In the heart of Macau’s historic San Ma Lo Street, architecture and interior design studio Linehouse has completed the transformation of a protected art deco building into the dynamic Kam Pek Market. Commissioned by SJM Resorts, the project is a masterful blend of preservation and innovation, converting a former community centre and 1980s casino into a vibrant food market that pays homage to its rich past while fiercely embracing the future.
The challenge and core concept for Linehouse was to navigate the building’s layered history. The 1920s modernist structure, once known as “Casino Kam Pek,” had most recently served as a community arts venue. The design team, led by Design Principal Briar Hickling, had a responsibility to honour these collective memories while injecting a forward-looking, progressive energy. The result is a modern heirloom that acts as a new culinary and cultural landmark for both locals and tourists.
The approach is immediately evident upon arrival. Linehouse meticulously preserved the original architectural facade, a cornerstone of the historic streetscape. This heritage shell is then animated with a new layer of neon lights and illuminated Chinese characters, creating a dynamic dialogue between past and present that spills from the street into the interior. Visitors are swept inside through a modern, teal-tiled entrance, a bold punctuation mark on the historic exterior.
Inside, the design evokes the gritty, energetic feel of Macau’s intimate laneways. Linehouse stripped the interior back to its raw existing structure, exposing concrete and brickwork, and opened up the glazing to flood the two-level space with natural light. The new insertions employ a simple, industrial palette of galvanized steel, metal mesh, tile, and concrete bricks, arranged with a creative and utilitarian precision.
Referencing the colourful shop fronts of the area, tiles in varying hues of green and terracotta are laid in stripes across floors and walls, creating a strong sense of direction and movement. Individual vendor stalls are framed within portals of galvanized steel and canopies, with lighting glowing softly behind polycarbonate panels. The ceiling is punctuated with moments of colour and energy from hovering light boxes, contributing to a dining atmosphere that is both hyped and authentically urban.
The Kam Pek Market is more than just a dining destination; it is a significant contribution to Macau’s status as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The food hall offers a diverse, plug-and-play environment for a variety of cuisines, including Chinese, Portuguese, Japanese, Thai, and Taiwanese, enriching the district’s culinary offerings and creating a new social destination for the community.
This project by Linehouse demonstrates a profound understanding of place and memory. It is not a mere restoration but a thoughtful revitalization, a place that respectfully references the unique history of the street it sits on while ambitiously looking forward to the future. The Kam Pek Market successfully revitalizes the avenue with an exciting, fresh, and charming destination that is sure to become a beloved fixture in Macau’s cultural landscape.