Uniquely shaped, the former Khong Guan factory stands out at the corner of MacTaggart and Burn Roads – especially so with a recent 8-storey extension that certainly added to the presence that its conserved façade has long commanded.
Having won an award for Restoration & Innovation at AHA 2018, its doors were recently opened for tours conducted by the URA, which provided an opportunity to have that much desired peek inside.
More on the factory and the restoration effort can be found at the following links:
2 MacTaggart Road : Stellar Landmark (URA)
The new star rising at MacTaggart Road
The fallen star of MacTaggart Road
The attention grabbing mosaic and iron grille work on the ground level of the triangular shaped building’s apex. The star is apparently a trademark of the maker of the iron grilles, Lea Hin Company (at the corner of Alexandra and Leng Kee Roads).
Inside what used to be a retail outlet that students from neighbouring Playfair School (across Burn Road) would frequent.
Iron grilles – very much a reminder of the days when the building came up in the 1950s. This one – a gate which the family used to gain access to their accommodation in the old building.
A view of the actual gate.
The reception – lit by a glass covered skylight.
The conjurer and his apprentice: Lee Yan Chang of URA showing the workings of the skylight’s blinds.
The skylight as seen from the terrace above.
Stairway to a new heaven.
The stairway, which leads from the lobby to the corporate offices of Khong Guan’s HQ.
The view from above.
A terrace on what used to be the roof deck of the old building.
A view of the extension from the terrace. Lightweight cladding, with aluminium honeycomb backing, is used on the exterior.
The former entrance to the building’s offices. What it looked like previously: please click.
A display window. What it looked like previously: please click.
