Roberts Block, Old Victoria Barracks: Roberts Block Open HeArts Centre

• Selected applicant: Christian Oi Hip Fellowship Limited (Cooperating organistion: Art Hub Asia Company Limited)
• Capital cost: About HK$153.7 million (as at Nov 2016 price level)
• Government subsidy required for operation of social enterprise: About HK$5 million

General Project Description

• To convert Roberts Block, Old Victoria Barracks, into a creative arts and play therapy centre. The proposal aims to promote psychological and emotional wellness, providing the public with skills for stress management;
• To provide people in need with music, drama, arts and play therapy to release their pressure.

Historical Significance

The historical significance of the building will be demonstrated and maintained by:

• Retaining its architectural features as an Edwardian classical style building by preserving the existing central core room layout on the ground floor. An exhibition hall will be provided to display the authentic Edwardian classical style interior;
• Displaying the history of Roberts Block and its surrounding historical buildings of the Victorian Barracks in the early 1900s as a whole. A display room will be set up to emphasise the historic value of the Roberts Block as married quarters for the military; and
• Documenting the whole revitalisation process and displaying the result on the walls of verandah.

Technical Aspects

Roberts Block Open HeArts Centre complies with conservation guidelines by:

• Complying with modern day requirements;
• Preserving the existing architectural features and external facades;
• Replacing the external staircase of the building by a new staircase, additional accessible lift and link bridges to be connected to the ground floor, first floor and second floor of the building;
• Providing fire service water tanks at the open space next to the building;
• Removing metal frame with wire mesh fixing at verandah openings. New glass balustrade would be constructed as a protective barrier; and
• Constructing a lift tower with a staircase connecting from Kennedy Road to the Roberts Block site.

Social Benefits

The project will bring benefits to the society by:

• Raising the awareness of psychological wellbeing in Hong Kong, reducing stress and depression of Hong Kong people and promoting mental health;
• Providing free initial professional assessment and treatment recommendations to the underprivileged groups;
• Presenting more concrete and effective therapy programmes and activities to different target groups, including experiential workshops for general public; programmes for students to manage emotion; parent-child relations workshops; retreat and training programmes on tension relief for organisations, etc.; and
• Arranging public guided tours introducing the historic value and revitalisation process of the building.

Selected Organisation

Christian Oi Hip Fellowship Limited was established in 1990. It is a non-profit-making organisation which aims to promote psychiatric wellness and mental health. Core services provided by the organisation include personal care, group work, consultation and training, communal and educational activities.

Art Hub Asia Company Limited (AHA) was established in 2014. It strives to promote arts and culture and education. Apart from organising exhibitions, AHA collaborates with non-profit organisations, primary and secondary schools to organise art classes and workshops.

Way Forward

• The selected organisation has to:
  • complete the detailed project design;
  • complete the required administrative procedures;
  • seek planning permission (where applicable) from the Town Planning Board on the intended usage;
  • seek formal funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council;
  • carry out the renovation work (anticipated renovation period: phase 1 - around 18 months; phase 2 – around 30 months);
  • apply for licences (where applicable) for intended operations; and
  • sign with the Government agreements on operations of the social enterprise and preservation of the historic building.
• Anticipated Project Commissioning Time: phase 1 – 2023; phase 2 - 2024;
• Anticipated Breakeven Time: Year 3