Converting a monument like Kom Tong Hall into a modernised museum is in many ways more difficult than building a new one. For government architect Kenneth Tam, the challenging task has kept him busy for months finding ways to restore its grandeur in subtle but effective ways.

Kom Tong Hall, located at 7 Castle Road in Central and Western District, is a typical Edwardian classical structure built by Ho Kom-tong, Sir Robert Ho Tung's brother who served at Jardine, Matheson & Co as compradore, in 1914. He lived in this splendid premises until his death in 1950.

Since 1960, the premises had been under the care of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints.

Modernised monument: Government architect Kenneth Tam explains how Kom Tong Hall is being transformed into a modernised museum to commenorate Dr Sun Yat-sen.

Heritage preserved

To preserve its heritage, the Government acquired the building in February 2004 at a cost of $53 million and announced its plan to establish a museum there to commemorate Dr Sun Yat-sen, one of the most respected figures in Chinese history.

Mr Tam, who is responsible for Kom Tong Hall's restoration and conversion, tells news.gov.hk what makes the nearly 100-year-old building so special.

"This is a very interesting building. After the structural survey last year, we noticed this building was constructed in steel, with trade marks from Belgium and Holland. It is quite possible that the structural steel works were pre-fabricated in Europe, shipped over to Hong Kong and assembled on site.

Pioneer of high-rise buildings

"Obviously this was the state of art in those days to accelerate the speed of construction resulting from the technology advancement during the Industrial Revolution. Although it has an Edwardian facade, it is a revolutionary piece of architecture and probably the pioneer of high-rise buildings of our time."

Kom Tong Hall boasts architectural features, such as Greek-style granite columns, crystal chandeliers and wall lamps, hardwood wainscoting panels, moulded ceilings, fireplaces, stained glass windows, grand staircases with carved wooden railings, patterned floor tiles, glazed wall tiles and wooden louvre windows.

"Another feature you can notice from the outside is the verandah, a very deep verandah, which is a typical colonial type of building design to regulate the climate in all seasons. We did try staying out during the cooler season and find it is very nice, comfortable and functional.

Staircases reflect social phenomenon

"Inside the premises there are two flights of staircases, with the one at the front for use by the Ho's family and the one at the back for mui tsai (maids). This feature reflects the idea of social stratification in Chinese societies."

Mr Tam said the features will be preserved during and after the conversion. To tour the historical building, click here.

As the centenary building housed different users and was altered to suit their needs, Mr Tam said the structure must be restored to its original state to preserve Hong Kong's cultural heritage.

"We have adopted the principle of 'minimum intervention' for the conversion works. This is of course a very challenging task for us because initially the building was designed as a residential one and now we have to convert it into a modern museum with service facilities.

Minimum intervention

"The objective is to hide all these facilities so that they will not be shown or in conflict with the monument's original appearance and architectural features."

Since the building plans are no longer available, Mr Tam spent about 10 months conducting site surveys, interviewing the Ho family and the church group's management and making references to old photos to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan for Kom Tong Hall.

The architect said one of the difficult tasks is to find locations for housing modern service facilities.

"We have to find locations for heavy equipment, such as air-conditioning equipment and a water tank for fire- fighting purposes. In this regard, we have to conceal all air-conditioning equipment on the rooftop and dig up the front terrace to hide the required water tank.

Fireplaces to cool the room

"As for the inside of the building, we have come up with a solution after doing research. We will make use of the existing and original fireplaces to bring in the facilities, such as air-conditioning ducts. Fresh air will be supplied through the old chimney into the building and cool the room instead of its original purpose of warming the room."

To reinstate the original appearance of the brick wall, the chemical stripping method has been adopted to remove all the deteriorated varnish coating. The corncob blasting technique has also been introduced to remove the old paint vanish on wooden surfaces.

Glazed tiles that adorn the balcony walls are no longer produced or sold in the market. By borrowing a method used in the transfer of mural paintings, intact tiles from concealed areas are retrieved to replace damaged ones.

Edwardian style structure

After renovation, Kom Tong Hall will be a place for people to explore and study historical buildings of Hong Kong as Edwardian style structures built in the 1900s are rare in the city due to rapid development. It will also be ideal for people to learn about Dr Sun Yat-sen, a well-known revolutionary.

"The building was completed at approximately the same time of the revolution in China, hence it is appropriate to convert it into a museum to commemorate the well-known 1911 Revolution and Dr Sun Yat-sen, the father of the republic of China," Mr Tam said.

The selection of Kom Tong Hall as the Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum is also attributable to its proximity to the Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail.

Dr Sun's spheres of activities fell within its vicinity, including the Preaching Home of American Congregational Mission on 2 Bridges Street where Dr Sun was baptised, the Central School (opposite to 51A Gough Street) where Dr Sun received secondary education, the To Tsai Church on 59 Hollywood Road where Dr Sun frequently met with his comrades, the College of Medicine for Chinese on 81 Hollywood Road where Dr Sun was trained as a doctor, as well as the Qian Heng Hang on 13 Staunton Street where Dr Sun set up the Headquarters of Hong Kong Xing Zhong Hui (Revived China Society).

Meanwhile, Dr Sun was related to Ho Kom-tong, the original owner of the premises, in one way or another. Both were born in 1866 and were graduates of the Central School in 1886. Ho's elder brother, Sir Robert Ho Tung, rendered support towards Dr Sun's revolutionary activities. Given the close ties between the Ho's family and Dr Sun, Kom Tong Hall is a suitable venue for the museum.

Wonderful coincidence

For Mr Tam, who lived on Caine Road during childhood, getting involved in the Kom Tong Hall project is a wonderful coincidence.

"Whenever I passed by, I was deeply impressed by Kom Tong Hall's majestic design. I had never dreamt of getting into the premises as it was the residence of the Ho family. But now, I am tasked to explore its features, restore them and share them with the public.

"History, culture, tourism, architecture and education are all interrelated. If we can preserve monuments, our collective memories can last. When Kom Tong Hall reopens as Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum, the public can better understand Dr Sun's revolutionary career, the modern Chinese history and the story of the building itself."

Works to restore and convert Kom Tong Hall, at a cost of about $90 million, started in September 2005 for completion by the end of 2006. It will be fully open to public in early 2007.

Mr Tam said the lower ground floor will be used as the reception area with a souvenir shop. The baptism font, constructed by the church group, will be retained to show the hall's history.

The museum will offer an exhibition on the life and revolutionary career of Dr Sun with special reference to the political and socio-economic conditions of Hong Kong in the late 19th century, as well as special thematic exhibitions where educational activities are to be held.

Comprehensive collection

There will also be an activity room, interactive room, reading room and video room where multi-media programmes and Dr Sun's documentaries will be available.

To enrich the museum collection, curatorial staff have visited museums in Nanjing, Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan, Guangzhou and archives in London, from which a substantial number of important artefacts related to Dr Sun and the 1911 Revolution have been identified for loan for display. Highlights of a few hundred items collected during a campaign from May to August in 2004, including calligraphies, manuscripts, letters, souvenirs, stamps and banknotes, will also be featured.

As the museum will become part of the Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail, additional signposts will be put up to direct visitors to the museum as a stopover while guided tours will be offered.

"We are now planning to revitalise some of the original features extended to the outside of the building, such as cobblestone paving, metal hand railings and ballards, street lamps and even masonry retaining walls in the surrounding areas. A statue of Dr Sun will also be erected at the front terrace," Mr Tam said.