Built by the British in 1887 to defend its interests against the hawkish French and Russians, it was also the site of a fierce World War II battle between the British, Canadian and Indian soldiers entrusted with the task of defending Hong Kong and 20,000 Japanese soldiers.

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Overview of the new Building

This project reuses the building structure of an old fort to accommodate the museum of coastal defense. Almost no major demolition was required and additional access and facilities were provided to the magnificent site. New structures and facilities include a lift tower for visitor access (which is also used to channel cables and pipelines to the redoubt, thus minimizing excavation works), footbridge and road access, a viewing platform and a café. The existing building containing a network of underground chambers used as exhibition rooms is covered with a tension structure, which provide a great volume for the museum preserving the original architecture of the building. The tension structure is supported by 100 mini piles driven to a depth of 14m at carefully chosen spots around the historical site. This project also reuses old bricks from the Sai Ying Pun old mental hospital, to repair the battery brick wall. The site provides promenades and great sea view, facing one of the accesses of the Harbour.

Repaired with bricks from the
Sai Ying Pun old mental hospital

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