The Blue House Cluster

Over the past century, Hong Kong’s landscape has been redrawn from a rural fishing village to a cosmopolitan city. The highly-dense city is now made up of mainly soaring skyscrapers, trendy shopping malls and high-end residential buildings. Located at the heart of Hong Kong Island among a jungle of modern developments, the Blue House Cluster (BHC) is a rare surviving example of pre-war Chinese tenements witnessing the urbanization of the city.

Composed of Blue, Yellow and Orange House, the BHC is the government’s first revitalization project adopting the “Retain House and Tenant” approach in Hong Kong. This unique landmark witnesses the urbanization of the city. Amongst the three, Blue and Yellow House are accorded Grade 1 and 3 Historic Building respectively. The revitalization not only preserved the tangible and intangible heritage features but also promoted and sustained the local network and culture as a whole, thereby connecting and energizing the community significantly. The original residents’ living standards are largely improved with the restoration of the Cluster, and the community bond has also been preserved with care during the entire revitalization process through the various engagement initiatives. Moreover, interpersonal connections are anticipated to be further strengthened through the newly offered inter-building enhancements. Not only were the classic architectural features restored, the community has also witnessed social progresses, demographic changes and economic transformation of the city. Revitalization of this historic site helps redefine the city and inspires other embattled urban districts in the region and beyond.

In recognition of the unprecedented civic effort to protect marginalized local heritage in one of the world’s most high-pressured real estate markets, BHC was awarded with the Award of Excellence at the 2017 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation – which is the first local project winning the highest level of achievement from UNESCO, and shortlisted in Best Urban Regeneration Category in MIPIM Asia 2017.

Featured Awards

2017

2017

2017