Wan Chai Market

The Old Wanchai Market Building was constructed in 1937. It is located at 264 Queen's Road East, at the Wan Chai Road crossing, opposite Stone Nullah Lane in Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island. It is a Grade III Historic Building.

Its architectural style is influenced by Streamline Moderne (also known as Streamlined Moderne or Art Moderne) architecture, a popular style of building of the 1930s. It is often erroneously referred to as a Bauhaus-style building.Film Service Office: Wan Chai Market

Wan Chai Market, the wet market housed in the old market building since 1937, has moved into the new market complex on the lower levels of "The Zenith", a newly built residential development located just opposite to the market building, in September 2008.

The Wan Chai Market was initially a wet place where merchants would sell their belongings. It was also used as a garage for Bullock Carts and thus was called the 'Wet Garage' (). It was named in 1917.

History

During Japanese occupation, the basement of the Wan Chai Market was used by Japanese soldiers for the storage of corpses.

In 1961, the Market underwent a renovation to improve its facilities and environment so that the Market could compete with other market places in the district.

The Land Development Corporation obtained approval from the Executive Council to acquire land in Wan Chai, including this site, for redevelopment as part of an urban renewal project. A consortium was formed comprising Chinese Estates (40%), Kwong Sang Hong (25%), Chi Cheung Investment (20%) and Peregrine Group (15%).

Chinese Estates, controlled by Joseph Lau Luen-hung, agreed with the Urban Renewal Authority in 1996 to jointly redevelop the site into a luxury residential-commercial complex. Phase two of the project, which requires the demolition of the building, was scheduled to start early 2008 and be completed by mid-2011.

In 2007, the Urban Renewal Authority and the Development Bureau jointly announced that the facade and the front part of the historic market building will be preserved in the redevelopment project; the front part will be used as a
shopping centre. A residential building will stand at the back of the market building.

Facilities

There is a basement and staff quarters in the building.

In popular culture

In the successful video game by Eidos, ''Deus Ex'', Wan Chai Market is used as the basis for a portion of the game.

Gallery

Image:Wan Chai Fruit Market Overview.jpg, Wan Chai Fruit Market
Image:HK Old Wan Chai Market Main Enterance.jpg, Wan Chai Market Main Entrance
Image:Old Wan Chai Market GF Overview 200808.jpg, Wan Chai Market Ground Floor Interior
Image:Old Wan Chai Market Office.jpg, Wan Chai Market Office
Image:Old Wan Chai Market Level 1 Overview 200808.jpg, All the stores have been vacant since August 2008
Image:Old Wan Chai Market Level 1 Overview2.jpg, Wan Chai Market Level 1
Image:Old Wan Chai Market Stairs.jpg, Stairs in Wan Chai Market
Image:HK Wan Chai Market n3.jpg, The banner against the removal of the market

See also

*Wan Chai Heritage Trail
*Central Market, Hong Kong

References

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Retail markets in Hong Kong
Queen's Road East
Wan Chai
Grade III historic buildings in Hong Kong
British colonial architecture
Streamline Moderne architecture