Presented at the SoA Research Seminar, CUHK Hong Kong |

Abstract: The last three decades of colonial rule in Hong Kong is a period of active construction of public buildings, including town halls in the new territories and municipal service buildings in the urban area. These civic service buildings often include cultural facilities such as concert halls, theatres, and libraries, which build the foundation of the city’s cultural infrastructure that is still in frequent use nowadays. While they are not designed as spectacular architecture by the technocratic government architects, they have become important cultural venues over the years. Along with urban regeneration initiatives in older districts such as Tsuen Wan, there is a newfound attention and appreciation of their architectural and cultural value. By studying archival material about their conception, design and development, what can we learn about the government’s intention of providing cultural service in the late 20th century to maintain social stability and promote urban development? Furthermore, how does understanding such dynamics inform us about conversation issues of mundane public architecture?