After walking to the housing estates and squatter areas in Pokfulam district, there is a Hong Kong story with more than a century of history hidden among the rice paddies.
The dairy company that used to be rich in fresh milk, the ranch is based in West Pokfulam on Hong Kong Island. With the transformation of its business, after the Great Wheel of Time rolled over, only scattered ruins were filled with mountains and plains.
The only way to walk across the busy roads and enter the Bethany Seminary, a declared monument, is a two-storey building with a double-tile roof and a white exterior wall. The new name is "Palmoon Ranch" .
The old building, formerly the dormitory for senior staff of the Milk Company, built in 1887, is a Grade I historical building. It was included in the fourth phase of the Revitalization of Historic Buildings Partnership Project. Caritas Hong Kong is responsible for the revitalization project. It has recently been completed and is expected to be released early next year open.
Architect Lin Sheling, director of the Papaver Forest Farm Company responsible for the revitalization project, said that the restoration project retains the characteristics of the building, including the round windows and doors commonly known as "bull's eye windows", and indoor stoves.
As for the roof tiles, part of the roof tiles are replaced with "second-hand tiles" in order to preserve the "historical sense"; the original wooden floor plan to be preserved is severely corroded and "not much can be saved". The remaining ones will be presented in an exhibition. In front of the public.
The former senior staff dormitory of the Dairy Company, built in 1887, has recently been revitalized into the Pompong Lam Ranch.
(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)
The Pompong Forest Ranch starts from the old building and the hilltop remains to be protected. The government encourages the government to increase its preliminary support
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Pokfulam used to be a green mountain forest, where the dairy company's first local milk ranch was built in the forest.
As the great wheel of the times turns, Pokfulam Hill has risen to the top of many private housing estates, milk companies no longer produce local milk, and even the old pastures are scattered with the ruins of the hilltops.
The building complex with white as the main tone, with hemp stone and granite stone walls, is the former senior staff dormitory of the old milk company.
The buildings with a history of over 100 years have been vacant for more than 30 years, and the antiquities are silently watching the historical changes.
The dormitory was classified as a first-class historic building at the end of 2009, and was included in the fourth phase of the Revitalization of Historic Buildings Partnership Project. Finally, the Beaufort Lam Ranch recommended by Caritas Hong Kong was selected.
The round arch of the main building’s staircase is also a traditional British building, adopting a Greek-style column, and the important thing is the stable structure of the central keystone.
(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)
Round arches and keystones belong to the "check-in position"
The building complex consists of three buildings: the main dormitory building, the dormitory for the helpers and the garage.
The "most eye-catching" in the building complex is certainly the main building, the dormitory of the ranch manager at that time.
The base of the building is made of thick granite, supporting the snow-white paint on the outer wall; and one of the architectural features, the circular windows and doors with ventilation function at that time, commonly known as "Bull's Eye Window", were in the process of restoration. Get the reservation.
According to Lin Sheling, the architect in charge of the restoration, some of the interior parts are "original", including the stoves in the rooms and corridors.
Lin Sheling also introduced the two major "check-in" locations in the main dormitory building, namely the round arches and keystones of the entrance stairs, and the windows that can be pulled up with wooden shutters.
The building has gone through hundreds of years of wind and rain, and some of its locations have been changed, including the double-tube double-tiled sloping roof of the main building, which was originally a "golden roof", which was later converted into a flat roof. The team restored it to the public during the restoration. Presenting the "authentic" design.
Lin Sheling pointed out that when restoring the roof, he deliberately looked for "second-hand tiles" from elsewhere. Although they are not original old tiles, "I hope to have a sense of returning to history."
The roof of the main building adopts a double-tube double-tile construction method.
(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)
The wooden floor of the main building has been corroded and difficult to repair
However, not every part may be preserved. The main dormitory building originally used wooden floors. Lin Sheling pointed out that due to the serious corrosion, there are not many parts that can be left, and will be presented to the public in the form of an exhibition.
As for the old garage and the dormitory for the helpers, they were converted into a reception desk and staff's office respectively.
The roofs of the two old buildings are designed with Chinese double-tube and double-tiles, and some of the tiles are original.
In addition to the exhibition of the restored "Popard Forest Ranch", the team added a new building to the site, which will be used to open workshops and provide catering services. The team also has an outdoor theater outside the main building. , For holding events.
Lin Sheling, Architect, Director of Pap Forest Farm Company, who is in charge of the revitalization project.
(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)
"It's like solving a case, looking for every detail" architect Lin Sheling
Restoring and re-integrating the old, Lin Sheling pointed out that the difficulty lies in balancing the value of cultural relics and the requirements of modern architecture, and installing fire protection equipment and damaged construction facilities with minimal changes.
He pointed out that in order to avoid damage to the building, the team chose to add a ramp outside the main building and only remove part of the handrails on the balcony, which can retain the value of cultural relics and match the surrounding landscape.
The team also needs to face budget constraints. "There will be more information along the way. It's like solving the case and looking for every detail." In a disguised way, we need to continuously improve the repair plan. Fortunately, with the help of the professional team, Lin Zhi has not overspend for the time being.
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"Our land is not about revitalizing dead buildings, it has a living side." Architect Lin Sheling
Lin Sheling's ideal "Buffalo Forest Ranch" is to "resurrect" history through community connections.
(Photo by Zheng Zifeng)
Hong Kong has a small land and a large population, and conservation seems extravagant. "It seems like a Shanghai Street where many tenement buildings are so beautiful, but they have been rebuilt and rebuilt in size. Depending on their family, Wan Chai and Shanghai Street will return one or two tenement houses to pay tribute to their history." The old dairy company ranch sites are also scattered on the hilltops. Lin Sheling’s ideal "Puchang Forest Ranch" is not only to preserve an old building, but also to "resurrect" history through community connections. "History is not a pure talk... Use a big vision to preserve and feel history through cultural relics."
At the end of the year, the sixth phase of the historic building revitalization plan was launched. The Tai Tam Tuk Reservoir Dormitory King Yin Li was listed on the Queen's Hill historic building. The Indian temple was in disrepair. Scholars said that the world’s unique district councilor urged the Office of Conservation and Monuments to refuse to disclose the pictures of 8,800 historic buildings. It’s hard to understand the cause of death
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