Social News
Written by: Zhong Yan
2021-05-15 14:30
Last update date: 2021-05-15 14:30
Standing at the intersection of Nathan Road and Austin Road in Jordan and crossing the road, it is not difficult to notice the pale yellow tenement buildings with long terraces on the corners.
The tenement building at No. 190 Nathan Road has a history of at least 84 years and was rated as a third-class historical building.
However, recently the Buildings Department issued a notice to the Owners' Corporation of nearby buildings, stating that it had approved the demolition of the entire building at No. 190 Nathan Road. This three-level building has been damaged by the years or lost to urban development.
Li Haoran, a former member of the Antiquity Advisory Council who is familiar with the history of the tenement house, and associate professor of architectural conservation at the University of Hong Kong, believes that the tenement building is an art-deco architectural style and is even a corner building. It is recommended that the Gu Zhehui re-evaluate, and regret that there are still pre-war tenement buildings facing the crisis of demolition.
"Hong Kong 01" is inquiring with the tenement owner Dasheng Real Estate Development, the Development Bureau and the Buildings Department.
190 Nathan Road was recognized as a Grade 3 historic building in 2018. It is one of the 1,444 historic buildings in Hong Kong. It was also included in the list of 8,803 historic buildings in Hong Kong published by the Office of Historic Sites earlier.
The Antiquities Office introduced that No. 190 Nathan Road was built before 1937. It is a 4-storey building whose design is influenced by decorative arts and neoclassicalism and has regional cultural relic value.
This tenement building in Jordan has been held by Da Sang Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. of the late well-known businessman Ma Jincan since the 1970s. It has been rented out on the ground floor and the first floor is used as a commercial shop. At present, the whole building is sold by commercial tenants. Masks, upstairs is the Lego building block shop.
Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor, Chen Ka-long, pointed out that the nearby building owners' committee received a notice from the Buildings Department that the Architectural Services Department approved the demolition of the entire building at 190 Nathan Road.
Under the current Antiquities and Monuments Ordinance, only the list of first-class buildings will be considered by the Secretary for Development to be declared as "historical sites" or "tentative monuments". Owners are prohibited from demolishing, but there are no restrictions on second-class or third-class buildings.
The Antiquities Office document also pointed out that if there is information to support the higher cultural value of the building, the Antiquities Association will consider whether it should be rated as a first-class building.
Looking through the information, when 190 Nathan Road was rated as a historic building, the owner objected.
At present, the ground shop at No. 190 Nathan Road sells masks, and the upper floor sells Lego.
The long terrace has a simple and elegant design.
(Profile picture)
Li Haoran pointed out that 190 Nathan Road is an Art Deco architectural style, which is the mainstream of architectural aesthetics in the 1930s. It is characterized by simplicity and elegance, emphasizing lines and simple triangular geometric patterns. The addition of the tenement building as a "corner building" adds to its historical value. "At least one level."
He pointed out that there are very few tenement buildings in the same period. The similar buildings are No. 6 Shizhaoyu Road, which is also rated as a third-class building, and the group of tenement buildings rated as a second-class historical building, 190-220 Prince Edward Road West but Nathan Road 190 is more beautiful.
He estimated that No. 190 Nathan Road was not refurbished when it was graded, which made it "wrong grade".
He said that in the 1930s, cement and steel reinforcement technology was mature, and engineers at that time improved safety indicators. The building was quite stable and there was no problem in its structure. If it was demolished, "it must be a pity, but I don’t know anything." The rating is “up”, or the government may consider exchanging land with developers for reservation.
"Hong Kong 01" is making enquiries with the Development Bureau and the Buildings Department, and a reply is still pending.
Bishop Mountain Service Reservoir in danger of being demolished
+20
+20
+20
8800 historical buildings in Hong Kong exposed to Kowloon City's nearly 100-year-old pre-war tenement complex not rated
[Historic building] The pre-war tenement buildings in Dakeng took two months to restore its original appearance, and Shanghai's criticism reappeared
HKUST site discovered a mysterious tunnel and monuments office has sent staff to inspect the site to temporarily stop work
The historic sites office lacks manpower, and the Resource Conservation Society criticizes it to help citizens build a sense of belonging
The Old Advisory Council agrees that the owners of the Bonham Road Guanxiao and the historic site of the Old Tai Po Police Station, Ho Fook Tong, object to the rating
Bishop Mountain Reservoir｜Conservation organization denounces the bureaucratic grading standards of the Antiquities Office for outdated cultural relics
Ancient Consultative Council’s Measures for Historic Sites, Historic Sites and Cultural Relics Conservation, Historic Buildings