HKAPA has been established for over 40 years, but it is tied to a history that goes back far further. The elegant Béthanie Landmark Heritage Campus in Pok Fu Lam occupies the former Béthanie sanatorium, which opened 150 years ago.
An institution originally built to serve the French missionaries was sold to Hongkong Land in 1974 and had a demolition order hanging over its head for five years. The Government resumed the site in 1975 and in 1981 the Béthanie was declared a Grade II listed building. In 2003, the Béthanie was allocated to the Academy for restoration. The complex reopened in 2006, and has become the home of the Academy's School of Film and Television. From its transformation from a sanatorium to a heritage campus, it is not only a witness to history and the values of our times, but also an ever-evolving cradle for young creative talent.
In 1685, The Missions Étrangères de Paris (the French Mission) came to Asia. The Society also had plans to build a sanatorium for missionaries suffering from tropical diseases. In 1873, under the leadership of Father Pierre-Marie Osouf, then the head of the French Mission in Hong Kong, action was taken. The sanatorium opened in 1875. In 2003, HKAPA was handed the reins for the restoration and management of the Béthanie.
Challenges of a New Life
The sanatorium is a two-storey building with abasement, chapel, and the H-shape service wing. The centrepiece is a beautiful Neo-Gothic chapel, featuring pointed arches evoking 13th century Gothic monasteries in France, and a ribbed vaulted ceiling inspired by buildings in the Middle Ages. Years of alterations meant that many of the original furnishings had been removed.
When the Academy took over, restoration and renovation works were launched to restore the original look of the sanatorium. In 2006, the Béthanie became the second campus of the Academy.
Sustainable Development in Action
The Béthanie Landmark Heritage Campus, housing the facilities of the School of Film and Television, opened its doors to students. The campus comprises the Béthanie Theatre, the Sir YK Pao Studio, and the Béthanie Chapel.
The modern Béthanie Theatre is converted from an octagonal cowshed formerly owned by Dairy Farm. It is equipped with movable seating and audio-visual facilities for hosting seminars and film screenings. An adjacent cowshed is retained for the public's in appreciation of the site's historic value. The Sir YK Pao Studio, located on the second floor, had its 60s-installed flat roof removed, and the original pitched design reinstated but fitted with glazed insulated glass for better lighting and a sense of spaciousness. On the same floor are a screening room, an audio-visual room, and facilities for production design. The French missionaries' wine cellar was converted into a museum displaying the history of the Béthanie, and the villages in the vicinity.
Dr Terry Lam, Dean and alumnus of Film and Television of the Academy, is honoured to be working on this campus where the historic and the modern come together. “This is a richly historical space fitted out with the latest film production facilities. The main building and the cowshed are home to a professional screening room, an audio-visual room, and facilities for production design. Even the wine cellar has been repurposed into a gallery displaying the history of the site. The charming integration of old and new allows our teaching and creative activities to connect with the cutting-edge technology, while being grounded in culture and history.”
The Béthanie Campus is available for hire for cultural and artistic events. The films Fly Me to Polaris and Blind Detective were shot on location here, while the chapel has been, for years, one of Hong Kong's hottest wedding locations – a success story for how a heritage site can become a self-sustainable resource. On the Academy's Open Day, the public is welcome to visit the Béthanie Campus for free, and enjoy performances by HKAPA students, amidst all the grace and grandeur.
For teachers and students who spend most of their days on campus, the Béthanie is a font of inspiration. "It oozes with history. We feel it walking on the patterned tiles in the corridor, discussing a script under a lofty ceiling, or catching a glimpse of a wedding underway at the chapel." Not only does history add atmosphere, it also offers precious nutrients for creativity.
Therapy After Class
Dorathy Wong, a first-year student at the School of Film and Television, feels fortunate to be spending her time on this "very cool" campus every day. "When I first arrived, the upper-class students gave us a tour," she recalls. "I'll never forget how moved I was by the sight of the glass roof and the expansive views of the sea."
After first learning about the site's history from her teachers, Dorathy did her own research, and was surprised to find that the Government issued a demolition order for the site in 1975. It was only a turn of fate that landed the Béthanie in the Academy's hands. "One could say HKAPA redeemed the chapel in a way similar to how it gave new life to us, Film and Television students," she says.
Dorathy's favourite spot on campus is the small but wellstocked library. "The resources are amazing," she notes. "Watching a film here after class is my ultimate relaxation."
Future Mission
Whether as a sanatorium or a hub for arts education, the Béthanie has always taken upon itself to mend and nurture bodies, hearts and souls. As the campus marks Béthanie's 150th anniversary, Professor Anna CY Chan, Director of the Academy, pays tribute to the legacy begun in 1875.
"It is an enormous honour to inspire young people within this Neo-Gothic monument, where history and technology dynamically converge," says Professor Chan. "As Director, I am deeply aware of our mission's far-reaching implications. Art is integral to our lives, and we have a responsibility to share the beauty and grandeur of the performing arts with a wider public. I have been immensely fortunate to witness, with great joy, the growth of countless talented students in this unique setting. My hope is that they become conduits of artistic power, integrating new technology with this historic ambience to scale great creative heights. The Academy always strives for excellence and expands the bounds of possibility."
Dr Lam also believes that the Béthanie enables students not only to become skilled professionals, but also to learn respect for history and gain profound insights into art. "I hope we can continue to craft our stories on this wonderfully storied land," he says.