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One might consider Hong Kong as a successful merger between European and Asian life, however most of “white” Hong Kong and “Chinese” Hong Kong remained segregated legally until post World War II. Controversial Race Laws such as the Peak Reservation Ordinance of 1904 remained in place till the 30s and after the British witnessed the atrocities of the Nazi and imperial Japanese regime. Running the Length Chater Road was extent of “white” city of Hong Kong; remnants of this can still be witnessed in Central today. The Organization of the space is still very different in contrast to just a few blocks westwards of Chater Road, the open plaza is reminiscent of the town square of London. One of the most interesting visual representations of this can still be seen the 1960 film “The Life of Suzy Wong”, the scene from 10:05 to 13:40 where the main character Robert Lomax, an architect form England, arriving at Wardley Street Wharf. The Late 19th century, then named Queens building and Prince’s building, can be clearly seen in the background. He then approaches a Chinese Policeman enquiring about affordable lodging, the policeman recommends the Wan Chai district (east of Central) but remarks that a man like him should not belong there.
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The following Map provides a look into the organization of Chater Road and it’s surroundings in 1910 (black) compared to the contemporary (red)
WWI
If one was to land at Wardley Street Wharf by ferry, First and most striking scene would be the openness of the plaza, the extent of land reclamation at the time put Chater road as the furthest main road to the coast. The Queen’s Statue placed right in the middle of the roundabout on Chater road surrounded by other statues of British royalty and noblemen including Prince of Wales (later George V), Duke of Connaught (donated by Paul Chater), Sir Thomas Jackson, Queen Alexandra and more. These statues are also represented by the buildings that surround the plaza, with King’s building, Queen’s building, Prince’s building and Alexandra House to the west.
1980
Harry Seid
199
HAN
20
Then with the Hong Kong Club (a British gentlemen’s Club) to the east and the Court of Final Appeal further south. And finally in line with the Axis of the plaza, Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, perhaps what the was viewed at the most important infrastructure at the time. The parade ground over looked by the barracks come into view in the south east, along with the Cricket Grounds.
20
2010
Land Reclamation
1842 BRITISH HONG KONG BEGINS 1864-1866
BOWRING-PRAYA LAND RECLAMATION
1886
Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation
1896
Statue Square
1897
1899
Queen’s Building
Hong Kong Club
Palmer & Turner
Palmer & Turner
Leigh & Orange
1900
1904
Prince’s Building
Queen Victoria
1904 Alexandra Building
1903
1905
King’s Building
LAND RECLAMATION 2 Chater Road completed
1923
1910
1912
COURT OF FINAL APPEAL
Cenotaph
Leigh & Orange
Palmer & Turner Palmer & Turner
Sir Aston Webb, Ingress Bell
1935
Unveiling
1941-1945
WWII JAPANESE OCCUPATION 1945
Cenotaph Palmer & Turner
1954
Liberation of Hong Kong
1963
1957
Alexandra house
1962
Swire House
2003
Chater House
Mandarin Oriental
1965
1976
1980
Alexandra house
1985
Leigh & Orange Palmer & Turner Sir Thomas Jackson
Harry Seidler
1997
HANDOVER OF HONG KONG
Norman Foster
2000 2021
Kohn Pedersen Fox
CHATE
R ROA
2010
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Fast forward to 2021, the most of the 1910 organization remains, in fact many of the original name of the buildings are kept and so did the architects. Firms like Leigh and Orange & Palmer & Turner designed the now existing buildings after the original ones from the 1900s were demolished. Road names remain as part on an important piece of history. As for the Plaza, most of the statues were looted and lost following the Japanese invasion. the only statue that remains here, surrounded by spiked granite, is that of Sir Thomas Jackson, the most influential chief manager of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank. The two other statues that were recover was of Queen Victoria and King George V and now resides in Victoria Park and the Botanical and Zoological Park respectively. The Plaza is now a popular with Foreign domestic workers especially on the weekends as Chater Road becomes closed to all traffic, creating a continuous surface between the two halves of the plaza. This is a stark contrast to just a century ago, where the plaza was full of statues of noblemen and pristinely kept grass that was off limits to the public. Even the steps and portico and steps of the Final Court of Appeal are open and to be occupied. The only remnant of the 1910 in literal representation and function would be the cenotaph.
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This Continuous Surface that only appears on Sunday represented in white above. The surface runs the whole length of Chater street and spills in the Chater park on the east and the Ground floor of the HSBC building.
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The diagrams on the next page dissects this space further in section, the Grey-out area remains inaccessible as public programs, creating these voids of isolation in this new surface. The foot bridges and elevated walkways become a viewing platform, with physiual connection to the rest of the city but only visual connection to the this new surface below
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Des Voeux Road
Chater Road (Sunday)
Statue of Sir Thomas Jackson
Statue Square
Court of Final Appeal
Chater Garden
Murray Road Car park
Elevated Walkways
Des Voeux Road
Chater Road (Sunday)
Jackson Road
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St. George’s House
Ice House Street
Mandarin Oriental
Statue Square
Cenotaph
Hong Kong Club
This new Surface becomes a city within a city with distinct zones that hold different activities. The influx of people attracts hawkers that peddle good from caps and suite cases to speakers and karaoke machines. Police then show up to drive away the congregating hawkers to keep paths clear.
Covered spaces are unsurprisingly of high demand, especially with the scorching sun and unpredictable showers. The Ground floor of the HSBC on of the south of the map is especially popular within this new surface dues to its large continuous cover. The underpass/foot-tunnel (long rectangular shape) towards the north is also a hot spot for congregation and hawking alike, giving an advantage for the hawkers to evade the police.
Syracuse School of Architecture ARC 500
Spring 2021
Fransisco Sanin
FORM, PRESENCE AND POLITICS GROUND A Walk Through Chater Street
Calvin Leung