H
COUNTRY HOUSE IN SHATIN VALLEY
Tur
Photograph of the main eli cation, looking towards fountain and main entrance hall.
Inside the entrance hall.
View of the fully equipped bar.
Site
The house is at the head of the Sha Tin valley, six miles from the Kowloon ferry on the road to Fanling, and affords a magnificent view down the valley to Tide Cove and the Hunchbacks beyond. The site slopes steeply o three sides, and between the house and the main road is a level area of made up ground formed by the spoil from the cutting when the main road was built.
General
The owner, J. T. Prior, Esq., required a house with a large informal living area, two bedrooms with ample bathroom accommodation and a dressing room which could be used, in emergency, as an extra bedroom. Maximum advantage was to be taken of the fine view.
Plan
The level area between the house and the road was unsuitable for building, and the house was therefore built at the end of the spur, and approached by a covered way from the garages and main garden entrance. Main rooms were oriented to face the view, and this combined with the steep slope at the back of the house dictated the general form of the plan.
Garages for two cars, with an entrance porch and wrought iron gate between, are built on the boundary facing the main road. Electricity from the mains supply would have been extremely expensive, and it was therefore decided to instal a generator in this entrance block.
The sitting room and dining room were combined to give a large living room 42 ft. by 24 ft. The whole of the wall facing the view is filled by windows. Glass size: are unfortunately limited by the exposure of the site to typhoon winds.
Built-in furniture divides the sitting and dining portions of the room.
A fully equipped bar, concealed by double doors, opens off the living room; and behind this is a room for arranging flowers and for general storage.
A terrace 24 ft. by 14 ft. is built on the eastern corner of the building, facing the view al protected by the house from the hot afternoon sun.
The external wall of the entrance hall is treated as a glazed screen, over which it is intended to grow creepers.
On the first floor, the main bedroom, 18 ft. by 16 ft. faces the view. Ample storage is provided by built in cupboards and a large hot room.
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