Abstract
The State Theatre is Hong Kong’s oldest surviving post-war cinema and is a Grade I historic building. Built in 1952, the historic site is a testimony to the glamorous and glorious past of Hong Kong as an entertainment hub. The building is a rare example of modernist architecture in Hong Kong and its unique parabolic exoskeleton trusses at its roof has made the building an overnight landmark. After its closure as a cinema in 1997, it was being converted into a billiard hall and was no longer recognizable as a theatre. In 2020, property developer New World Development Company Limited has announced its plan to conserve the historic theatre and will revitalize it back to its original use as a performance venue. Targeted to reopen in 2026, the project is a major heritage conservation initiative led by a private developer. In the past three years, extensive research has been conducted on the building and its history, so that the team can thoroughly appreciate the rich heritage significance of the site. The team has also conducted many rounds of focus group studies and community engagement exercises to gear up for the planning of this theatre for the future. This review depicts the team’s journey so far.
Presenters
Winnie YeungHead of Heritage Management, Corporate Communication, New World Development Company Limited, Hong Kong Jing Kong, Jeff Tung
Head of Special Projects , Project Management, New World Development Company Limited, Hong Kong
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Heritage, Hong Kong, Interpretation, Community Engagement, History, Entertainment, Cinema, Modernist
