Name (English): Blue House
Name (Chinese): 藍屋
Category: Culture and History
Address: 72A Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai
Address (Chinese): 灣仔石水渠街72A 號街 4 號地舖及慶雲街4 號地舖
Address Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/CTSGCtEvXPUWKsBK9
Address longitude and latitude: 22.275284150988643, 114.17401382370804
Nearest MTR Station: Wan Chai Station Exit A3
Nearest MTR Station Google Map Link: https://goo.gl/maps/Q5fWw73sqtzPiEfs7
Nearest MTR Station longitude and latitude: 22.277796885557656, 114.17315269755096
How far from the nearest MTR Station: 10-min walk from Wan Chai MTR Exit A3
Opening Hours:
MON 10:00 -18:00
TUE 10:00 – 18:00
WED Closed
THU 10:00 – 18:00
FRI 10:00 – 18:00
SAT 10:00 – 18:00
SUN 10:00 – 18:00
Recommended Time to Visit: Any opening hours
Accessibility Note: Easy access
Reminder: Free admission
Most of the preserved century-old buildings in Hong Kong are usually remnants of the colonial government. Meanwhile, you seldom see any of the tenements of similar age being safeguarded that are, however, true representations of how the majority of the grassroots survived the past. The Blue House in Wan Chai could have been torn down but was saved by conservationists to retain its rich living history.
Located at Stone Nullah Lane, the four-storey tenement painted in the distinctive blue has a much richer background stretching back to a few decades before being remodeled in 1922. It has transformed from a hospital that provided Chinese medical services to the local residents in the 1870s, to a residential block that had housed various kinds of businesses on its ground floor that included a martial arts school, Dit Da clinic (Chinese bone-setting), and even a free school. Approached by steep timber staircase, the building was home to hundreds of residents living in the cramped space, but has strengthened the sense of community life.
The multi-functional complex that consists of apartments, exhibition space, social enterprise restaurants and a community centre, is a successful example of revitalizing the heritage through local engagement, unlike other heritage in town incorporated with commercial purposes entirely. With the stakeholders’ interests all balanced out through the participatory campaigns, no wonder the project has won the UNESCO’s highest conversation award – so, hop over and explore the blue block!
Fun fact: You may wonder why it is painted blue. Try not to overthink – the government ran out of paint colors but blue when they acquired the building in the 1990s.
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