No_4_1956 — Page 34

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etc. Also walls to be provided for collection of old prints, floors suitable for conventional Persian carpets. Huge floor-to-ceiling wardrobes built in for both bedrooms, built-in shelves in library, long shelf in sitting room for curios etc. No modern bar, but built-in facility for bottles, glasses, etc. A flower bed for greenery part of the house (like Roman atrium). House white snowcem (be- cause owner had read once "Dream Houses are White''), making use of Hong Kong's natural stone here and there, otherwise no colours to be in- troduced. No fireplaces wanted be- cause unnecessary during Hong Kong's eight hot months. No ceiling lights, only table and floor lamps, some wall lamps."'

As will be seen from the photo- graphs, the architect has fulfilled all wishes almost to the letter and found a solution for every problem.

The site, I.L. 7208, is located be- tween Mt. Davis Road and Victoria Road comprising about 5,700 square feet in a rectangle 95 ft. by 60 ft. on a very steep slope running from 185 ft. to 225 ft. above sea level, which necessitated the cutting of approxi- mately 60,000 cubic feet. Instead of

levelling a platform and placing the house on it with the back wall close to the barren cutting, the architect moved the position of the house for- ward in such a way that only half of it rests on solid ground, the other half being built on a reinforced con- crete platform resting on pillars driven down to solid ground, with the ter- race cantilevered from it. In effect the whole front section projects from the hillside, and the impression one gets when standing on the terrace is of hanging, or rather, floating on the air and over the sea.

The house faces exactly south and the terrace extends along 75 ft. of the

The terrace unites the whole plan-

Two views illustrating the effective manner in which one large room is divided into three separate and distinct units.

95'0" frontage and returns along the dicated by a six foot wide vertical room is tiled with sea-green tiles up west side. It is 9 ft. wide except for wall of Hong Kong natural stone. to the ceiling with one wall of yellow a third of its length which is 12 ft. This room measures 20'0" x 16'0". tiles for contrast. The bath is blue. wide. It is paved with art-stone in The library and music room is 14'0" x The second bedroom is at the north- 3'0" x 3'0" squares, and protected 12'0", the latter with a built-in book- west corner of the building, with a by a simple iron railing with alumin- case up to the ceiling on two sides. bathroom attached, the colour scheme ium bar on top.

The dining room has a picture window being coral with light-blue tiles. The to the terrace while the living room hall, the store room, pantry, kitchen ing. At the east end there is the open fully opened when desired.

has а full length sliding door to be and one servant's room are connected area with flower beds of green foliage side wall of the sitting room is de- hall is the guest lavatory with green The in- by a passageway while next to the (the atrium effect!) which is usually covered with gay awning. A huge corated with a collection of old prints fittings and yellow tiles. On the sliding door which can be opened all The master bedroom at the west north-east side there is a drying yard the way leads into the dining room end is 14'0" x 12'6", with huge pic shielded by a brick screen wall, with 20'0" x 13'6", then the living room, ture windows to the terrace framing a second servant's room with W.C. the separation to which is only in- a beautiful view of Lantao. The bath- and shower attached.

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