Problem or solution : review on establishing modern museum in heritage building using Sam Tung Uk Museum as case study

Abstract

This research examines a common assumption and practice in the conservation field of turning historical buildings into museums. The choice of revitalizing a heritage building into a museum is commonly practiced in many cities around the world, as it is considered to be a good channel for conserving the ambience and significance of heritage buildings. This is certainly the case in Hong Kong, where many such heritage buildings have become museums. However, many simply display artifacts used in the past, which are not of much interest to the general public today. In order to find out the present expectation for museum, the Sam Tung Uk Museum is used as a case study to review on visitor experience and comment. By comparing the public’s expectations of the museum with what is now being presented, it is clear that the Sam Tung Uk Museum is not fulfilling what the public wants in a modern day museum, especially in its presentation of antiquities and its promotion of the museum. It is believed that this is not a single case in Hong Kong as the converting of heritage building into museum is generally practiced in the early 21st century. Sam Tung Uk Museum can then be used as a case for discussing the big picture of Hong Kong. Although the need for improving museum today is quite an important topic, it is also necessary to note that potential changes to the building will violate the Burra Charter and other international conservation guidelines. Base on the answer collected from the case study, this research reviews the feasibility of converting heritage buildings into museums and gives suggestions for future revitalization practice in the aim of balancing conservation requirements and public expectations to museums.