Lou Kau Mansion, Macau

The Lu Family Mansion is a two-story Chinese-style building built with thick blue bricks. It is a typical Chinese-style mansion and also a typical example of the gentle and slender architectural style of residential buildings in central Guangdong during the late Qing Dynasty. There are two inner courtyards for taking in light, and according to the principles of Feng Shui, there is a screen at the main entrance to block out evil spirits. The entrance of the main facade is concave, which is a typical Chinese form; while the window design is influenced by Western architectural style. The building has three bays and three entrances with two floors, including a hall, bedrooms, kitchen, utility room, patio, etc. There are multiple patios in the building to facilitate ventilation and lighting. The space on the entire central axis is transparent but separated by screens. The interior combines Chinese and Western decorative materials and techniques, with brick carvings, gray sculptures, horizontal scrolls, hangings, and oyster shell windows commonly seen in central Guangdong, as well as Western-style false ceilings, Manchu windows, and cast iron railings. The two distinctive decorative features are integrated into one, which is very interesting. All the windows on the main facade are Portuguese shutters, among which the two on the top left and right are the most exquisite. The window sashes have metal corners, the shutters have semicircular stained glass windows, and the glass windows are decorated with plaster plastic. The mansion reflects Macau’s unique residential characteristics of a combination of Chinese and Western architectural styles. #MacauWeekendTrip #weekendtrip #overseastrip