Chinachem Group - Sha Tau Kok Yung Shue Au Village "Heung Heung Mansion” Revitalisation Project

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Project Overview

Chinachem Group and Wu Zhi Qiao (Bridge to China) Charitable Foundation (WZQ) are excited to bring new life to Heung Heung Mansion, nestled in Sha Tau Kokʼs Yung Shue Au Village and inherit Hakka culture. Building on the spirit of Chinachemʼs Lai Chi Wo Story Room project, this initiative continues to inspire youths to explore and celebrate Hong Kongʼs rural heritage.

Sponsored by Chinachem Group, the revitalisation project is led by the architecture students and young professionals from Tsinghua University (THU) and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) with the support of multi-disciplinary experts. The project aims to breathe new life into the century-old Heung Heung Mansion, transforming it into a space where heritage intertwines with modern world.

The revitalised Heung Heung Mansion will serve as a multi-purpose communal hub, a story house of Yung Shue Au Village and Rural Revitalisation Centre for research, volunteering, and service-learning, becoming a key base for revitalising Yung Shue Au and surrounding villages.

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What‘s Special about “Heung Heung Mansion”?

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Listen to the oral history of Wan Wah Chung, Village Chief

"Yung Shue Au Village is a Hakka village of the Wan family, facing Starling Inlet, with Shenzhen's Yantian on the opposite shore."
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Wan Wah Yung, a villager, shares countryside warmth

"I was born and raised in Yung Shue Au Village."
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Villager Wan Yuk Heung's memories

"On my wedding day, I invited the British soldiers, and one of them played the Scottish Bagpipes to celebrate with us."

Play

Listen to the oral history of Wan Wah Chung, Village Chief

"Yung Shue Au Village is a Hakka village of the Wan family, facing Starling Inlet, with Shenzhen's Yantian on the opposite shore."
Play

Wan Wah Yung, a villager, shares countryside warmth

"I was born and raised in Yung Shue Au Village."
Play

Villager Wan Yuk Heung's memories

"On my wedding day, I invited the British soldiers, and one of them played the Scottish Bagpipes to celebrate with us."

Do you know…

Tsuen Wan Sam Tung Uk Museum

Tsuen Wan actually holds rich Hakka cultural heritage, despite its appearance as a bustling modern district today. Walled villages like Sam Tung Uk used green bricks and wood, connecting row houses with walls for mutual protection.
Yung Shue Au Village

Yung Shue Au village relied on natural terrain for defense; these villages demonstrate Hakka practicality and unity—with cultural value just waiting to be explored!

Challenges of the Revitalisation Project

Roof and Main Structural Issues

The timber roof beams of Heung Heung Mansion are severely damaged by termites and moisture, with multiple areas warped and deformed. The collapsed roof panels cause leaks, leading to moldy walls and partial structural damages.

Picture: Condition of Heung Heung Mansion's roof before revitalisation
Roof and Main Structural Issues

Recognising the severity of these issues, THU and the CUHK youth team takes responsibility seriously. Under guidance, they apply academic knowledge to develop roof revitalisation and natural ventilation solutions for improving the overall building conditions.

Picture: Condition of Heung Heung Mansion's interior before revitalisation
Balancing Innovation and Conservation

When designing the revitalisation plan, the team sought to adopt new technologies to address climate challenges, such as installing solar photovoltaic panels on the roof to attain stable renewable energy for power supply, and creating voids and skylights to improve natural ventilation. However, integrating these modern solutions with the traditional Hakka architectural design while meeting villagers' expectations of revitalising Heung Heung Mansion to its original ambiance posed a significant challenge.

Picture: Ideas by Professor Edward Ng of CUHK's School of Architecture
Balancing Innovation and Conservation

To strike a balance between innovation and conservation, the team actively communicated with villagers to develop solutions that accommodate both perspectives. For instance, they partially used solar roof tiles instead of solar panels to echo the traditional tiled-roof aesthetic, and opted for subtle ventilation openings on the mezzanine floor rather than large voids, enhancing natural ventilation without major changes to the original spatial experience.

Picture: Idea by Professor Zhang Hong of Tsinghua University's School of Architecture

“Through this process, we learned to listen to the thought of the villagers and understand their deep affection for their homeland. Upon completion, the revitalised Heung Heung Mansion will serve as a bridge between knowledge and practice, connecting the futures of urban and rural areas. What we are revitalising is not just a building, but also hope and dreams.ˮ

Youth team reflections

The Revitalisation Journey

22 September 2023

WZQ representatives met with Yung Shue Au villagers Wan Yuk Heung (Heung Heung) and her brother to seek their consent for the revitalisation.

September - October 2024

First joint field survey conducted by THU and CUHK teams in Yung Shue Au Village, during which villagers and various experts provided professional and constructive feedback throughout the process.