Old Chinese Buildings

Except the absence of elevator and luxurious lobbies, gym & swimming pool (which i do not mind, in my country we usually do not have any), what are the inconvenients linked to living in a chinese old builting (Tonglau or Donglau) ?

Where can i find some conveniently located next to MTR (like 10' walk max), HK side ?

Thank you

Hi Mayita,


Maybe not necessarily an inconvenience, but the old Chinese buildings often have equally old wiring, so there can sometimes be problems with the electrics.


You could try the Tin Hau area - along Tung Lo Wan Road, opposite Tin Hau MTR station.

living in an older building has benefits,

however, one major drawback can be old pipes.

a friend of mine rented a unit in an older apartment when she was pregnant. her child was sick all the time. her doctors tested the child and found extremely high levels of mercury in the child's system. her doctors told her to check the pipes in her building.

in my former 40 year old building, big flying c*ckroaches

High-Priced Flats in Hong Kong’s Art Hub


By Alice Truong


Image: http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-KY357_1119ho_D_20101119064140.jpg[/img]

/slideshow: http://blogs.wsj.com/hong-kong/2010/11/22/high-priced-flats-in-hong-kongs-art-hub/tab/slideshow/

For Ilse Crawford, it’s the details that make a home.

British Design in Hong Kong


Developer Blake's brought in London-based Ilse Crawford[/b] to design TwoTwoSix on Hollywood Road in Sheung Wan. Still under development, the building features two-bedroom apartments priced between 23 million and 25 million Hong Kong dollars, or US$3 million-3.2 million. Ms. Crawford gives a tour of the 1,450-square-foot second-floor show flat.


When she designed TwoTwoSix, a residential property in Sheung Wan named after its Hollywood Road address, the London-based architect—whose client list includes Marks & Spencer, DKNY and Volvo—focused on the minutiae.


In the bathroom, she chose yellow metals for bath fixtures to create a sense of warmth. The living room mixes different types of low-level lights with natural light.


Hong Kong developer Blake’s hired Ms. Crawford to bring her vision to the five-story building, which has one two-bedroom, two-bathroom residence on each floor. Currently, only the second-floor apartment is ready for move-in—the rest are under construction. Still, the third-floor apartment, which has 1,450 square feet, sold in September for 21.5 million Hong Kong dollars (US$2.77 million), or HK$14,828 (US$1,912) per square foot. The remaining apartments are being priced at HK$21-23 million, with the penthouse reserved for offer.


Ms. Crawford said the TwoTwoSix project appealed to her because of the location: Sheung Wan.


“It’s for someone who has an international connection in some way—a well-traveled, well-educated individual who wants to connect to the area,” she says.


/source: http://blogs.wsj.com/hong-kong/2010/11/22/high-priced-flats-in-hong-kongs-art-hub/


/ REBIRTH of a neighborhood: http://www.blakes.hk/newsclip/Blake%27s_Rebirth-of-a-Neighbourhood.pdf