Tai Kwun – Centre for Heritage and Arts today has received the Award of Excellence in this year’s UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The award bestows an international recognition of the outstanding achievement in the conservation and revitalisation efforts for the Central Police Station (CPS) Revitalisation Project, undertaken by The Hong Kong Jockey Club. 

Nestled on a 13,600 square-metre site in the heart of Hong Kong, Tai Kwun has breathed new life into the CPS compound as a landmark for arts, culture and heritage in Hong Kong.  Standing witness to more than 170 years of Hong Kong history, Tai Kwun is one of the most significant revitalisation projects in Hong Kong. The heritage site comprises three declared monuments (former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison), with a total of 16 heritage buildings and some outdoor spaces. An international-grade art gallery and an auditorium have been added to contribute to the adaptive reuse of the site.  

In the Award of Excellence citation, an international jury of conservation experts commended Tai Kwun: “The transformation of the former Central Police Station into a world-class centre for heritage and arts has created a vibrant new civic space in the heart of the city’s central business district. The project tackled a complex site with multiple layers of history dating back to the mid-19th century, enhancing its legibility and opening it up to the public. The technical quality of the restoration work is standard-setting on an international level, ensuring the authenticity and integrity of the historic fabric.”

“Innovative architectural and engineering solutions are underpinned by meticulous investigation and rigorous conservation principles. The centre’s diverse and creative programming enlivens the historic space with engaging heritage interpretation programmes and contemporary arts and culture. Against tremendous commercial real estate pressures, the successful realisation of Tai Kwun stands as a testimony to the Hong Kong SAR’s commitment to heritage.”

Club Chairman Dr Anthony W K Chow said, “The Hong Kong Jockey Club is honoured to receive the prestigious Award of Excellence in the 2019 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The accolade not only recognises the Club’s meticulous efforts over the past ten years to conserve the Central Police Station compound and revitalise it into Tai Kwun – Centre for Heritage and Arts, but it also affirms the principles adopted for its conservation and our commitment to world-class quality in this unprecedented revitalisation project.”

This revitalisation project was carried out in partnership with the Government of the HKSAR. Drawing on the advice of experts from Hong Kong and overseas, and taking into consideration input from the community, the Club has gone to great lengths to be authentic in the conservation and restoration works on the site, where many of the buildings had experienced multiple rounds of reconstruction and reconfiguration and were in poor condition.

Throughout the revitalisation process, three important principles were observed: public safety, authenticity with respect to the original appearance, and the integration of old and new architecture.  The heritage and architectural features of the site have been meticulously conserved with minimal intervention to the original identity and aesthetics of the clusters.

In harmonious coexistence with the historical site are two new buildings, an international-standard art gallery and a performance space, where the contemporary metallic façades echo the original brick works of the historic architecture.

Community participation is one of the key success factors for Tai Kwun. During its ten years of restoration, the Club reached out and listened to stakeholders, neighbours and former users of the site to obtain their views.

Adopting an engaging approach, Tai Kwun works with programme partners, schools and institutions, stakeholders in heritage and arts, as well as its neighbours and tenants to preserve and showcase the local culture and customs. In addition to organising free daily heritage tours, Tai Kwun offers year‐round public programmes to engage visitors from all walks of life.

The Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said, “We are pleased to have played an instrumental role in this project as it defines our purpose as being to act continuously for the betterment of our society. As the most significant ‘arts, culture and heritage’ charities project of the Club and the largest heritage conservation and revitalisation project ever yet in Hong Kong, Tai Kwun strengthens the city’s art and cultural life. It has been the Club’s vision that Tai Kwun, which is situated in a prime location in the heart of Central, should be conserved as an open space for the benefit of all. We are proud of the lasting legacy that Tai Kwun will provide to Hong Kong for generations to come.”
  
The vision has been realised in its first year of operation since opening its gates in May 2018 – Tai Kwun attracted some 3.4 million local and international visitors through its active programmes totalling over 750 public programmes and events, making it the most visited heritage site in Hong Kong. It has collaborated with major arts groups and festivals and provided a platform to home-grown emerging artists and performers. It has also reached out to the local community, recording and sharing the stories of Central district where Tai Kwun is located, and has welcomed citizens from all walks of life, including students, the elderly and the differently abled. 

Support for the project was made possible through the Club’s unique integrated business model comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. It is through this model that the Club contributes to the betterment of Hong Kong society.

Key to the success of the project are the architect, designer and consultant firm engaged in the project. They are Purcell, Rocco Design Architects, Herzog & de Meuron, and Arup; as well as the general contractor, Gammon Construction.

This year marks the 20th year since the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation were conceived. The awards recognise excellent achievement in conservation and restoration of structures, places and properties of heritage value in the region. The awards recipients demonstrate excellence in the articulation of the heritage structure’s values to convey the spirit of the place, technical achievement, appropriate use of adaptation, and the project’s contribution to the surrounding environment and the local community’s cultural and historical continuity.

The four levels of achievement include:
a. Award of Excellence,
b. Award of Distinction,
c. Award of Merit,
d. Honourable Mention.

The Award of Excellence is the highest recognition presented to projects that display exceptional achievement in all criteria and has major catalytic impact at the national or regional level. Tai Kwun was selected among 57 submissions from 14 countries across the Asia-Pacific region.

Tai Kwun’s Local and International Awards and Recognition:

About Tai Kwun – Centre for Heritage and Arts
“Arts, culture and heritage” is one of The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s strategic areas of charitable contribution. The Central Police Station (CPS) Revitalisation Project is the largest heritage conservation and revitalisation project undertaken by the Club and has been carried out in partnership with the Government of the HKSAR.        

The CPS compound comprises three declared monuments (former Central Police Station, Central Magistracy and Victoria Prison), with a total of 16 heritage buildings and some outdoor spaces, on a 13,600 square-metre site in the heart of Central. An international-grade art gallery and an auditorium have been added to contribute to the adaptive reuse of the site.  

In addition to undertaking the CPS Revitalisation Project, the Club’s Charities Trust has set up The Jockey Club CPS Limited to manage and operate the site as Tai Kwun - Centre for Heritage and Arts.    
  
Tai Kwun is the local colloquial name used by police officers and the public alike to refer to the former police headquarters and the surrounding CPS compound. The name has been adopted by The Jockey Club CPS Limited as a reminder of the historical importance of the site.          

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2018/19, the Club made a record return to the Government of HK$23.3 billion in duty and profits tax and contributed HK$1.3 billion to the Lotteries Fund. Approved charity and community donations were HK$4.3 billion. The Club is Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer and one of the city’s major employers. Its Charities Trust is also one of the world’s top ten charity donors. The Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.