In 1953, a devastating fire broke out in Shek Kip Mei, leaving around 58,000 people homeless. To resettle the victims, the government built a series of H-shaped, low-rise blocks that would later mark the beginning of Hong Kong’s public housing policies. Mei Ho House is the only surviving block, which was granted grade II historic building status in 2010.

Today, Mei Ho House is the site of the YHA Mei Ho House Youth Hostel, comprising 129 rooms and common areas; the retro-themed cafe House 41; and the Heritage of Mei Ho House Museum, which preserves aspects of Hong Kong’s housing estate history as well as the history of the city’s culture and traditions from the 1950s to 70s.

See more Heritage snippets here.