Asia Society Hong Kong Centre facts for kids
The Asia Society Hong Kong Centre is a special place in Hong Kong. It's part of a bigger group called the Asia Society, which has centers all over the world, with its main office in New York City. This center opened on February 9, 2012, in the busy business area of Admiralty.
What makes this center unique is where it's built. It's on the site of an old British military explosives storage area. Several of the original military buildings have been carefully fixed up and are now part of the center. Famous architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien designed the project.
Contents
The Old Explosives Storage Area
What was the Former Explosives Magazine?
The area known as the Former Explosives Magazine (which means 'old military explosives storage') was built a long time ago, between 1843 and 1874. It was used by the British Army to store explosives for the Victoria Barracks.
How the Buildings Were Protected
The buildings in this complex were separated by large earth mounds. These mounds are called traverses. They were built to act like buffers, protecting other buildings in case one of the explosives stores blew up.
Important Historic Buildings
Some of these old buildings are considered very important to Hong Kong's history. Magazine A, Magazine B, and the Laboratory are all listed as a Grade I historic building. This means they are among the most important historical sites. Another building, Block GG, is listed as a Grade II historic building, which also means it's very important to preserve.
