious boutiques.