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Recently, the Garden Company Limited has made an application to the Town Planning Board, proposing to redevelop its Garden Centre at 58 Castle Peak Road into a 25 storeys commercial building. The redeveloped building, with an area of 111000 square feet, will be served as office space and restaurant floor. The Garden Centre is a landmark in Sham Shui Po as well as in Hong Kong, its current site has a history of over 80 years. The
The Garden Centre is a landmark in Sham Shui Po as well as in Hong Kong, its current site has a history of over 80 years. The centre was extended into a 7 storeys architecture in the late-50s and became an iconic post-war building. It was designed by the architect Chu Pin, who also created the Man Yee Building at Central and the Mira Hotel at Tsim Sha Tsui. Based on a modernist approach, the icon red colored roof, the precisely placed sun visors, and the convenient clock tower are simple and practical, entailing the utopian values of a post-war society where efficiency and functionality are emphasized. Architectures with similar style include the Government Hill compound and the Hong Kong City Hall.
The centre has also reflected the company’s significance as a modern-style food producer in the post-war era, which it has provided support to the rapid industrial development and the increasing refugees. The Garden Centre has also witnessed many important historical events, including the second world war and the Hong Kong 1956 riots, it is a living fossil of the local history. The business was found in 1926 and was moved to the current site in 1932. After recovering from the damage caused by world war two, the factory was expanded in 1951. Later, surviving the 1956 riots, the site was redeveloped and has been kept the same since then. According to the Garden Company’s proposal, the redeveloped building will also be used for cooking related classes besides commercial purposes. Their document to the Town Planning Board states the company would like to “pass down their technology and attract new blood, in order for the local
The Garden Centre has also witnessed many important historical events, including the second world war and the Hong Kong 1956 riots, it is a living fossil of the local history. The business was found in 1926 and was moved to the current site in 1932. After recovering from the damage caused by world war two, the factory was expanded in 1951. Later, surviving the 1956 riots, the site was redeveloped and has been kept the same since then. According to the Garden Company’s proposal, the redeveloped building will also be used for cooking related classes besides commercial purposes. Their document to the Town Planning Board states the company would like to “pass down their technology and attract new blood, in order for the local
According to the Garden Company’s proposal, the redeveloped building will also be used for cooking related classes besides commercial purposes. Their document to the Town Planning Board states the company would like to “pass down their technology and attract new blood, in order for the local baking industry to be continued”. While such vision has been agreed by many, the reality is that the building will mainly be used as offices and shops, which does not fit the category for “baking/food production”. The Garden Centre, with 85 years of history, was built for baking purposes, the centre should be revitalized instead of redeveloped in order to pass down its heritage. The Garden Company was one of the first and most successful locally owned businesses created to sell modern-style food products in the territory. The current factory has produced military biscuits for the British army during the world war two, and for the next 50 years, it has produced bread and biscuits for the army forces. In the 60s, the company provided affordable nutritions to the low-incomers by adding vitamin, calcium, and iron into their bread product. The Garden brand is a collective memory and is recognized by all Hong Kongers.
The Garden Company was one of the first and most successful locally owned businesses created to sell modern-style food products in the territory. The current factory has produced military biscuits for the British army during the world war two, and for the next 50 years, it has produced bread and biscuits for the army forces. In the 60s, the company provided affordable nutritions to the low-incomers by adding vitamin, calcium, and iron into their bread product. The Garden brand is a collective memory and is recognized by all Hong Kongers.
In short, the Garden Centre is a landmark in Sham Shui Po and Kowloon, it has witnessed the history of the local food industry. We are urging: The Garden Company to redraw their redevelopment plan The authority to discuss with the business owner and the community, bringing forth a plan to preserving the site. The Antiquities Advisory Board to study the historical values of the Garden Centre, and to list the site as a Grade 1 historic building to preserve the post-war iconic architecture.
Petition Organizers:
Save HK Heritages
Sham Shui Po Cultural Hall
I’m urging the Town Planning Board to:
全民保育行動
同德押、天星皇后、何東花園...每年古蹟因發展、重建清拆無日無之。我們是保衞同德押聯署朋友，希望在此成立平台，全民攜手守護香港的古蹟，城市的遺產，留住歷史，保住記憶。
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Preserve Garden Centre, Protect Hong Kong landmark
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Preserve Garden Centre, Protect Hong Kong landmark
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