First private photography museum opens in historic Happy Valley building
Historic building in Happy Valley has been reconstructed to house the city's first private collection of rare books, cameras and pictures
A grade-three historic building in Happy Valley has been transformed into the city's first private museum of photography.
Founder and director Douglas So hopes that the F11 Photographic Museum will promote photography and the appreciation of it as an art form. He also hopes the three-storey building can serve as a model for the use of other heritage buildings.
"Revitalisation [of heritage buildings] is about soft- and hardware. We also hope this encourages private conservation of heritage buildings," So said.
"With more than 80 per cent of the heritage buildings being owned privately, there are other options for redevelopment."
He said the government could consider offering matching grants to encourage owners of heritage buildings to conserve properties that are open to non-profit or arts and cultural use.
So, 49, a solicitor and former executive director of charities for the Jockey Club, is a collector of cameras, rare photography books and prints. He developed an interest in photography when he was given his first camera when he was in Form Five.