Windsor House
A mixed-use commercial development in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, combining a shopping centre with an office tower.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Windsor House is a mixed-use commercial development on Gloucester Road in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Its principal components are a multi-level shopping centre, an office tower, and associated public and transport-facing facilities. The complex occupies a prominent position near Victoria Park, Causeway Bay station, and Hong Kong's tram network, placing it within one of the city's best-known retail and commercial districts. The development stands on land formerly used for Dairy Farm cold stores. Hongkong Land obtained the site through its 1972 acquisition of Dairy Farm and initially considered developing a hotel there. The cold stores were demolished in July 1976, after which the site was temporarily operated as a public car park. Hongkong Land subsequently proceeded with a commercial development, using the Windsor House name that had also been associated with an older Hongkong Land property on Des Voeux Road Central. Designed by the Hong Kong architectural practice Palmer and Turner, Windsor House was planned with an angled configuration intended to improve views of Victoria Park from the office floors. Construction of the first phase began in April 1978 under a contract between Hongkong Land and Gammon Construction. The building reached its structural completion in July 1979. Its office arrangement included two service cores, a configuration partly related to the requirements of its early anchor occupier, Hong Kong's Inland Revenue Department. The department leased approximately one-third of the office accommodation and used a dedicated entrance and lift arrangement before later moving to Revenue Tower to reduce rental costs. At its established scale, the complex was reported to contain approximately 688,000 square feet of office accommodation and 124,300 square feet of retail space. Its original retail anchor was the Lane Crawford department store. Lane Crawford later left when its Windsor House lease expired in 1997, moving to Times Square, another major Causeway Bay development owned by its parent company, Wharf. The change reflected both rental pressures and expectations of stronger sales at the newer destination. Ownership changed in September 1987, when Chinese Estates acquired Windsor House and Harcourt House from Hongkong Land in a transaction valued at HK$2.38 billion for both properties; Windsor House was attributed approximately HK$1.6 billion of that consideration. The retail podium was renovated in 1992. During that period, the first through ninth office floors, vacated after the Inland Revenue Department's departure, were converted for dining and entertainment uses, broadening the complex's commercial role beyond conventional offices and shops. A more extensive renovation of the retail podium took place from 2007 to 2010. The current shopping centre contains fashion, beauty, personal-care, specialty, food-service, and entertainment tenants. It also includes Grand Windsor Cinema, operated by MCL Cinemas, and the Causeway Bay Post Office on the tenth floor. Reported tenants have included Bershka, FANCL, G.U., Hallmark Cards, Mannings, Pull&Bear, Sa Sa, Sephora, and Toys 'R' Us, although tenancy is subject to change. In December 2015, Chinese Estates announced a proposed sale of Windsor House to its largest shareholder, Joseph Lau, for HK$12 billion. The available reference material does not establish the final completion details or a later ownership position. Windsor House remains principally known as a Causeway Bay shopping and commercial landmark rather than as a standalone consumer-goods brand.
History
Windsor House developed from a former industrial-support site into a major mixed-use property in Causeway Bay. The land had previously accommodated Dairy Farm cold stores. Hongkong Land acquired the site as part of its 1972 acquisition of Dairy Farm and first considered constructing a hotel. The cold stores were cleared in July 1976, and the property was temporarily used as a public car park while plans for redevelopment progressed. The new building was designed by Palmer and Turner, a Hong Kong architectural practice. Its diagonal orientation relative to the surrounding street grid was intended to improve views of Victoria Park from the office floors. Hongkong Land and Gammon Construction signed the first-phase construction contract on 14 April 1978, with work beginning the next day. The structure was topped out on 3 July 1979. The completed development combined a retail podium with an office tower and was named Windsor House, sharing its name with an older Hongkong Land building in Central that was being removed during the redevelopment of the company's historic Central properties. The office component was designed with two service cores containing lifts, stairs, toilets, and related functions. The second core also reflected the needs of the Inland Revenue Department, which became the building's initial major office tenant. The department occupied about one-third of the office space and had its own entrance and lift facilities. It later moved to the government-owned Revenue Tower, partly to reduce rental expenditure. In the 1990s, the property was described as having roughly 688,000 square feet of offices and 124,300 square feet of retail accommodation. Ownership passed from Hongkong Land to Chinese Estates in September 1987, when Chinese Estates acquired Windsor House and Harcourt House together for HK$2.38 billion. Windsor House was reported to represent approximately HK$1.6 billion of that combined value. The retail podium was renovated in 1992. Vacated office floors, specifically floors one through nine after the Inland Revenue Department's departure, were converted to dining and entertainment uses, increasing the development's consumer-facing capacity. Lane Crawford was the original retail anchor. When its Windsor House lease ended in the middle of 1997, it moved to nearby Times Square, citing high rents and the expectation of greater sales at the newer location. Windsor House subsequently continued as a multi-tenant shopping and leisure destination. Its retail podium underwent a substantial renovation between 2007 and 2010. The complex now includes shops, restaurants, and entertainment facilities, including Grand Windsor Cinema operated by MCL Cinemas. Reported tenants have included international and Hong Kong retail names such as Bershka, FANCL, G.U., Hallmark Cards, Mannings, Pull&Bear, Sa Sa, Sephora, and Toys 'R' Us. The Causeway Bay Post Office is located on the tenth floor. The site is within walking distance of Causeway Bay MTR station's Exit E and the Paterson Street/Pennington Street Hong Kong Tramways stop. In December 2015, Chinese Estates announced a proposed HK$12 billion sale of Windsor House to its largest shareholder, Joseph Lau. The supplied reference does not provide sufficient information to verify completion of that sale or to identify the property's current legal owner. Windsor House is therefore best characterized as an active Hong Kong commercial development whose identity is tied to its retail centre, office tower, cinema, and location in Causeway Bay.
