Composite buildings are a common feature of the architectural style of Hong Kong buildings that were constructed in the 1950s and the 1960s.

History

The term "composite building" came from the Building Ordinance and refers to residential buildings with workplaces and workshops. Composite buildings are abundant in Hong Kong because: * The People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, when Hong Kong was a capitalist state, which provided capitalists with opportunities to develop

industries Industry may refer to: Economics * Industry (economics), a generally categorized branch of economic activity * Industry (manufacturing), a specific branch of economic activity, typically in factories with machinery * The wider industrial secto ...

. *In the early 1950s, China was under trading sanctions, which made it possible for Britain to transform Hong Kong into a hub for exports and manufacturing. *Composite buildings met demands for housing and increased employment during a population boom.

Standards

*Building Ordinance states a composite building must have a part for residential and a part for other uses. *Buildings with ten or more storeys or more must have a lift installed, limiting height to save costs. * Due to aircraft departing from or landing at Kai Tak Airport, buildings in

Kowloon Kowloon () is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. With a population of 2,019,533 and a population density of in 2006, it is the most populous area in Hong Kong, compared with Hong Kong Island and t ...

have height restrictions.

Architecture

Corner buildings typically have rounded corners. Rounded buildings have cantilevered terraces on all floors above ground floor. Store names on signs hanging from the lower and upper floors can be seen in the building. The architecture combines modern, international, and Bauhaus styles.

Gallery

HK YMT 油麻地 Yau Ma Tei 廣東道 Canton Road to Waterloo Road shop n buildings March 2020 SS2 14.jpg, Cantilevered terrace on the ground of a block. HK CWB 銅鑼灣 Causeway Bay 波斯富街 Percival Street crossway visitors old tang lau Dec 2018 SSG 01.jpg, A building with sealed terraces. HK TKT 大角咀 Tai Kok Tsui 博文街 Pok Man Street 海景街 Hoi King Street September 2020 SSG 07.jpg, The architecture fuses with modern elements. HK Hong Kong Seamen's Union.JPG, An inscription found on a building's entrance.

Today

in Hong Kong, manufacturing has been on the decline so remaining spaces have been converted into hotels, hospitals, beauty salons, parlours, clubs, and fitness centres. Many of the buildings built in the twentieth century are subject to acquisition by developers; they are demolished and then replaced with taller, high-rise buildings like the ones on Berwick Street, Shek Kip Mei. However, some of them are being restored to slow down their aging, increase their safety, and improve their appearance.

In popular culture

Many movies take place in a setting with buildings such as these. Neon signs are often used to make it look like the movie takes place in a high-density city. These buildings were featured in scenes from the following movies: '' Blade Runner'', '' Ghost in the Shell'', '' Deus Ex'', '' Shenmue II'', '' Sleeping Dogs'' and ''

Case Files Case or CASE may refer to: Containers * Case (goods), a package of related merchandise * Cartridge case or casing, a firearm cartridge component * Bookcase, a piece of furniture used to store books * Briefcase or attaché case, a narrow box to ca ...

''. They are also sometimes featured in cyberpunk music.

Gallery

HK YMT 油麻地 Yau Ma Tei 渡船街 Ferry Street 欣翔道 Yan Cheung Street 甘肅街 Kansu Street near 文華新邨 Man Wah Sun Chuen via 西貢街 Saigon Street March 2020 SS2 01.jpg, Man Wah Sun Chuen, Jordan Chung king mansions 2012.jpg, Chungking Mansions, Tsim Sha Tsui HK North Point King s Road Metropole Building.JPG, Metropole Building, North Point Wan Chai, Hong Kong - panoramio (17).jpg,

May Wah Building May Wah Building (), also registered as Mei Wah Building, is a composite building in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, located at the corner of Johnston Road and Wan Chai Road. Completed in 1963, the building contains 80 units. Architectural characteristics ...

, Wan Chai

Example

HK North Point King s Road Metropole Building

Metropole Building () is a composite building in Hong Kong. The Metropole Building used to be a site called Ming Yuen Amusement Park. There are four buildings inside this complex. It was designed by

Szeto Wai Szeto Wai, CBE, JP (; 10 April 1913 – 24 July 1991) was a Hong Kong engineer and architect. He was responsible for the design and construction of many buildings of the Chinese University of Hong Kong The Chinese University of Hong Kong ...

. The complex is located at 416–438 King's Road, North Point,

Hong Kong Island Hong Kong Island is an Islands and peninsulas of Hong Kong, island in the southern part of Hong Kong. Known colloquially and on road signs simply as Hong Kong, the island has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km ...

. The first phase of Metropole Building (Blocks A and B) was built in 1967. The second phase was built in October 1972. The complex is split into four blocks, each with 25 storeys. Blocks B and C are connected with corridors, which are found in the public housing estates. The complex has 1,037 units. The ground floor to the third floor is home to Metropole Mall, a large, old, shopping place that houses Fu Lum Group, Saizeriya store, Café de Coral shop, Wellcome store, a Jusco shop, Fortress shop, Bossini store, G2000 store and Hung Fook Tong store. In 2010, Metropole Building underwent a significant renovation. lifts were replaced, and lobbies, corridors, pipes and other facilities were modernized. During the

1967 Hong Kong riots The 1967 Hong Kong riots were large-scale anti-government riots that occurred in Hong Kong during British colonial rule. Beginning as a minor labour dispute, the demonstrations eventually escalated into protests against the British colonial go ...

, the Metropole Building and Kiu Kwan Mansion became a target for

leftist Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy. Left-wing politics typically involve a concern for those in soci ...

rioters. Royal Hong Kong Police and the UK Army searched these buildings for suspected leftist rioters.

History

Standards

Architecture

Gallery

Today

In popular culture

Gallery

Example

See also

References

Further reading