| Old Wanchai Market Building | |
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灣仔街市 | |
 Old Wanchai Market Building in 2008 | |
 The building in 2014 | |
 Interactive map of the Old Wanchai Market Building area | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Streamline Moderne |
| Classification | Grade III Historic Building |
| Location | Wan Chai,Hong Kong Island, 264Queen's Road East,Hong Kong |
| Completed | 1937; 89 years ago (1937) |
| Relocated | September 2008; 17 years ago (2008-09) |
| Old Wanchai Market Building | |||||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 灣仔街市 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 湾仔街市 | ||||||||||||
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TheOld Wanchai Market Building was constructed in 1937. It is located at 264Queen's Road East, at theWan Chai Road crossing, oppositeStone Nullah Lane inWan Chai,Hong Kong Island.[1] It is a Grade III Historic Building.[2]
Its architectural style is influenced byStreamline Moderne (also known as Streamlined Moderne or Art Moderne) architecture, a popular style of building of the 1930s. It is often erroneously referred to as aBauhaus-style building.[3][4]
Wan Chai Market, thewet market housed in the old market building since 1937, has moved into the new market complex on the lower levels of "The Zenith", a newly built residential development located just opposite to the market building, in September 2008.
The Wan Chai Market was initially a wet place where merchants would sell their belongings. It was also used as a garage for Bullock Carts and thus was called the 'Wet Garage' (Chinese:濕車庫). It was named in 1917.
DuringJapanese occupation, the basement of the Wan Chai Market was used by Japanese soldiers for the storage ofcorpses.[2]
In 1961, the Market underwent a renovation to improve its facilities and environment so that the Market could compete with other market places in the district.[2]
TheLand Development Corporation obtained approval from theExecutive Council to acquire land in Wan Chai, including this site, for redevelopment as part of an urban renewal project. A consortium was formed comprising Chinese Estates (40%), Kwong Sang Hong (25%), Chi Cheung Investment (20%) andPeregrine Group (15%).[5]
Chinese Estates, controlled byJoseph Lau Luen-hung, agreed with theUrban Renewal Authority in 1996 to jointly redevelop the site into a luxury residential-commercial complex. Phase two of the project, which requires the demolition of the building, was scheduled to start early 2008 and be completed by mid-2011.[6]
In 2007, theUrban Renewal Authority and the Development Bureau jointly announced that the facade and the front part of the historic market building will be preserved in the redevelopment project; the front part will be used as ashopping centre. A residential building will stand at the back of the market building.[7]
There is a basement and staff quarters in the building.[3]
In the successful video game byEidos,Deus Ex, Wan Chai Market is used as the basis for a portion of the game.
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22°16′29″N114°10′28″E / 22.274607°N 114.17434°E /22.274607; 114.17434
