Wan Chai’s Blue House, a tong lau that was conserved and transformed into a residence and recreational building, was recently granted the Award of Excellence by UNESCO in its Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. The award is a true feather in the cap for Hong Kong, being the highest-level award the city has ever received from the heritage organization. The building complex was one of 43 submissions, gaining judges’ notice for its inclusive approach to conservation.

Fifteen other projects from six countries throughout the region were also recognized by UNESCO, including the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Shanghai, the Royal Bombay Opera House in Mumbai, and the Brookman and Moir Streets Precinct in Perth.