Blue House (Hong Kong)

Blue House, refers to a 4-storey balcony-type tenement block located at 72-74A Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai. It is named for the brilliant blue colour painted on its external walls. It is one of the few remaining examples of Tong Lau of the balcony type in Hong Kong.

It is classified as Grade I historic building. [ [http://www.amo.gov.hk/form/historical.pdf List of Graded Historial Buildings (As at 6 Jan 2007)] ]

Historic background

The building was the original site of the first hospital 'Wah To Hospital' (aka "Wan Chai Kai Fong Hospital"), which was built in the 1870s in Wan Chai. [ [http://www.hkhs.com/eng/wnew/pr_060331.asp HKHS:Revitalization / Preservation Project in Wan Chai] ] . The hospital, which provided Chinese medical services to local Chinese, was possibly the first hospital in the district. [http://www.hkhs.com/preservation/en/index.htm Revitalization / Preservation - Hong Kong Housing Society] ]

After the hospital closed in 1886, the 2-storey building was then used as a temple for Wah To (Pinyin: Hua Tuo), the revered Chinese physician from the Three Kingdoms period.

The building was demolished around late 1910s or early 1920s. It was turned into four 4-storey tenement blocks in mid 1920s. The building was subsequently used as a martial arts school in the 1950s by Lam Cho, the nephew of Lam Sai Wing (one of the followers of Wong Fei Hung), and as an osteopathy clinic in the 1960s [http://www.hkhs.com/preservation/en/index.htm Revitalization / Preservation - Hong Kong Housing Society] ] .

The construction was acquired by the Government in the 1970s, and the outer walls painted blue, and was thus named the Blue HouseMichael Ng, [http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=15605&sid=7323795&con_type=3&d_str=20060401&sear_year=2006$100m plan to revisit area's colorful history] , The Standard, April 1, 2006] .

Future Revitalisation

All the upper floors of Blue House, Apart from 72 Stone Nullah Lane, are of timber structures. The two wooden stairs, with all the original elements intact, are well maintained [http://www.hkhs.com/preservation/en/index.htm Revitalization / Preservation - Hong Kong Housing Society] ] .

The building was part of a HK$100 million plan, unveiled by the Housing Society and the Urban Renewal Authority, to preserve nine Chinese-style buildings in Wan Chai that were constructed during the 1920s. According to the plan, seven other pre-war buildings on Hing Wan and King Sing Streets would be preserved. The project would complete in 2011.

The building would be preserved and revitalized in a traditional tea and medicine [ [http://news.gov.hk/en/category/infrastructureandlogistics/060331/html/060331en06006.htm Wan Chai landmark to be immortalised] ] .

In 2007, the Urban Renewal Authority and the Development Bureau jointly announced that the residents of the Blue House, will be allow to stay if they hope so. [ [http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=11&art_id=59021&sid=16838197&con_type=1&d_str=20071221&sear_year=2007 Wan Chai facelift to save historic market] , the Standard, December 21, 2007]

ee also

* Green House, located in 1-11, Mallory Street and 6-12, Burrows Street

References

External links

* [http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Monument/yfoh/en/bluehouse.php Preliminary Study on "Blue House"]