Photograph of the living room.
As a result, the trend of architectural style and interior decoration was far more advanced than that of Hong Kong and far greater use was made of modern interior decor and built-in features than was the case in Hong Kong until very recently.
View of the terrace in front of the building.
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The architect has very cleverly broken the monotony of the front facade that would normally have resulted from the long narrow expanse of building, by extending and emphasiz- ing the open area between the first two buildings and by setting back the line of the third building.
It is impossible in the limited space at our disposal to describe adequately the various devices employed by the architect to produce some very magnificent and unusual interior effects, but we have attempted by means of a few photographs to show some of the outstanding features.
The treatment of stone walling, both interior and exterior, is a decorative element which has already been used in Hong Kong by several well-known architects, and Mr. Quang in his house uses this to its best advantage. The deep framed windows divided in square multiples on which are placed bric- a-bracs are an example of decorative effects not previously seen in Hong Kong. The unusual treatment of the stairway division in the main entrance hall is another.
All the furniture and furnishings were designed by the architect, and includes the use of Dunlop Rubber Foam cushioning for the upholstery of the living room furniture, and special plastic material for the covering of the dining room furniture. The furniture was made in Hong Kong to the architect's design and specifications, and Whiteaway, Laidlaw & Co., Ltd. supplied the drapes and curtains.
As an example of the colour scheme, we might mention that the walls of the living room are of a soft grey beige, with Nicholls carpet of gold tint setting the tone for the contrast between the colours of the chairs and settees and the natural finish of the teak furniture.
General Contractors: Nam Wah Construction Co. Steel Windows: Standard Metal Window Co. "Standard" Sanitary Fittings: Andersen, Meyer & Co., Ltd. Red Quarry Tiles: Castle Peak Ceramic (H.K.) Ltd. Schlage Locks: Shewan, Tomes & Co., Ltd. Roofing Work:
William Jacks & Co., Ltd.
One of the entrance porches.
Mr. Max Quang, the architect of this project on Nos. 505-508 Stubbs Road, Magazine Gap, is a comparatively recent arrival in the Colony from Shanghai, and the vast difference in the approach to decorative treatment of buildings between the two places is very graphically illustrated in this project. The building, which really consists of three two-storey apart- ments, is placed on an extremely difficult site cut out from a very steep slope just above the main road, which entailed the use of a considerable amount of retaining wall to contain it. Consequently, there is no open lawn area in front of the building and the architect had to include in his planning extensive terraces formed on, and extending over, the retain- ing walls in order to provide the outdoor area, which is a necessary adjunct to the living rooms, and from which the beautiful view to the south, south-east and east could be enjoyed. The ground floor canopies, which were extended to protect these terraces, enabled some exceptionally nice verandahs to be provided to all the bedrooms on the floor above.
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In the entrance hall.