Creatively inclined find a home at PMQ

It started out as the city's first Western school. Then it provided housing for married junior police officers, thus becoming the Police Married Quarters, better known as PMQ.

That moniker is still in place today, but the historical site's latest incarnation has morphed into something completely different: a hangout hot spot for designers, artists and hipsters.

With its old-meets-new architecture, the revitalised heritage project is hard to miss on Hollywood Road - its images already a regular trending topic on social media.

PMQ comprises two main buildings named Hollywood (H) and Staunton (S), which are connected by a modern bridge on the fourth floor, dotted with landscaped gardens and outdoor seating. While it isn't officially open until June, parts of the complex are already buzzing with activity. The most popular of these is the Night Market, a collaboration with Hong Kong Markets Organisation. This outdoor event, held every weekend until July 27, features food and merchandise stalls, along with live performances.

"You need interaction with the public, so we are trying to organise programmes and events to achieve one or more of our objectives, which is to attract good quality traffic, being able to inspire in terms of design and content, and finally to generate revenue to sustain the project because we are non-profit," says PMQ's creative and programme director, William To.

Before you enter either building, you'll find commercial retail spaces at ground level, which are dedicated to local brands such as Bread n Butter, Vivienne Tam, G.O.D. and kapok. They are much bigger than other outlets in the city, especially Bread n Butter, which has a cafe.