Thematic approach key

"Whenever we are doing tourism projects, it is very important to make sure that there is a theme," Senior Government Architect Raymond Fung tells news.gov.hk. "The Peak is a very important part in our history, therefore it is very important to have a theme which has to follow the history."

With the conclusion of the Treaty of Nanjing in 1842, Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain with the Central District named as the City of Victoria. The Peak Tram, Hong Kong's oldest form of machine-driven transport, was built in 1888, connecting the Peak and Central. The Peak Cafe, originally a workshop for engineers constructing the tram and then a shelter for sedan chairs, was built in 1901. Houses with a more historic architectural style are scattered on Lugard Road. All these elements have shaped the Peak's unique style.

A Tourism Board study has suggested a unified design style be adopted in line with the history of the Peak and its unique setting, and considered the English architecture of the Victorian era as most representative of the Peak's history. This will bring out the Peak's character, distinguishing it from other tourist spots.

Victorian style re-introduced

"Having our thematic approach in mind, we want to reinforce the idea. Therefore during the design stage and in the course of consultation, we have approached a lot of people, including those living on the Peak. We reckon that this is an important issue. They are positive in their response as to support us to reflect the Victorian style as the main theme."

The improvement project involves five key sites: the Peak's commercial core, the Round Walk, Mount Austin Playground, the Gate Lodge and the Victoria Peak Garden. Click here to see an artist's impression of the revamped sites.

Mr Fung noted the existing platform at the Peak's commercial core has four levels, which have restricted the organisation of large-scale outdoor activities.

"Upon consultation with all our neighbours over there and the commercial representatives, we are now giving them a big space with only two levels. We cannot do it without such levels as the platform is on a slope plain. This will create a big space so there can be major activities in the future."

Views to be enhanced

The open space will also be enhanced by repaving the whole piazza and relocating some of the planters to open up the view and create more usable space for outdoor activities, he added.

For the Round Walk, where visitors can enjoy the natural scenery and have a full view of Victoria Harbour, Victorian-style lighting, shelters, litter bins, railings and seating will be fitted to enhance its appeal.

The Mount Austin Playground, which has been in use since 1962, will get a facelift.

"Because the existing toilet and kiosks there are not coherent with the Victorian style, we will change their form to give it a more unique Victorian style," Mr Fung said.

A canopy with classic columns will be added to form a colonnade to provide shade. The detailed design, materials and colour scheme will resemble the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware at the Hong Kong Park, which is one of the earliest and best-kept Victorian buildings in the city.

After passing the Mount Austin Playground, visitors can find on Mount Austin Road a centenary building in the Classical Revival style - the Gate Lodge. It was originally the guard post for the gatekeeper of the former Mountain Lodge - the Governor's summer residence on the Peak. Built between 1990 and 1902, the building became a declared monument in 1995 and is now used as a Leisure & Cultural Services Department site office.

Public gallery to showcase history

To put the building to meaningful use and leverage its historical legacy, Mr Fung said it will be used as a public gallery.

"What we are going to do is to open this gate door, so that you can enter this 100-square-feet space inside where we will put pictures and descriptions about the history of Victoria City and also Hong Kong in general, therefore giving information of our history to visitors."

Higher up is the Victoria Peak Garden, where the summer residence once stood.

The Mountain Lodge, built in 1900, was demolished after World War II, leaving only the granite foundations. The whole site was opened as a park to the public.

Historic footprint sets the stage

"We want to convert this place, now with a pavilion in the early '70s, into another form with a little food kiosk and toilets incorporated so as to follow the footprint of the summer residence."

Mr Fung said the ample open space, vast amount of grassy lawn and stream course will be preserved. To bring out the heritage elements, the garden will be enhanced with Victorian style features including gazebos, benches, sun-dials and colourful flowers. Artifacts from the Victorian era, such as stone pillars and carvings, will be displayed to enrich the visitors' experience.

The new pavilion will comprise four pergolas at the corners and Victorian colonnades to link up the pergolas. This will offer ample shade and a resting place for the public. The existing kiosk and toilet will also be reconstructed to boost the garden's Victorian ambience.

The $142.6 million tourist district improvement project, scheduled to finish around the end of 2007, will help create three new tourism nodes - Mount Austin Playground, Gate Lodge and Peak Garden, on the Peak.

This will help relieve over-crowdedness at the commercial core area, lengthen visitors' stay and bring potential benefits to the city's economy, with the projected number of visitors to the prime tourist spot going up from 4.5 million last year to 5 million in 2007.