Central Market in Hong Kong holds a long-standing history, dating back to the early 1840s when it began as a marketplace. The existing building, constructed in 1939, features a simple yet striking Baroque architectural style. After ceasing operations in the early 2000s, it underwent 18 years of planning and renovation before reopening two years ago, gradually emerging as a new landmark for arts and culture in Central, exuding a captivating charm!
As the saying goes, "Times change, and so does the river flow." Since the relocation of Hong Kong's airport to Chek Lap Kok, the economic center of Hong Kong has gradually shifted westward. The once bustling hubs of arts and culture, such as the City Hall, began to transform after the relocation of the Tsim Sha Tsui Pier, now appearing relatively quiet. The bustling traffic of commuters to and from the Star Ferry Pier has dwindled. With the movement of economic and trade activities in Central shifting westward, especially after the opening of the Kennedy Town MTR station, this trend has become even more pronounced!
Central Market, as an urban oasis, boasts a strategically advantageous location. To the north lie the headquarters of Hang Seng Bank and the Exchange Square, while to the west stands Central Center! To the south is H Queen's, and to the east, there's the Antiquities & Monuments Office (JKT) and the Joint Publishing. With daily bustling activity of merchants and traders, occupying such a favorable location, Central Market has inherent advantages for the development of arts, culture, innovation industries, and services!
The Central Market comprises three levels, with a total floor area of approximately 11,000 square meters, housing over a hundred distinctive restaurants, bars, nostalgic shops, and supermarkets. Managed by the Urban Renewal Authority and the Woh Hup Group, its development is thriving. As one of the world's three major financial centers, Central is home to a plethora of professionals in finance, law, and other fields, making lunchtime a crowded affair where finding a seat can be quite a challenge!
With the planning of the 14th Five-Year Plan focusing on the development of the cultural and artistic industries, Hong Kong, as the leading city in the Greater Bay Area, has a responsibility to participate. As a new landmark for creative arts and culture, I believe Central Market has a duty to fulfill.
As an enthusiast of antique arts and culture, I have the following suggestions on how to enhance the appeal of Central Market:
- To comply with the carbon-neutral principle, suitable climbing plants can be planted on the exterior walls to create a more welcoming atmosphere. Additionally, constructing a few fish ponds nearby for relaxation and gathering could enhance the ambiance, transforming it into an urban oasis.
2. The spacious atrium could host more musical performances and cultural exchange activities to attract crowds. However, being open-air, it is susceptible to weather conditions, limiting certain activities such as art exhibitions.
3. Leveraging modern technology, incorporating elements like LED screens for promotions could effectively reach the bustling crowd along Queen's Road Central, enhancing visibility of ongoing events or other promotions.
4. The exhibition hall on the second floor could host more diverse exhibitions, particularly those related to antique arts and culture. Collaborating with more grassroots organizations for practical initiatives could be challenging due to the awkward positioning of the four columns in the space.
5. As for the rooftop of Central Market, reinforcing it structurally could transform it into a popular gathering spot in the evenings, such as a rooftop bar. Skybars are popular across Southeast Asia, and having a similar feature in Hong Kong would significantly enhance its appeal. Enjoying music and conversations under the stars in Central would be a delightful experience! While I'm not a professional in this field, advancements in technology should make this feasible, and pooling together various ideas could lead to viable solutions.
Notably, there's a new modern art and cultural hub, H Queen's, near 93 Queen's Road Central. As far as I know, there are six or seven internationally renowned art galleries operating there, including Pace Gallery and Tang Contemporary Gallery. If they consider extending their exhibitions to Central Market, it could attract foot traffic to nearby galleries, benefiting both sides. Central Market could serve as their outpost, tightly connecting the two, fostering greater cohesion. I wonder if others agree?
As a cultural and artistic frontier, Central Market bears significant responsibilities. By brainstorming and making minor hardware adjustments, utilizing technology to add a touch of modernity to attract foot traffic, especially during the quieter evenings, and fostering the aforementioned interactions, Central Market's arts and culture district could become a new landmark, garnering high international acclaim! I hope stakeholders can exercise more imagination to elevate this significant project!
Let me know if there are any further adjustments you'd like to make!
Author
Mr. Robert T Li graduated from the Economics Department of the University of Hong Kong and has served as the Head of Liability Insurance in the Greater China region for an international insurance company. He has a passion for traditional Chinese culture and enjoys collecting art. He is actively involved in promoting awareness of traditional Chinese culture, music, and art among young people. He can be contacted at litaichai@gmail.com.
Uploaded on 2024.3.14