The blue paint color was a result of a surplus of paint provided by the government during building maintenance in the 1990s.
The complex was originally the site of the Wah To Hospital, a traditional Chinese medical clinic serving the local population in the 1880s.
It remains one of the few historic tenements in Hong Kong that continues to host original long-term residents alongside new community programming.
The project is unique in Hong Kong for using a 'community-based' conservation model rather than commercial redevelopment.
The interior retains original wooden floorboards and internal partition layouts typical of the early 20th-century 'tong lau' style.
The Blue House is a rare four-storey Lingnan-style tenement building located in the Wan Chai district of Hong Kong. Its defining features are the vibrant blue facade and distinctive timber balconies with ornate iron railings. Originally constructed in the 1920s, the structure serves as a model for urban revitalization by integrating original architectural elements with modern community use. It is part of a cluster of historic buildings known as the 'Blue House Cluster,' which includes the Yellow House and Orange House. The complex is now a residential and community hub managed under the Viva Blue House project. It won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2017. The ground floor houses the Hong Kong House of Stories, a community museum focusing on local history and folk culture. Visitors can explore the preserved living spaces that demonstrate 20th-century urban tenement life. The building is one of the few remaining examples of 'tong lau' architecture in the city to retain its original internal timber staircases.
From the opposite side of Stone Nullah Lane to capture the full vertical span of the blue exterior and traditional balconies.
Focus on the ground-floor House of Stories to better understand the social history of the local Wan Chai community.
Respect the privacy of the long-term residents by staying within the public areas and designated exhibition zones.
Do not attempt to enter private upper-level residential corridors or attempt to photograph individual residents' homes.
The House of Stories is generally closed on Wednesdays.
Maintain a quiet volume as this is a functional residential building.
