Situated in between Queen’s Road Central and Des Voeux Road Central, Central Market was completed in 1939 and closed in 2003. Following the government’s launch of its Conserving Central policy in 2009, the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) was assigned to revitalize the market. The first phase of revitalization was completed in 2021 with Chinachem Group as the operator since March 2021, while the second stage will be completed in 2022.
中環街市位於皇后大道中及德輔道中，於1939年落成，至2003年關閉。2009年，「保育中環」政策推出，由市區重建局活化。第一期活化於2021年完成，並由華懋集團於2021年3月起負責營運，而第二期活化將於2022年完成。

A Heritage Site by the Public and for the Public 公眾意見主導 古蹟融入社區

By following the Oregon Experiment, the planners and the conservationists invited members of the public to participate in the early planning stage, allowing the team to refer to the public needs, especially the creation of an “urban oasis” when designing the new use of the market. Guided by the planners and the professional team, Central Market has more than 10,000 sq ft of public open space and about 100 seats for the public. The team has also preserved the 24-hour passageway, provided support to local brands and start-ups, and overseen community events. The revitalized market was made a “Playground for All” that incorporates STEAM and retail and education-cum-entertainment. It also serves as a rally point that enhances connectivity and creates synergy among neighboring buildings.
規劃師參考美國「俄勒岡實驗」，於中環街市規劃初期邀請公眾參與，共同構思如何活化中環街市，讓專業規劃及保育團隊於籌劃時，確保活化項目符合公眾意願及需求，營造城中綠洲。在規劃師的專業團隊帶領下，活化後的中環街市，擁有逾萬呎綠化空間及約百個公眾座位，成為中環商業區內罕有的公共空間及休憩地。另外，團隊亦按照公眾意見，保留了24小時的行人通道，支持本地及初創企業，並籌備社區節目，加入教育、科技及娛樂元素，讓此項目成為區內龍頭古蹟地標，長遠而言推動社區發展。

“Revitalization First” Heritage Conservation 活化先行 兼備有形及無形文化遺產

Both the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of Central Market were carefully conserved – from the iconic Streamlined Moderne envelope to "exchange," the spirit of a market's place. The concept of "plug-to-operate" allows for flexible operations and adaptations for retailers, while the market creates a platform for start-up entrepreneurs to display their products and technologies in every part of the market. Based on Building Information Modelling, the planners made appropriate decisions to preserve the heritage site's original fabric while ensuring that the revitalized heritage site is a 21st-century marketplace that holds collective memories and suits current and future needs.
中環街市除了保留了其現代流線風格的建築外，更強調保育街市「交易」的精神，以傳統街市的彈性營運模式設計攤檔，減少對古蹟的改動，方便商戶佈置及營業。初創企業也能於古蹟任何角落展示其技術及產品。規劃團隊於復修期間以建築科技配合，將具高價值的定義特徵元素保留，盡量保存建築物原貌及大眾對建築物的集體回憶，讓活化後的古蹟能符合公眾現今及將來所需。

Existing international heritage conservation charters, local laws, and regulations lack clear guidelines for conserving reinforced concrete buildings. Due to increasing concern over conserving modern architecture, the planners organized international seminars that invited sharing from good planning and heritage conservation practices. It is expected that the Central Market project will encourage the study and discussion of the limitations of Hong Kong’s current guidelines on conserving reinforced concrete structures.

此外，鑑於街市復修前的結構狀況惡劣，未能符合公眾對古蹟新用途的意願，規劃團隊亦籌辦國際性研討會，開啟專業界別對鋼筋建築保育的討論，期望推動業界及政府為保育鋼筋古蹟制訂更適合的指引及法例。

Place-Making through the Introduction of Historic Urban Landscape 以歷史性城鎮景觀策略為本的地方營造

This project opens the study of the development of Central’s historic urban landscape under the Conserving Central policy, the invigoration of the CBD during non-office hours, and the improvement of urban infrastructure and ventilation through the introduction of the Historic Urban Landscape approach. It considered the site’s relationship with infrastructure, topography, built environment, cultural practices, economic processes, heritage context, and open spaces etc.
中環街市活化項目的規劃，透過連結周邊古蹟、街市及公共空間，開啟中環歷史城區的研究，並探討歷史性城鎮景觀如何應用於城市規劃，包括如何增加中環於非商業時間的人流、改善交通配套、城市空氣質素，為市區建立公共空間和加強中區古蹟文化的網絡。

