Can Hong Kong preserve its historic buildings before it’s too late? From Nan Fung Group’s The Mills to New World Development’s State Theatre, the race is on – but not all projects are tastefully done
- The 68-year-old State Theatre is a former cinema in North Point and the latest historic Hong Kong building to be revamped by New World Development
- Other successful recent conversion projects include PMQ, Tai Kwun and The Mills, but some are critical of the repurposing of Central Market, which reopened last year after an 18-year hiatus
The 68-year-old State Theatre in North Point is just the latest historic Hong Kong building fated for a facelift. The Grade I listed building, a former cinema and local landmark, is being revamped by New World Development into what it calls a “new cultural performing arts landmark”. It comes hot on the heels of several successful recent conversion projects such as PMQ and Tai Kwun in Central, and The Mills in Tsuen Wan.
First announced in 2020, the conservation project will include a captivating parabolic exoskeleton structure on the rooftop, known as “flying trusses”. The developer also hosted an immersive Discover the State Theatre In All of Us event in 2021 to inform the public of the building’s history.
“The State Theatre has a lot to do with public nostalgia. For the developer, proper investment in conservation can at least create a good image,” said Peter Lee, a researcher on Hong Kong’s history at Lingnan University.