Ground Floor.
464 THE PEAK
חה
Ло
1808
10
13
Facing the house from the lawn.
A number of very excellent buildings have been con- structed on Barker Road since the re-occupation.
This area
is a particularly popular one since it is one of the most accessible on the Peak. The road has been widened and re-laid and is only a few minutes by car from the centre of the city. The Peak Tram station on Barker Road is also very con- veniently located, as it is but a few minutes walk on a level road from there to most of the residences. Another con- tributing factor to its popularity is the unobstructed view of the Harbour and Kowloon with its unbroken row of hills in the background which is obtainable from this level.
On a splendid spur which extends from below the road level, near to the site of the Colonial Secretary's residence, there has been recently completed for the Union Insurance of Canton Ltd. a residence for the General Manager of the Company. On this site there formerly stood a house which was built many years ago but which was pulled down to make way for the new building. The ground floor of the house is weli below that of Barker Road and an old path leading down to the house, which was originally a footpath only, was widened and altered into a driveway for motor-cars.
In planning the house, the architects followed closely the client's requirements. A large living room was particularly needed, together with a small study, a dining room and a closed verandah next to the living room. Four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, were required. The client askea for a building whose general outline on plan was rectangular, together with a pitched roof which they considered essential. They also asked for a bow-fronted living room with direct access to closed and open verandahs.
Because the site is small, the servants' quarters were placed as a wing to the east which determined the position of the dining room. The closed verandah was placed to the east for coolness and for the view. The house stands four- square on the site with the bow-fronted living room in the centre. It was pushed as far back as a turning-circle required for cars allowed on the entrance side of house. The front faces directly on Tai Mo Shan, the highest and most con- spicuous of Kowloon's nine hills.
1. Porte Cochere.
2. Hall.
3. Cloakroom.
4. Lavatory.
5. Study.
6. Open verandah.
7. Living room.
8. Closed verandah.
14
9. Dining room.
10. Store.
17
15
11. Pantry.
12. Kitchen.
18. Laundry.
14. Servants' room,
15. Servants' kitchen.
16. Servants' W.C.
17. Garage.
The magnificent view from Barker Road, immediately above
the house.
23
Page 25Page 26
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.