Old Dairy Farm Depot (Fringe Club)
舊牛奶公司倉庫 (藝穗會)
1925, Institutional 機構建築
2 Lower Albert Road
香港中環下亞厘畢道 2 號
Architect: 利安顧問有限公司 (Leigh & Orange Ltd.)
The Old Dairy Farm Depot (Fringe Club) was established in 1892 and was reconstructed several times since. The current three-storey Edwardian architecture in red bricks and white plaster is a declared monument in Hong Kong.
The building was originally an icehouse to store and provide ice for British soldiers and westerners in Hong Kong. The lucrative ice business has led Dairy Farm to develop into a manufacturer and provider of ice, then subsequently expanding into milk and dairy products. The depot remained as the company‘s headquarters until 1982.
The Foreign Correspondent’s Club then occupied the north block, and shortly after, Fringe Club leased the south block, transforming the depot into the perfect art base for young artists.
舊牛奶公司倉庫建於1892年，樓高三層，曾幾度改建，現為紅磚及白色灰泥批盪的愛德華式風格建築，並納入為香港的法定古蹟。
最初，該建築只用作儲存冰塊，以供應在港的英兵及西洋人士之用。由於進口冰塊的利錢豐厚，牛奶公司於是自行生產冰塊、繼而牛奶及副食品，並以此成為牛奶公司的總部，直至1982年遷出。
從此，其北座交給香港外國記者協會為會址，南座亦於稍後成為藝穗會，為一處展示年青藝術工作者的最理想基地。
文： 馮永基 (香港註冊建築師)
攝影：香港建築中心
http://www.etnet.com.hk/www/tc/diva/art_hkac_detail.php?id=29190&page=1
