Converted from the only remaining match-box factory in Hong Kong to a sustainable public rental housing block in 2016, Wah Ha Estate provides homes to 187 families. The estate has recently won the Project of the Year Award – Residential Building (2021) from the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, Hong Kong Region. The award recognises the Hong Kong Housing Authority’s (HA’s) achievements in design, construction, installation, commissioning and operation of a low energy building.

The project has adopted various building designs and the building services systems to promote energy saving, boost caring to residents, ensure the building meets the set green targets, and conserve the historical value of the 55-year-old Chai Wan Factory Estate.

Wah Ha Estate was the first project in the HA to roll out energy efficient LED luminaries in public housing estates. The rainwater harvesting system has adopted to collect rainwater from the green roof of the building block, then filtered and sterilised for irrigation purpose. It helps minimise reliance on water supply and burden of rainwater drainage.

To mitigate the noise impact from the railway and road traffic, an acoustic balcony has been incorporated into the flats close to Chai Wan MTR Station. Habitable areas of those flats has been oriented away from the sightline of the MTR Station and the roads nearby.