Activities
The target participants of “Centre Street Soeng5 Lok6” are the residents of Centre Street. Through engaging in different activities, such as Storytelling Activities, Art Workshops, and ICH Workshops, the residents will join hands with artists to co-create a new cityscape of the old district. The project has recruited participants online and through promotion support from the Caritas Community Centre – Caine Road.
1. Revitalisation of Centre Street
(i) Community Garden at Ui On Lane
To further explore the community’s ideas on revitalising a public open space of the area, fostering a greater sense of belonging, and promoting community interaction, the team has conducted a series of activities which include mapping workshops, city tours, and collective design workshops. The co-creation process involved active participation from the project participants, and their contributions were collected as design inspiration for enhancing the public open space.
The data collected revealed that delicate greenery and the historical and cultural stories of the Sai Ying Pun district stood out as the most captivating elements presented in the works.
Ui On Lane Community Garden is progressing smoothly according to schedule and is set to kick off major construction work by the end of 2024. This project is expected to be completed by mid-2025, enhancing the public recreational space with a community garden, a storage trailer, a shelter, and decorative railings.
The community garden aims to allow residents to experience the joys of farming. The storage trailer creates comfortable working environment and short-term storage for staff and the shelter provides rest spaces passersby. Decorative railings are inspired by the fan-shaped ferns, which can be observed in the district, adding a touch of charm to the scenic surroundings of Ui On Lane.
Let’s look forward to the exciting results that the project team will bring in the new year, ushering in a vibrant new chapter for the community on Centre Street.
2. The Art Creation of Centre Street
(i) Mural Art
From January to February 2023, mural artists Rebecca T Lin and Carol Mui (Creativehustlershk) conducted a series of workshops to gather community feedback for the mural art project. The workshops included art walks, sketchbook making and book cover designing workshops with Catholic Mission School and King’s College Old Boys’ School Association Primary School No. 2; and a tote bag workshop with the public.
Through these workshops, the artists collected valuable design inspirations, such as shop pets, greenery, and famous shops on Centre Street. They incorporated these elements with their art styles, reflecting the spirit of co-creation with the community.
Currently, we have invited local mural artist, Smile Maker’s Tim Yan and his team to be the fabrication artist. The second phase has been commenced since April 2024, a series of creative Mural Art with storytelling has been presented on the stair walls and vertical sides.
All Mural Art has been completed in early July 2024. The Mural Art inspection was conducted in September 2024 with government personnel and the artist. The second phase of Mural Art has successfully handed over to the relevant government department. The Mural Art covers a significant portion of the Centre Street area, stretching from Second Street to Bonham Road. This extensive coverage aims to create an immersive and visually captivating experience for visitors and residents alike.
The overall theme for the second phase Mural Art depicts a fun anecdote which happened in Centre Street in the past, with the inclusion of animal friends commonly found in the district. The story unfolds from a wall between Bonham Road staircase and a convenience store – A playful orange cat stretches out its little paw, causing a basket filled with oranges to topple over, the round fruit then rolls along the steep Centre Street, creating a whimsical scene.
We have also invited a professional photographic team to record efforts in all parties devoted to the Mural Art. The Mural Art wishes to enhance community charm and colour, leading to a more outstanding and distinctive Centre Street. Everyone is welcomed to come and enjoy.
(ii) The Art Era of Centre Street
Artistic Railing
In mid-2023, the community engagement event for railing design was successfully held. Through community observations and creativity, combined with inspiration from the Studio of SAI, the overall railing design was finalized in 2024, leading to the commencement of production.
By 2025, the project is progressing rapidly. Contractors are actively engaged in factory production and conducting site comparisons and adjustments using physical models. Following significant efforts, Prototype railings have been progressively installed along Centre Street, with Art Type and Signage Type railings to follow soon after.
The project is progressing steadily, and we will closely monitor the fabrication progress. This initiative promises to enhance the community’s visual appeal and functionality, creating an inviting environment for both residents and visitors. Stay tuned for more exciting developments!
Art Installation
Organised by the local artists Sim Chan and Vaan Ip, three groups of community engagement activities – “Light & Shadow at Centre Street” workshops were completed in August 2023. By taking reference to the lamp patterns created by the workshop participants, they transformed those into elements in the Art Installations.
With the support of the Central & Western District Office and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Art Installation is being displayed at the Centre Street Sitting-out Area, which is situated opposite Sai Ying Pun Market.
By integrating Art Installations, they will serve as informative and visually captivating displays, offering insights into the cultural heritage and significance of Centre Street and the underlying objectives of the project.
The Art Installations are named 《城光律影》and 《窗影昔韻》. These art installations draw inspiration from the historical and contemporary aspects of Central Street.
《城光律影》 is a tall stainless steel installation with lighting, which illuminates at night. It symbolises how every light in a home represents and records the memories of our city. It also serves as a reminder that every individual, encounter, and object contribute to the vibrant vitality of the city.
《窗影昔韻》is a shorter bronze installation. Its design concept is derived from strolling through the old and present streets, tracing the history, and witnessing urban change and livelihoods over the past half-century.
The production and installation of the Art Installations are set to be completed by December 2024. We have invited a professional photographer to capture the two artworks. In January 2025, we arranged for government representatives and design team members to inspect the finished products, successfully handing them over to the relevant government departments.
When you walk by the Centre Street Sitting-out Area, please take a look at the progress of the art installations and experience the city landscape that they are creating.
3. Social Impact Assessment
The team has conducted a comprehensive analysis of the community’s features, advantages, and available resources, relying on five key aspects: historical background, environmental characteristics, resident demographics, community-based organisations, and communication channels. This analysis serves as the basis for identifying and addressing the community’s needs.
To evaluate the social impact outcomes of community engagement, researchers have participated in most workshops to interview participants and artists. This evaluation will continuously help identify areas for improvement and refine engagement strategies for more impactful initiatives in the process.
In November 2024, the team completed another round of social impact assessment. We invited participants from the Mural Art community engagement workshops of last year, together with artists and researchers, to visit the outcomes of Mural Art and Art Installation. Researchers conducted oral interview to understand the social achievement of Centre Street Soeng5 Lok5.
