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On Hong Kong’s largest island, Lantau, are 19 tiny, remote stone huts dotted across a mountainside. The flat-roofed cabins of Lantau Mountain Camp are nestled on the slopes below Sunset Peak (Hong Kong’s 3rd-highest mountain at 869m) and Yi Tung Shan (747m).The huts were built from 1925 to 1930 for missionaries from different countries, principally the United States, United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Switzerland and Germany, who would go there as a summer getaway.
Thomas Cheung and Nicky Wong tell the story of these rough-hewn, single-storey cabins, which range in size from 20 to 40 sqm, with two or three rooms and a bathroom but no mains electricity – and of their project for the architectural restoration and preservation of the huts.
Some of the cabins still belong to the churches that built them in the 1920s and 1930s, while other cabins have been bought by individuals seeking tranquillity, cooler summer days and the spectacular views of mountain and city. On clear days, one can see Kowloon, Cheung Chau, Hong Kong International Airport and Shenzhen, as well as the wildernesses of Lantau, some of the many views shown in this richly illustrated presentation.
Thomas Chung is Professor at the School of Architecture and Founding Director of Research Centre for Sustainable Placemaking and Urban-rural Regeneration (SPUR), The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Since 2019, his research in countryside conservation is driven by regenerative design and interdisciplinary action research. Projects such as Project Plum Grove has received national and international recognition including the Times Higher Education THE Awards Asia 2025 Research Project of the Year. Thomas leads a multi-disciplinary team at SPUR dedicated to developing sustainable urban-rural futures for all.
Nicky Wong Hung Chuen is Founder, Tarmku Studio Limited and an independent conservation architect with over 10 years' experience in design and execution on residential. commercial. institutional and heritage conservation projects. Involved in renowned conservation projects like State Theatre Revitalisation, Nga Tsin Wai Village Conservation Park. SKH Bishop's House Refurbishment, CLP Former Head Office Revitalisation, St. Paul's Hospital Redevelopment, Kowloon Methodist Church, Nicky has extensive experience in the conservation of various type of heritage. Nicky established Tarmku Studio to continue to focus on architectural design and heritage conservation projects.
Members of the RGS and their guests are most welcome to attend this event. The ticket is HK$200 for RGS Members and HK$250 for RGS members' guests. This event is free of charge for student members.
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The opinions expressed in this event are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Royal Geographical Society - Hong Kong.
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Fairmont House, 8 Cotton Tree Drive, Central, Hong Kong
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