The teaching and learning of architectural heritage can play a vital role in engaging students in envisioning the past and nurturing their cultural identity. However, this endeavour often faces challenges stemming from limited access to heritage sites and varying levels of student interest in the subject matter. This project introduces an augmented reality (AR) book design that seamlessly integrates pop-up three-dimensional models with a dedicated mobile app, effectively illustrating the architectural designs of educational heritages in Hong Kong Central and Western District. An evaluative study was conducted to assess the usability of the AR book for architectural heritage education, which employed a mixed-methods design comprising questionnaire survey with heritage education undergraduate students (N = 80) and semi-structured interviews with a subset of the participants. The results revealed a favourable response to the use of AR technology for virtual representations of cultural heritage, alongside participants’ positive attitudes towards the virtual learning experience facilitated by the AR book. The findings of this study underscore the feasibility and potential benefits of integrating AR technology into architectural heritage education. This integration can offer digitally mediated learning experiences that actively engage young learners in the exploration and preservation of cultural heritage. Copyright © 2024 by the owner/author(s).