sekebilmen
BANOO VILLA
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View of the main southern facade of the building.
It is a very rare occasion indeed for us to have the opportunity of illustrating a building of period design. Of course, the modern tendency is all for the simplification of detail, and even the subdued ornateness of a modifled late Renaissance or Georgian style may appear somewhat preten- tious to modern tastes unless justified by the size of the house, its location and its purpose. The extra cost involved also discourages the prospective builder who may have considered the possibilities for, with labour rates at their present level,
General view of the building from Wong Ma Kok Road.
the casting of mouldings and the forming of other decorative details could add substantially to the cost of the building. Finally, there is the difficulty of obtaining a suitable site, for it is obvious that this style of architecture, particularly for a private residence, would be entirely out of place unless the site were a particularly good one, extensive in area, and sufficiently isolated to provide a proper setting for the building.
However, Mr. J. H. Ruttonjee, the well-known business man and philanthropist of Hong Kong, was fortunate in being able to obtain a site for his new residence which lent itself very readily to the classic design of the building on which he had been planning, Banoo Villa on the Stanley peninsula was recently completed to the design of Messrs. Chau & Lee and is an attractive spectacle when viewed from any angle.
The site on which it stands is a long triangular area în Stanley, at the junction of Tụng Tau Wan Road, which is the road leading to the prison, and Wong Ma Kok Road, which leads to the military area. The site is almost 400 ft. long and 200 ft. at its base, and it rises to over 50 ft. above road level. The house is placed at the highest point and over- looks the surrounding area with a magnificent view to the north and to the south.
The external appearance is imposing, and contains all the elements of classical grace and distinction that is usually completely lacking in modern design. The dignified columns, the ornate balustrades, the pedimented windows, the projecting canopies, and other devices of the period have all been employed in this building, but so well proportioned and used with such moderation as to please the most conservative taste.
JOACH
PORCH
HALL
LIVING BOOM
WALL
DINING дойм
BREAKFAST KOOMA
TERMALE
TERLALL
Ground floor plan.
25
I
PRAY12 ROOM
LATH
BED ROOM
BED
LOOM
HALL
ALD
BOOM
CL
ICO LOOM
BALCONY
First Floor plan.
HONALA