The Blue House Cluster

Preserving the Blue House Cluster

In the Spring semester of 2018, the Department of Visual Studies, Lingnan University has collaborated with St James’ Settlement to develop a service-learning project within the undergraduate course "CLB9016 Understanding Museums". Under the academic supervision of Professor Michelle Huang and in consultation with Dr Vivian Ting, eighteen students have assisted in conducting research on heritage preservation in relation to community museums in Hong Kong. They have also explored the functions and public programmes of the Blue House Cluster, which is located at Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

Among the three interconnected buildings – Blue House, Yellow House and Orange House – the Blue House is a four-storey Lingnan-style house built in the 1920s in Wanchai and is listed as a Hong Kong Grade I historic building. In 2007, the Wan Chai Livelihood Place was established in the ground floor of the Blue House, and in 2012 it was renamed as the Hong Kong House of Stories, to raise public awareness of regional and cultural conservation.

“Understanding Museums, Spring 2018”

Project Outcomes

Research Materials and Data Analysis for a Heritage Report

Interviews and other reference sources are collected from each group of students, and their bilingual text for their assigned topics is selected and edited for final inclusion in a heritage report on preserving the Blue House Cluster.
Students are guided to examine principles of heritage conservation and evaluate the interpretation of local history and culture in the exhibitions and public programme.

2. Knowledge Transfer

Two site visits are arranged for students to meet the heritage preservation consultant, Mr Hanny Ng, and residents in Wan Chai.
Selected students have shared their service-learning experience with a wide audience, including the curatorial team of St James’ Settlement and the residents in Wan Chai, through interviews and presentations.
Textual and visual documentation of the whole service-learning process and project outcomes is presented in this webpage and other publications for educational purposes.

3 . Resume Development

Some students of Lingnan University have gained work experience in local museums and non-profit organisations.
Some of them have undertaken other internships and part-time jobs in related fields.

4. Life-transforming Personal Development

Students are benefitting from the teamwork experience, new exposure and enhanced transferrable skills. This service-learning project has deepened their understanding of the social, economic and cultural history of 20th-century Hong Kong.
Students develop a positive attitude towards museums and community engagement.

Students

Chan Chung Ting, Winfred

Cheung Hoi Yan

Choi Wing Kiu, Winky

Kung Ka Lee, Kelly

Lee Sum Yin, Ivy

Lee Tin Wing, Chloe

Liu Pui Yi, Peggy

Luk Sze Wing, Tammy

Ng Chun Yeuk, Kelvin

Emily Stacey Agnus Reid

Tam Kwan Ling, Vanessa

Tin Cheuk Sze, Macy

To Wiphawinee, Winnie

Wu Chun Ho, Jimmy

Wu Hiu Lam, Cheryl

Wu Pok Yin, John

Yeung Cheuk Ying, Minnie

Yim Chi Nam, Hazel

Acknowledgements

Service Agency and Project Consultant

Ms Vangi Fong, Project Officer at St James’ Settlement

Dr Vivian Ting, Independent Curator

Course Instructor and Supporting Staff

Department of Visual Studies, Lingnan University

Prof. Michelle Huang, Assistant Professor

Office of Service-Learning, Lingnan University

Ms Joy Lam, Senior Project Officer

Mr Sam Lam, Service-Learning Teaching Assistant

This project was substantially supported by the Early Career Scheme award from the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong (Project no. 2360171) and was partly funded by the Office of Service-Learning at Lingnan University. We hereby acknowledge the help, support and feedback from the following institutions and individuals who have made the rewarding collaborative project possible.