Villa Haw Par officially entered a new chapter on 1 June 2026 with a groundbreaking ceremony marking its transformation into Hong Kong’s first cultural villa. Led by the Foundation for Art and Culture, the project will reimagine the Grade 1 historic site as a destination for artistic exchange, public engagement and cross-cultural dialogue.
Originally built in 1935 by Aw Boon Haw, the site embodies Hong Kong’s layered cultural heritage. Its restoration envisions a new model for cultural programming that bridges history and contemporary practice, while placing Hong Kong within a broader international dialogue.
The ceremony included remarks by Mr. Arthur de Villepin, followed by a speech by Miss Rosanna Law and a presentation by Ms. Sara Mao outlining the vision for the site, culminating in a symbolic groundbreaking.
“Following an open and fair selection process, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau engaged the Foundation for Art and Culture (FAC) last year to operate Haw Par Mansion on a non-profit, self-financing basis for arts and cultural use. The project echoes our policy direction of developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. We attach great importance to it, with high hopes that it will contribute significantly to realising that vision.”
– Miss Rosanna Law, JP, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government
“Villa Haw Par could not exist anywhere else. Because it is deeply rooted in Hong Kong’s Identity – a place where tradition and modernity have never been in opposition, but in constant dialogue. Hong Kong has always been more than a meeting point between East and West. It is a place of creation, of reinvention, of synthesis. Villa Haw Par reflects that spirit.”
– Mr. Arthur de Villepin, Chairman of the Foundation for Art and Culture and CEO of Villepin Group
“At its core, Villa Haw Par is a public commitment — to heritage, to artistic dialogue, and to international programming. Every decision balances preservation with reinvention. We are restoring a legacy not only to preserve heritage, but to make it accessible and to reinvent it as a world-class cultural institution.”
– Ms. Sara Mao, Executive Director, Villa Haw Par
At its core is a carefully conceived visitor journey, beginning with a “Garden of Wonders” where historic sculptures meet contemporary works within a landscape inspired by the origins of Tiger Balm.
Within the villa, a series of research, exhibition and immersive spaces will unfold alongside artist residencies and a cinema programme celebrating Hong Kong’s cultural legacy. The project as a whole is conceived as a platform for heritage, artistic dialogue and international programming.
The transformation will unfold in phases from 2026, with progressive openings leading to the full activation of the site. Operating as a self-financing, non-profit institution, Villa Haw Par will also engage a network of cultural partners both locally and internationally.
Guided by a commitment to preservation and reinvention, Villa Haw Par is poised to become a leading cultural institution in Hong Kong and beyond.
