The Haw Par Mansion together with its private garden was built by Aw Boon Haw, who was known as "The King of Tiger Balm". The Mansion was the Aw's family mansion and was restricted to private use, while the Tiger Balm Garden constructed adjoining the mansion was used to be open to the public for enjoyment.
The Tiger Balm Garden has been demolished. The Mansion together with its private garden has been preserved and passed to Government since 2001.
Apparently the Government have tried to pass the project for preservation and redevelopment to various agencies and departments but none have been willing to take on the responsibility. There used to be attached to the house an amazing garden full of sculptures and arts, but somewhere along the line it was decided that the land was more use as another nondescript residential skyscraper.
More about the gardens here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Balm_Garden_(Hong_Kong)
Architecturally, the Mansion was built in the Chinese Renaissance style with a blend of Western and Chinese construction methods and architectural theory. The plan is, however, more Western being roughly symmetrical with the adoption of porches, bay windows and fireplaces. Internally, there are beautiful painted glass windows from Italy, carvings and mouldings, gilded with gold and murals showing Indian and Burmese influence. Over the years there have not been many changes to the Mansion, and its authentic appearance is retained.
The Mansion is a reinforced concrete construction. Floor plates of G/F and 1/F are about 650 m² each. Penthouse on the roof is about 80 m² and the Lower G/F is about 390 m². There is a private garden in front of the Mansion which could be restored to an attractive ornamental garden. The social value and local interest of the Mansion lie in its representation of a residence of a rich and powerful merchant family in the 1930s and a focal point of Chinese culture in Hong Kong.
Currently the house has been sat empty and disused for fifteen years with no sign of that changing soon. There is live in security, which explains how the house is still in such good condition, and also the lack of pictures from the ground floor..
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The Tiger Balm Garden has been demolished. The Mansion together with its private garden has been preserved and passed to Government since 2001.
Apparently the Government have tried to pass the project for preservation and redevelopment to various agencies and departments but none have been willing to take on the responsibility. There used to be attached to the house an amazing garden full of sculptures and arts, but somewhere along the line it was decided that the land was more use as another nondescript residential skyscraper.
More about the gardens here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Balm_Garden_(Hong_Kong)
Architecturally, the Mansion was built in the Chinese Renaissance style with a blend of Western and Chinese construction methods and architectural theory. The plan is, however, more Western being roughly symmetrical with the adoption of porches, bay windows and fireplaces. Internally, there are beautiful painted glass windows from Italy, carvings and mouldings, gilded with gold and murals showing Indian and Burmese influence. Over the years there have not been many changes to the Mansion, and its authentic appearance is retained.
The Mansion is a reinforced concrete construction. Floor plates of G/F and 1/F are about 650 m² each. Penthouse on the roof is about 80 m² and the Lower G/F is about 390 m². There is a private garden in front of the Mansion which could be restored to an attractive ornamental garden. The social value and local interest of the Mansion lie in its representation of a residence of a rich and powerful merchant family in the 1930s and a focal point of Chinese culture in Hong Kong.
Currently the house has been sat empty and disused for fifteen years with no sign of that changing soon. There is live in security, which explains how the house is still in such good condition, and also the lack of pictures from the ground floor..
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