Central Market does not need major surgery to regain its glory, says an architect who suggests a conservative approach to preserving the 72-year-old building.
Competing with three other teams for a design to revitalise the building, Kyran Sze, executive director of Aedas, said many of its architectural features should be kept intact.
The designs are on display to collect views for the project, overseen by the Urban Renewal Authority.
Sze said vegetable and meat stalls on the first and second floors - up to five metres wide - did not need to be removed and could be reused as shops.
'The small-booth layout resembles a traditional Hong Kong where tong lau [tenement buildings] had small shop frontages, creating a diverse scene within just a few steps,' Sze said. 'In modern shopping malls, shopfronts are often wider to draw in more customers, but this sacrifices a vibrant atmosphere.'
To increase space for business, it would be possible to let a shop occupy the same area over two floors and connect them with a stairway.