Conclusion: From driving the public participation in the early stage of conservation, to leading the professional team in carrying out revitalization work, and to spearheading the operation team with place-making initiatives, the planners have been taking an active role throughout the Central Market revitalization process, making an exemplar of the heritage revitalization planning in Hong Kong.
總結：從保育初期的公眾參與及諮詢，到中期的古蹟復修工程及活化工作，乃至活化後重開的營運管理及地方營造，規劃師團隊於中環街市活化的不同階段，均擔當了積極及指導性的角色，成為本地古蹟活化規劃的重要範例。

Located in the heart of Hong Kong, the project demonstrates a very successful case of heritage revitalisation in Hong Kong. While the project endeavours to preserve the unique identity and characteristics of Central Market, it also successfully breathes new life into the building by integrating new design and new uses into the old fabric, providing sizable public spaces for social gathering and events and introducing a diverse tenant mix.
中環街市活化項目位於香港核心地帶，屬於一個非常成功的歷史建築活化例子。該項目盡力保留中環街市的獨特地位及特色之餘，新舊融合的設計亦為歷史建築注入新生命，為社交聚會及活動提供寬敞的公共空間，以及帶來多元化的租戶組合。

This project is of high significance to Hong Kong, and recognises the significant contribution of the planning profession in heritage conservation and active reuse of historical buildings. With this project, Hong Kong is able to achieve a vibrant, robust, dynamic and attractive facility in the heart of the downtown area to serve a wide spectrum of the community. This would not have been possible if the building were simply redeveloped into a commercial development, as once intended.
該項目對本港非常重要，對城市規劃範疇中的歷史建築活化及改造有重大貢獻。假如當初地盤重建成商業發展，今日該項目就不會出現，繼而成為市中心一個充滿活力、動感及吸引力的設施，服務大眾。

The project adopts a sustainable financing and management mode that aims at transforming Central Market into a lively, attractive and sustainable heritage building. Through building revitalisation, retention of significant character defining elements and well-thoughtout design, both the hardware and software of the Central Market are enhanced to meet the aspiration of locals and visitors alike.
該項目具備可持續的財務及管理模式，致力將中環街市打造成富有生命力及可持續發展的歷史建築。透過建築物復修、保留建築物重要元素及精心設計，中環街市的軟硬件得以提升，以切合市民及海外遊客的期望。

Echoing local policy initiatives in developing multi-purpose public facility buildings under the “Single site, multiple use” model and waste reduction, the project envisions to re-think and re-imagine Government, Institution or Community (GIC) buildings to be both functional and beneficial to the community. Taking the opportunity of a planned six-storey GIC building in Hung Shui Kiu, which includes the uses of refuse collection and recycling facilities, the project proposes an alternative model that puts emphasis on improving the working conditions of our frontline cleaners and destigmatising the waste management industry to champion a community planning-based approach to designing an inclusive waste management hub and supporting waste reduction.
為響應政策倡議以「一地多用」模式發展多用途公共設施大樓及減少廢物的目標，本項目採用以用家為本的整體規劃，旨在重新思考和想像政府、機構或社區（GIC）建築如何既顧及功能又可以惠及社區。利用政府已計劃於洪水橋的興建六層GIC大樓之契機，本項目建議了一個替代模型，以倡導社區規劃為設計方針，強調改善前線清潔工的工作環境，及糾正廢物處理行業污名化的問題，將附設的垃圾收集及廢物回收設施整合並設計一個共融廢物處理中心，及達至減少廢物的目標。

Upholding “user-centred” and “humanistic-oriented” as design principles, the project focused on understanding workers’ pain points and the community’s obstacles to reducing waste to develop the design parameters for an inclusive waste management hub. Apart from understanding the operational requirements of each use, system design is used to study the relationship between the community, waste management, and recycling facilities to inform the physical design. Special attention has been given to understanding the movement of end-users and the level of connectivity between spaces and functions to optimise the design and the use of the site to maximise efficiency.
本項目堅持「用家為本」和「人性化」為設計原則，重點了解清潔工的痛點及社區減廢的障礙及難處，制定共融廢物處理中心的設計參數。除了了解實際運作要求外，還透過研究社區、廢物處理和回收設施之間的關係，從而製定實際建築設計方案。項目特別強調剖析用家的移動方式並且重視空間和功能之間的關聯，以優化建築設計及土地使用效率，善用土地資源。

