Contemplate a structure that was more than just concrete and steel. That was the Yau Ma Tei Carpark Building. This public multi-story car park stood at 250 Shanghai Street in Yau Ma Tei. It was in the Yau Tsim Mong District of Hong Kong.
The Yau Ma Tei Carpark Building was built in 1970. It served the public for decades before its demolition in 2021. Its story is intertwined with the history and development of the Yau Ma Tei area.
Before the Yau Ma Tei Carpark Building, an old market occupied this site. The adjacent Market Street is named after it. The market was relocated in 1957. It moved to the Yau Ma Tei Market along Kansu Street. The Yau Ma Tei Carpark Building then rose on the old market’s grounds.
Imagine the Yau Ma Tei Carpark Building opening in 1970. It quickly became a landmark. In 1977, the Gascoigne Road Flyover was built. This flyover was constructed to ease traffic congestion. It passed directly through the Yau Ma Tei Carpark Building. This created a unique and recognizable sight.
The Yau Ma Tei Carpark Building had 770 parking spaces for cars. It also had 76 spaces for motorcycles. But it was more than just a place to park. The Yau Ma Tei Carpark Building housed government offices. It also contained non-governmental organizations. The Yau Ma Tei Public Library was located on its lower floors. The upper stories held government offices. Even the Hong Kong branch of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees once called it home. It occupied the 9th floor.
The Highways Department signed a demolition contract in 2018. Build King-SKEC Joint Venture carried out the work. The Yau Ma Tei Carpark Building closed in phases. This began in November 2020. It finally closed completely on January 1, 2021. The demolition marked the end of an era.
Think about the challenges of demolishing the Yau Ma Tei Carpark Building. It was in a busy district. Maintaining traffic on the Gascoigne Road Flyover was crucial. The demolition team implemented strict safety measures. They also used innovative technologies.
The team reprovisioned public facilities before demolition. They consulted with hawkers near the building. This minimized the impact on their businesses. An artist from Yau Ma Tei created a painting for the hoarding design. It added local color to the temporary walkway.
The Yau Ma Tei Carpark Building has served its purpose. The site will be used for the Central Kowloon Route’s underground tunnel. The Yau Ma Tei Carpark Building is now a memory.