13 York Road Kowloon Tong [c.1934- ]
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Submitted by LizB on Sat, 2016-05-07 14:15
Current condition:
In use
Date Place completed:
c.1934-01-01 (Year, Month, Day are approximate)
This building has a Grade 3 listing from the AMO.
Believed to have been built between 1932-1935.
For the historic building appraisal, see: http://www.aab.gov.hk/historicbuilding/en/967_Appraisal_En.pdf
And for photos, see: http://www.aab.gov.hk/historicbuilding/photo/967_Photo.pdf
Photos that show this place
 1947 |
 2016 |
 2016 |
Comments
Description of 13 York Road
The following information is taken from the AAB's Building Appraisal:
“No. 13 York Road is believed to have been constructed between 1932 and 1935 by the Kowloon Tong and New Territories Development Company Limited (九龍塘及新界建築公司). Since its erection, No. 13 York Road has been serving as the residence of a Tai (戴) family. Some of the Tais had successful careers; for example, the first owner, Tai Tak (戴德), was the Resident Officer of the Chinese Consular Invoice Office in Hong Kong, and Tai Yan-ki (戴恩基) was the Manager of China Merchant’s Navigation Company in Hong Kong in the early 20th century. It is one of the few surviving original houses of the Kowloon Tong Garden Estate which was founded by Mr. Charles Montague Ede (義德) in 1922.
[…]
No. 13 York Road is built in the International Modern style with Art Deco features which was a popular style in the 1930s. It is a three-storey house with an asymmetrical plan. It has terraces at roof level and first floor level. The elevations are made up of complicated compositions of cubic, curved and streamlined façades. Art Deco features include a ziggurat shaped gable on the front façade, vertical stripes, and zigzag and waveform motifs. Unfortunately the old Art Deco style entrance gates have been removed. The garden wall has also been heightened but the period design has been kept.
No. 13 York Road is not built to the typical designs of other houses found on the estate and is therefore quite a rarity. It does not appear to have been altered radically externally and therefore retains its authenticity. As a surviving example of a once popular style of architecture it is a valuable piece of built heritage.
The social value of the house, it has to be said, is not very great as it has remained as a family residence since it was built. Due to its prominent position at the corner of York Road it is quite well known in the area.”