For people outside the neighbourhood, the buildings in the community are always what comprise their first visual perception of the place. From the old buildings to public space, they embodied not only a locality complex towards the community, but also the communication between kaifongs, and the great value of collective memory.

By touring through the contrast between old and new housing estates, we hope to elicit participants’ observation on how public space is imagined in the eyes of the stakeholders in North Point, thus to ponder, apart from its practicality, on how to conserve and inherit the shared memories as well as the values contained profoundly in these buildings and the public space.

As the guided tours are comprised of comprehensive details, interactive elements, and presentation skill – the website can only provide abstract of the tours, hardly able to capture it in full. If you are interested in joining our complete and themed tours, please stay tuned on our social media platforms!

The “Building” of North Point

There are many modern-styled buildings of three-storey high plus a balcony located along the Ming Yuen Western Street. The use of terrazzo in these buildings contributes to its seamless construction polished with smooth surface, avoiding inconspicuous smudges for easier cleaning.
Terrazzo as a composite material has high plasticity, which was once a prevalent decorating option at that time for construction materials regardless of the buildings’ styles, commonly applicable in both old-fashioned tenement buildings and modern mansions. (credits to participants)

Kai Yuen, where in the past accommodated generally well-off households, has its unique architectural structure merging elements of Western style.
As the renowned essayist and political commentator Sima Chang-feng who successively resided at Kai Yuen and the Upper Lane in the 70s suggested, “The building style of Kai Yuen is very unconventional; its square-shaped exterior might resemble a medieval castle on the outside. However, Kai Yuen’s green-tiled cornice, the balustrade embedded with white marble at the cloister, and its surrounding red brick wall, altogether composed a Chinese style on the other hand. (credits to participants)