The cross-sector co-design and knowledge sharing processes involving the public, government departments, architects, academics, community green groups, concern groups have also built the community’s capacity to reimagine GIC and enact direct changes in the community they are living in, hence, reinforcing a stronger sense of responsibility and ownership of the project. To further improve the user experience, spaces are designed to foster a strong sense of community and a more user-friendly working environment, such as staff social zone for resting and socialising, multi-purpose communal spaces for reading and interacting, upcycling workstations to bring waste to second life. Flexible, comfortable and welcoming spaces, coupled with strong soft programming embraces workers’ need and incentivises community members to be more pro-active and eco-conscious in adopting recycling practices and waste reduction.
項目過程涉及不同持份者參與的跨部門共創及知識分享工作坊，當中包括公眾人士、建築師、學者、社區環保團體及關注團體。他們的參與鼓勵社區重新構想GIC設施，並在過程中給予他們機會直接改變所居住的社區，加強區民的責任感和社區意識。為進一步提升用家體驗，建築設計透過在空間規劃營造強烈的社區意識和更方便、更人性化用家的工作環境，例如加設可供員工休息及交流的員工休息區、用作閱讀和互動的多用途公共空間，以及升級再造工作坊，鼓勵公眾參與及賦予廢物第二生命。項目以設計出一個靈活使用、舒適和溫馨為主的空間，附以軟件規劃，照顧清潔工的需要，並鼓勵社區成員積極主動實踐回收和減廢行動，增強社區的環保意識。

While this concept was not adopted by the government departments at this stage, this socially inclusive hub pioneered a development model for future integrated GIC complex building which could be adopted in New Development Areas (NDA) and in retrofitting GICs in the urban areas to contribute to environmental and social sustainability. To further spark reimagination and deliberations on integrated public facility transformations, an innovative project delivery working model, as well as design guidelines concerning cleaners and recycling centre’s need, is proposed for built environment professionals’ reference to understand users’ needs and achieve land optimisation. Aside from improving the cleaners’ working condition, the intervention also builds the community’s capacity to embrace the waste management industry and sensibility on waste management practices, encouraging the public to establish a routine recycling behaviour and leading to long-term urban sustainability. This project is an exemplar that initiates changes through holistic community planning practices to address societal problems, and promotes sustainability and sense of community in a pragmatic and holistic manner.
現階段，政府部門並沒有採立本項目的設計概念。但當中所提議的社區共融廢物處理中心是一個可供未來於新發展區及市區內的綜合公共設施大樓參考及改造的創新發展模式，以促進社會和環境的可持續性。為了引起社會對改造綜合公共設施方面的想像和討論，本項目提出了社會創新項目的建議運作模式，以及有關於清潔工和回收中心需求的設計指南，供建築環境專業人士參考，從而了解用家需求及改善土地利用。本項目不僅改善了清潔工人的工作環境，還促進社區包容廢物處理行業，提升社區對廢物處理的關注，培養社區的回收習慣，實現長期的城市可持續性。本項目是一項楷模，利用整體社區規劃實踐並全面解決社會問題，提高可持續性和社區意識。

In adopting the “Single Site, Multiple Use” principle, the project endeavours to address current fragmented management of waste and recycling, to improve the working condition of workers, and to educate the public through a systematic and organised waste management hub. The project is innovative and will be a precedent case in Hong Kong to consolidate waste management, recycling and environmental education under one roof, if implemented.
該項目秉持「一地多用」的原則，致力通過系統化的共融廢物處理中心，解決目前廢物及回收設施分開管理的問題，改善工人的工作環境，以及教育公眾。該項目具創新性，如項目得以實踐，將成為香港集廢物管理、回收及教育用途於一身的首例。

The adoption of a bottom-up approach through a series of community participation events to examine the waste and recycling issues and solicit the stakeholders and workers’ views is commendable.
通過由下而上的參與方式，包括一系列的社區參與活動探討廢物及回收問題，並聽取持份者及員工的意見，值得讚許。

The project creates positive social impacts in promoting an inclusive working environment for the workers (i.e. cleaners and recyclers) to work with respect and dignity.
該項目對社會產生正面影響，為員工（清潔工人及回收工人）創造共融的工作環境，讓他們得以受尊重和有尊嚴地工作。

The project is of high originality and sustainability. This model could be applied in other districts and be incorporated into relevant guidelines/standards, if successfully implemented.
該項目有高度原創性及可持續性。如項目能成功實踐，有關設計模型可應用於其他地區，並納入相關指引或標準。

The design thinking process is clear and concise.
該項目的設計思考過程清晰簡潔。