A much-loved landmark

CLP Pulse opened after a five-year renovation of the company’s iconic 83-year-old clock tower building in Argyle Street, Kowloon – CLPs headquarters for more than seven decades until 2012 and one of Hong Kong’s most distinctive pre-war buildings.

It comprises three blocks with a vertical clock tower in the centre featuring three electric turret clocks – keepers of time that have quickly become a part of Hong Kong’s urban fabric and kept silent watch over decades of extraordinary post-war growth and development.

The striking clock tower structure includes four tiers of glass blocks above the clocks that resemble an art deco-style Chinese pagoda, and reddish-brown glazed ceramic tiles on its exterior walls.

A new role for a new century

The clock tower was listed as a Grade 1 historic building in 2018, giving CLP the opportunity to restore it as part of a series of public and private initiatives to conserve and revitalise heritage sites in Hong Kong for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

Breathing new life into a building that was nearly a century old and retaining its character while meeting modern-day building regulations was a massive task, reflects Associate Director of CLP Group Property Development Eric Ng.

“Meeting modern building requirements was a real challenge for the project team,” he explains, adding that many different options for restoration methods were considered as the team figured out ways to meet safety and ventilation requirements.

Despite the challenges, Eric concludes: “From retaining the original design and building materials and meeting safety requirements, to working around space limitations to accommodate a museum and make room for modern features, it has been a long but fulfilling journey for the project team.”

The restoration project not only preserved the building's unique features but also gave it the best possible energy efficiency and ventilation standards, demonstrating CLP's commitment to making the museum sustainable.

A landmark for generations to come

The clock tower project was not just about preserving the past, according to CLP Pulse curator Daphne Lui. It was also about making it relevant to today’s society and allowing the building to maintain its decades-long bond with the Hong Kong community.

Daphne, who oversaw the multiyear revitalisation project from start to finish, says: “It is more than just a documentation of the past. The project is testament to the Kadoorie family’s commitment to Hong Kong and to CLP’s integral role in modernising the city.

“The revitalised clock tower building symbolises the transformation of CLP and Hong Kong over the past century and the city’s ongoing journey to a sustainable future.”

Appropriately, the motto for the new culture hub is: “Treasure the past. Seize the future.” It offers visitors both a window into the past and a vision of the future.

Using a host of multimedia features and experiential features, CLP Pulse hosts themed exhibitions detailing the development of Hong Kong's electricity supply, the critical role of the Kadoorie family, and the remarkable growth of both Hong Kong and CLP over the years, while also showcasing some of the city’s intangible cultural heritage items.

Entry to the museum is free and it is a space where people can learn about Hong Kong’s electricity development and remarkable growth while discovering the importance of cultural heritage and sustainability for the city’s future.

Visitors can relax at the cafe adjacent to the garden on the first floor, where a retired tramcar is on display. Workshops and guided tours are organised, with more programmes and activities coming soon. 

CLP Pulse has breathed new life into the clock tower building and provided Hong Kong with an important new resource for education and the promotion of cultural preservation and sustainability.

An iconic building that has stood at the heart of the Kowloon community for decades is transformed into a cultural hub and the beating heart of a movement to celebrate Hong Kong’s rich past and work together for a brighter and more sustainable future.