Artist Impression of completed Ship Street in Wanchai where visitors can catch a glimpse of Hong Kong's interesting maritime history

Overseas visitors will catch a glimpse of Hong Kong's long shipping history as Ship Street undergoes revitalisation in Hong Kong's famed Wanchai district.

The street, now located in the heart of Wanchai, was once at the shoreline of Hong Kong Island, before massive reclamation works took place. With financial backing from the Government, Hong Kong-based architectural firm, JADL Design Limited, is working on redeveloping the street with a maritime theme.

"In the past, the street was used by sailors, for rest and recreation, and as a dock for repairing ships. Our plans are to re-create a feel of what it was like in the olden days," said Joanlin Au, Director of JADL.

"We aim to attract both local visitors and tourists to the area; they will definitely find it an interesting experience that also enriches their knowledge about the history of shipping in Hong Kong," she continued.

A strongly historical element of Ship Street will be the zone that features the first military ships that called into Hong Kong from various countries. A chronological mosaic display will display the names of the ships, their origins, the dates they visited, accompanied by small photographs.

The heart of the area will house a contemporary abstract ship made of steel and timber and metal masts, and a renowned Hong Kong artist will be invited to infuse the area with an abstract sculpture of water. A 'Lexicon' zone will feature a series of plaques installed on the floor where the word 'ship' will be engraved in over 40 different languages.

To improve the street's functionality, an area will be set aside for art displays, shows or performances with seating for the public.  To enhance the nautical atmosphere of the street, scrap metal parts from old ships will be used as decorative sculptures, such as turbines, anchor ropes, portholes, and propeller blades.

The street is set on uneven terrain, and covers a flight of antique granite steps over 100 years old. In the face of redevelopment, these shall remain intact under the protection of the Antiquities and Monuments Board.

"Ship Street is currently a very quiet area, and we want to keep that ambience. We aim to repave the street, improve its lighting and add in some maritime elements without being too obtrusive," said Ms Au.

"The revitalised street will definitely add value to Hong Kong as a tourist destination. Wanchai already houses a number of places of interest, such as the old Chinese temple, the antique shops, and the bars. Getting a glimpse into a century of shipping in Hong Kong, will be, we hope, an interesting addition," she continued.

The project is due to be completed by the end of this year.

Related link:
Jadl Design Limited