- 2015
Proposed sale announced
[1]Chinese Estates announced a proposed HK$12 billion sale of Windsor House to its largest shareholder, Joseph Lau.
- 2010
Major retail-podium renovation completed
[1]An extensive renovation programme for the retail podium, begun in 2007, was completed by 2010.
- 1997
Lane Crawford relocates to Times Square
[1]Lane Crawford left Windsor House when its lease expired and moved to nearby Times Square, citing rental levels and anticipated sales potential.
- 1992
Retail podium renovated and former office floors repurposed
[1]The retail podium was renovated, while the first through ninth floors formerly occupied by the Inland Revenue Department were converted for dining and entertainment uses.
- 1987
Chinese Estates acquires Windsor House
[1]Chinese Estates acquired Windsor House and Harcourt House from Hongkong Land for a combined reported consideration of HK$2.38 billion.
- 1979
Building topped out
[1]A topping-out ceremony was held on 3 July, marking the structural completion of the new mixed-use development.
- 1978
Construction begins
[1]Hongkong Land and Gammon Construction signed the first-phase building contract on 14 April, and construction began on 15 April.
- 1976
Cold stores demolished and site temporarily used as a car park
[1]The former Dairy Farm cold stores were demolished in July, and the cleared site was temporarily operated as a public car park.
- 1972
Hongkong Land acquires the site through its Dairy Farm transaction
[1]Hongkong Land obtained the Windsor House site when it acquired Dairy Farm. The land was still occupied by Dairy Farm cold stores at that time.
Products and positioning
A centrally located Causeway Bay mixed-use destination combining mainstream and international retail, dining, entertainment, office accommodation, and convenient access to public transport.
Shopping centre
Windsor House shopping centre
The retail podium is the consumer-facing core of Windsor House. It accommodates a changing mix of fashion, beauty, personal-care, specialty, dining, and entertainment tenants. Reported occupants have included Bershka, FANCL, G.U., Hallmark Cards, Mannings, Pull&Bear, Sa Sa, Sephora, and Toys 'R' Us. The retail component was renovated in 1992 and underwent a broader refurbishment programme from 2007 to 2010.
Cinema and entertainment
Grand Windsor Cinema
Grand Windsor Cinema is the development's cinema and leisure attraction. It is operated by MCL Cinemas and forms part of the entertainment offer within the shopping-centre podium.
Office accommodation
Windsor House office tower
The office tower rises above the retail podium and was designed with two service cores. Its angled plan was intended to maximise views toward Victoria Park. The Inland Revenue Department was an early anchor tenant, occupying approximately one-third of the office space before moving to Revenue Tower.
Public service facility
Causeway Bay Post Office
The Causeway Bay Post Office is located on the tenth floor of Windsor House, adding a public-service function to the mixed-use development.
Brand decisions
2015
Proposed disposal of Windsor HouseM&ABackground
Chinese Estates announced that it planned to sell Windsor House to its largest shareholder, Joseph Lau. The proposed consideration was reported as HK$12 billion.
Action taken
The company announced the proposed transfer of the property to the shareholder.
Aftermath
The supplied reference does not establish whether the sale completed or identify the property's later legal owner.
Proposed property sale consideration. HK$12 billion (December 2015 announcement)
Sources1 sources
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