Hong Kongers have been saying “meet me at Central Market” for almost 180 years. So, when the Urban Renewal Authority awarded Chinachem the task of revitalising and managing this iconic landmark, every team member immediately understood the magnitude of the responsibility. Central Market offers shops and stalls for daily needs, gifts, treats, places to relax, and restaurants and takeaways for quick snacks or meals with friends. This inclusivity is a perfect example of placemaking—a space that belongs to everyone, of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds. Translating Chinachem’s vision for this remarkable 12,000 sqm site in the heart of the city were Shadow Design partners, Benjamin Lam and Chan Kin Cheong. Their approach to making this key destination welcoming to all has been to remove the traditional boundaries found in mixed retail environments. The open, flowing atmosphere they’ve created encourages social interaction as people use or pass through the space, making Central Market feel relevant and universally accessible. Where divisions are required, the designers have used glass, plants, or custom-built timber latticework, ensuring clear sightlines through the space and inviting visitors to roam, explore, and uncover the multi-purpose features of this three-level venue. “We had about six very short months to turn vision into tangible experience, and Chinachem was exceptionally well-equipped to deliver on our joint promise to the URA,” commented Ben Lam, the project’s joint lead architect. “Transforming a space of this scale to this level of quality in such a short amount of time has been remarkable. And the exciting part is that a project like this only improves with use, so it will just keep getting better and better.” A key component of Chinachem’s curation of diverse small and medium-sized retailers is their innovative solution to the capex challenges of POS and shopfitting. Their ‘Plug to Operate’ scheme provides tenants with instant infrastructure, allowing them to test concepts on short-term leases with minimized risk and overhead. This means that Central Market can host businesses that might not otherwise have access to the footfall a Central location offers. This alternative approach brings the diversity essential to the Market’s long-term success in Hong Kong’s competitive retail landscape. After lying dormant for 18 years, 2021 has seen Chinachem transform this destination into a vital component of what is now referred to as Hong Kong’s cultural triangle—PMQ, Tai Kwun, and the revitalized Central Market. The phrase “meet me at Central Market” has never been more popular.