Pedder Building

Pedder Building

Pedder Building at night
Location	Central, Hong Kong
Type	Private commercial building
Opened	1924
Owner	Tai Kee Leong Co. Ltd (elsewhere noted as Henry Fok Estates[1])
Hong Kong Graded Building – Grade II
Designated:	1981

Pedder Building (Chinese: 畢打行 / 必打行), located at No.12 Pedder Street, in Central, Hong Kong, is a historic commercial building. Built in 1923 (elsewhere noted as 1932^[1]), it is the last surviving pre-war building in Pedder Street.^[2] It is listed as a "Grade II Historic Building".^[3]

History

Pedder Building was designed by Palmer and Turner Architects.^[2] It was completed in 1924, the same year as its neighbours, the China Building (華人行) and Queen's Theatre, and has always been let for commercial use. The building was originally owned by Mr. So Shek Chung, and passed to Mr. Ng Wah in 1926. In 1962 the property was sold to Tai Kee Leong Co. Ltd, owned by Fok Ying-tung.^[4] The building hosted the headquarters of Jebsen & Company from 1926 to 1992. This German import-export company was established in Hong Kong in 1895, since when it traded all kinds of foodstuffs and products in Asia, from duck feathers to the well-known Blue Girl beer.^[5]

Heritage value

Entrance of Pedder Building (2009)

Official Directory in 2009

Pedder Building is listed as a "Grade II Historic Building" by the Hong Kong Antiquities and Monuments Office^[3][6] (grading awarded in 1981), and there are proposals to upgrade its status to Grade I.^[1]

The building occupies a narrow site of 14 by 50 metres with an arcade at the front entrance on Pedder Street. It consists of nine storeys plus one mezzanine floor and a basement, and stands 35m above the street level.^[4] The architectural design of the building is typical 1920s office building, with its stone cladding on the base and Neo-classical elements such as arches, mouldings, triangular-shaped pediment, columns and sculpted medallions. The architecture of the building follows a vertical layout, distinguished by a ground-floor on two levels, a mezzanine and four office floors, adorned with an in relief portico, directly above the main entrance, and finally one floor encircled by a balcony surmounted by two neutral levels. It is the oldest commercial edifice in town, and has quietly and unpretentiously survived a world war and the better part of a century.^[7] There is an intermediate moulding above the three main entrance arches which used to be lined with a row of gargoyle masks flanked on the two ends by two giant bronze figures. However, in 1990, the gargoyles came loose and fell off, and the ornaments were susequently removed.^[4]

Pedder Building symbolises the colonial history of Hong Kong, the building is truly as valuable as the neighbouring modern architecture. Its existence also showcases Hong Kong as an international city, where western and eastern culture merge harmoniously. Yet owners Henry Fok Estates have shied from their custodial role of the heritage site, with managing director Ian Fok Chun-wan saying it was getting harder for owners to conserve heritage buildings because of tight regulations and a lack of incentives or benefits.^[1]

Occupants

Shanghai Tang, ground floor

Occupying the ground floor and basement area of the building, Shanghai Tang is one of the prominent tenants in the building. The shop was founded by a local businessman, David Tang, and it is famous for selling pre-war retro-styled Chinese fashion. Oriental Chinese restaurant China Tee Club, founded in 1986 by former Miss Hong Kong Loletta Chu and her two sisters, is located on the first floor of the building.^[8] It used to be members-only but now it serves non-members for dinner. It has as an ambience far removed from the hectic urban pace of the city and offers both Eastern and Western cuisines. Tenants such as Shanghai Tang and the China Tee Club seem well suited to the vintage atmosphere of the Pedder Building.^[7]

On the first floor and above there are more than a dozen small stores selling garments, jewellery, fashion and similar. One floor houses a number of clinics.

In July 2011, it was announced that fashion clothing giant Abercrombie & Fitch would take over three main floors and the basement for a new store, ousting Shanghai Tang, the China Tee Club et al.^[1]

CBD context

Pedder Building from Landmark

Locating in the central business district, Pedder Building is surrounded by skyscrapers and modern architecture. Opposite the building is The Landmark, a mecca of high-street fashion brands and luxury shops. The passage next to the building is filled with local specialty booths^[9] including shoe repair, watch repair and a 'chop' maker. In addition, the Pedder Building is part of the Central and Western Heritage Trail in the Central Route,^[10] together with other historic buildings and sites such as the Steps and Gas Lamps on Duddell Street nearby.

The building is very accessible. The D2 exit of Central MTR Station leads to the main entrance of the building. Buses from Mid-levels, Southern District and Ma On Shan also reach the building. Besides taking MTR and buses, tram and minibus are the other two possible options too. Many minibus routes pass along Pedder Street.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Tee Club makes way for T-shirts after 25 years, South China Morning Post, by Vivienne Chow, 10 July 2011
2. ^ ^{a b} "Introduction to 1444 Historic Buildings". Memorandum For Members Of The Antiquities Advisory Board. HK LCSD. 19 March 2009. pp. 194. http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/form/AAB_brief_info_en.pdf. Retrieved 11 October 2009. 
3. ^ ^{a b} List of Graded Historic Buildings in Hong Kong (as at 18 September 2009)
4. ^ ^{a b c} Hui, Desmond(2004). 'Selected Historic Buildings and Sites in Central District', P.112. The Antiquities and Monuments Office., Hong Kong. ISBN 962-7312-12-6
5. ^ Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce Retrieved 18 October 2009
6. ^ "List of Historic Buildings in Building Assessment". Memorandum For Members Of The Antiquities Advisory Board. HK Leisure and Cultural Services Department. 18 March 2009. pp. 86. http://www.amo.gov.hk/form/AAB-SM-E.pdf. Retrieved 17 October 2009. 
7. ^ ^{a b} Vines, Stephen(2002). 'Colonial Hong Kong: A Guide'P.47. Form Asia., Hong Kong. ISBN 9627283452
8. ^ China Tee Club website
9. ^ Brief Information on Proposed Grade I Items, pp. 385-386
10. ^ Hong Kong Antiquities and Monuments Office. "Heritage Trails: Pedder Building". http://www.amo.gov.hk/en/trails_central3.php?tid=c31. Retrieved 11 October 2009.