J Residence is the first residential development in Hong Kong to incorporate the adaptive reuse of five historical buildings – No. 18 Ship Street and Nos. 60 – 66 Johnston Road in their 3-storey commercial floors.  The existing pre-war shophouses are adapted for new public usage, which form a living and functional part of the community and not merely historical artefacts for display.  By combining various elements such as technological improvements (e.g. lift installation, provision of adequate means of escape, plumbing and drainage system to meet current statutory standard and modern demand) and aesthetic more in line with modern sensibilities, the integration of the pre-war shophouses and the new residential development has created a highly representative piece of architecture that attracts people.

The historical buildings have been integrated with the new development as a whole rather than treated as separate entities.  The mass of the podium design has been broken down with the introduction of publicly accessible open spaces of various levels of the podium with emphasis on the uniqueness of the historical buildings.  The introduction of commercial facilities of the street and podium levels are enhances the existing shopping street character in Wan Chai.

The existing shophouse at no. 18 Ship Street is accorded Grade II status by the Historical Buildings and Structures Committee of the Antiquities Advisory Board (AAB) on 13 December 2000.  This prewar building was most unique in that it was built, owned and occupied by the same family until it was acquired by the Urban Renewal Authority.  The existing building is characterized by its refined terrazzo floor finishes, decorate mosaic floor tiles, the small and elegant balconies with decorative cast iron balustrade motifs, as well as the ornamental pilaster will features on both side of the ground floor shop front.

J Residence represents a breakthrough in Hong Kong, as it is the premier project within Hong Kong to integrate adaptive re-use of historical buildings.

 The project awarded QBA- Merit Award in Residential Category (2010).