Revitalising Markets and Malls for Modern Communities

In Hong Kong, the pursuit of a better quality of life is constantly evolving. Whether shopping for fresh ingredients at the market, spending weekends with their children or dining with family and friends, people increasingly value thoughtful details and a sense of genuine warmth in their daily lives. Spaces that once focused solely on function no longer meet modern expectations. Nowadays, people look for environments that blend comfort and convenience while fostering meaningful connection.

 
Take fresh markets, for instance. Twenty years ago, they were stuffy, crowded and slippery – places people visited out of necessity, not desire. Today’s fresh markets have been completely transformed. Air-conditioned, dry and well-organised, these markets have changed grocery shopping from a chore into an experience people can enjoy.

Since 2010, Link has been at the forefront of revitalising the fresh markets it manages. It began with pilot projects at Tai Po’s Tai Yuen Market and Kowloon’s Lok Fu Market in Wang Tau Hom. To date, the company has completed 52 market renovations. Drawing inspiration from acclaimed markets around the world – such as France’s use of red lighting to enhance the look of fresh meat and Barcelona’s emphasis on flow and aesthetics – Link also integrated valuable feedback from local communities. The result is a series of markets that preserve their familiar neighbourhood charm while embracing modern design. From red-tinted lampshades to LED lighting, slippery floors to anti-slip tiles, cash-only transactions to electronic payments, every detail has been upgraded to enhance hygiene, convenience and visual appeal, with plenty of Instagram-worthy touches along the way.

Link merged the best design elements of leading international markets with the strengths of Hong Kong’s traditional ones, transforming the fresh market into a lively and enjoyable part of residents’ daily lives.

Parents can now bring their children along to shop for groceries and share everyday experiences together, transforming what were once damp, chaotic markets into inviting, family-friendly spaces where generations connect.

The transformation of fresh markets is just one example of Link’s broader commitment to community enhancement. The company has completed more than 100 retail asset enhancement projects across Hong Kong to date. These initiatives span property planning, interior redesign, facility upgrades and curated tenant mixes, all supported by improved customer service – encouraging residents to shop locally while attracting visitors from other districts. Each project also reflects the principles of “placemaking”: adapting changes to the real needs of local residents, strengthening the bond between people and place and ensuring that commerce and community life grow together in harmony.

Tsz Wan Shan Shopping Centre is a prime example. Its recent expansion introduced the Tsz Wan Shan Playground, an outdoor complex spanning the fifth and sixth floors and covering more than 34,000 square feet. It features Kowloon’s first water playground complete with a flying water slide and splash pool. The area also includes a basketball court with camouflage flooring, a sky garden, a butterfly garden and an outdoor theatre, creating vibrant new recreational spaces for local youth and recalibrating Tsz Wan Shan’s image from an ageing district into a fun-filled new locale.

The renovation of Sau Mau Ping Shopping Centre further highlights Link’s people-centric philosophy. The third floor has been transformed into the 12,000-square-foot “Geometric Wonderzoo”, with a 2.5-metre-tall Elephant Slide where children can play and explore. Adjacent to it, the indoor area has been reimagined as a lively dining zone, featuring restaurants selected according to community feedback. With floor-to-ceiling windows and direct access to the outdoor playground, parents can dine comfortably while watching their children at play. The mall also reinforces Link’s commitment to sustainability through an energy management system and energy-efficient facilities that align with the expectations of today’s environmentally conscious visitors.

Covering more than 34,000 square feet, Tsz Wan Shan Shopping Centre’s Tsz Wan Shan Playground offers a variety of play facilities designed to inspire exploration and help children develop social skills.

The “Geometric Wonderzoo” on the third floor of Sau Mau Ping Shopping Centre spans nearly 12,000 square feet and features more than 10 large-scale play structures. It also marks Link’s 100th completed asset enhancement project in Hong Kong.

Recognising the growing bond between Hong Kong residents and their pets, Link has rolled out a series of pet-friendly initiatives. The first floor of Tai Yuen Commercial Centre has been completely transformed, with its 66,000-square-foot platform reimagined as “Play Eat Tai Yuen”. Blending play, relaxation and dining, the space allows pet owners and their furry friends to enjoy quality time together – attracting visitors of all ages and bringing new energy to Yuen Chau Tsai.

Link has reimagined the public spaces at Tai Yuen Commercial Centre as welcoming community areas where families and pets can spend time together. With artistic and playful design touches, the space has become an Instagram-worthy destination celebrating the joy of human-pet connection.

Link’s sports facilities also play a vital role in community life. Across roughly 80 locations in Hong Kong, the company provides 120 basketball courts, football pitches and multi-purpose sports grounds. Many of these have been upgraded to connect directly with shopping malls and feature bold colour palettes and eye-catching murals, turning once utilitarian spaces into vibrant community hubs.

Such asset enhancements do not happen overnight. Link continually monitors community needs and regularly refines its planning to sustain the long-term vitality of its properties. By remaining attentive to residents’ expectations and supporting tenants’ success, Link helps build lively, resilient neighbourhoods – a social responsibility the company takes seriously. Looking ahead, Link will continue to harness asset enhancement to help everyone discover their own moments of joy within their communities.

At Tai Wo Plaza, local illustrator Kazy Chan was commissioned to create more than 20 hand-drawn works themed around environmental protection and sustainable development, enriching the space with creativity and local character.

Several of Link’s basketball courts have been redesigned with bold colour palettes and photogenic murals, turning them from simple sports facilities into distinctive, vibrant gathering spots for the community.