More information on this building, taken from the AAB Appraisal:
"No. 2 York Road (約道) on the corner of York Road and Waterloo Road is believed to have been constructed between 1927 and 1930 for a Portuguese gentleman, Eduardo Jose de Figueiredo, a director of Hughes and Hough Limited. Although many houses on the Kowloon Tong Estate were occupied by the army during the Japanese Occupation, No. 2 York Road was not, maybe because Portugal was a neutral country. Since its erection, the house was used as a staff quarters of Hughes and Hough Limited at least until late 1973. 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.
[…]
The two-storey building at No. 2 York Road is in fact two semi-detached houses with separated entrances. Walls are rendered and painted and the roof is flat with a plain parapet wall and projecting cornice all around the building. The use of classical style porches to the entrance doors, arched windows, balconies and shuttered windows give the building a Colonial Neo-Classical appearance.
The architectural style of the two-storey building is different to the other Kowloon Tong Garden Estate houses and in fact is now the only one of this type still remaining. Recently the villa has been renovated and embellished with additional architectural features. The low garden wall has been replaced with a high concrete wall with massive piers like buttresses between bays or recesses which are being used to display large advertising signs. It is rumoured that the villa has been acquired by film star Jackie Chan and this seems to be borne out by the advertising panels which are promoting his latest film."
"It is rumoured that the villa has been acquired by film star Jackie Chan and this seems to be borne out by the advertising panels which are promoting his latest film."
According to the Panama Papers the building is registered to Jackie Chan's wife, Lin Fong Chiao (Joan Lin). Their son, Jaycee Chan, also has a registered office on the ground floor. There is a new large house development next door at 145 Waterloo Road - Jackie Chan's former Hong Kong HQ - that has been built in a similar style to this older house and has the same "JJJ" emblem on the gates. So it looks like the JJJ might refer to Jackie, Joan and Jaycee Chan. There has always been open access between the 145 Waterloo Road and 2 York Road via the garden which the new property at 145 has been built on.
I remember this large house at #2 York Road when I lived on Suffolk Road. The exterior of the house was painted a shade of mustard yellow as I recall. The Triggs family lived directly across from this house at #1 York Road. Mr. Triggs worked at the Peninsula Hotel and one of his daughters was a good friend of mine. Ron and Dorothy Hardwick lived in the adjacent house at #3 York Road. I think there were two Figueiredo sisters who were living at the #2 house at that time. I was informed by a friend that this house belonged to Eduardo "Erdo" Figueiredo and was used solely by his family. The last remaining family member who lived there was Alda who passed away some fifteen years ago. The house was sold by their Estate to their next door neighbor Jackie Chan.
Miss Maria Celeste de Figueiredo and Mr. Braz (Braziti) Herculano Alves were married at St. Teresa's Church on 17 July 1938. A reception was held at 2 York Road, Kowloon Tong, the home of the bridegroom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. S. Alves. The bride was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. de Figueiredo.
Moddsey, thanks for this piece of information from the Hong Kong Daily Press on the marriage between the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. de Figueiredo and the son of Mr. and Mrs. J.A.S. Alves in 1938. I am wondering if Mr. J.A.S. Alves also worked for Hughes and Hough Limited, which might explain why he and his family resided at #2 York Road. In LizB's earlier post there was mention that the two-storey building was actually two semi-detached houses with separate entrances. It's possible that both families lived at this same address at one time. I have always heard the house referred to as "the Figueiredo house", so it would seem likely that Mr. E.J. de Figueiredo and/or his family members lived there, especially as the house was constructed for him as per the above-mentioned AAB Appraisal. A friend of mine whose family lived at 135 Waterloo Road remembers Alda who lived in that house.
Thanks, Phil, for the link to the article on Mr. Triggs. It was very interesting to read about his life. I do remember him and his wife on my visits to the house. Their daughter Betty was in kindergarten with me at Maryknoll and now lives in New Jersey. I also remember the monkey in the garden which was actually Mr. Triggs' pet, and always felt rather sorry for it living alone outside. I am doubtful that their house is still there, given the many changes made around Kowloon Tong.
Yes, in my time it has been known as the Figueiredo House. But prior to that, I am not sure about the original owners of the property.
(Update - Angie-r - I think you are correct. The de Figueiredos appear in the Juror Lists from 1930 residing at 2 York Road. J. A. S. Alves worked for Hughes & Hough Ltd in 1930. He resided at 145 Waterloo Road. According to the 1938 Street Index, the latter address was adjacent to York Road.)
Moddsey, thanks for the update confirming that the de Figueiredo family resided at 2 York Road as per the 1930 Jurors List. It also seems more appropriate that the wedding reception would have been held at the bride's family home and not at the adjacent Alves house.
Comments
Historic Building Appraisal
A copy of the appraisal is available from the AAB website here: http://www.aab.gov.hk/historicbuilding/en/1014_Appraisal_En.pdf
Photos of this building are also provided on the AAB website: http://www.aab.gov.hk/historicbuilding/photo/1014_Photo.pdf
I've added the tag, grade 3
I've added the tag, grade 3 listed building, so it's added to the map of those buildings:
http://gwulo.com/taxonomy/term/203/places-map
Regards, David
Thanks David
More information on this building, taken from the AAB Appraisal:
"No. 2 York Road (約道) on the corner of York Road and Waterloo Road is believed to have been constructed between 1927 and 1930 for a Portuguese gentleman, Eduardo Jose de Figueiredo, a director of Hughes and Hough Limited. Although many houses on the Kowloon Tong Estate were occupied by the army during the Japanese Occupation, No. 2 York Road was not, maybe because Portugal was a neutral country. Since its erection, the house was used as a staff quarters of Hughes and Hough Limited at least until late 1973. 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.
[…]
The two-storey building at No. 2 York Road is in fact two semi-detached houses with separated entrances. Walls are rendered and painted and the roof is flat with a plain parapet wall and projecting cornice all around the building. The use of classical style porches to the entrance doors, arched windows, balconies and shuttered windows give the building a Colonial Neo-Classical appearance.
The architectural style of the two-storey building is different to the other Kowloon Tong Garden Estate houses and in fact is now the only one of this type still remaining. Recently the villa has been renovated and embellished with additional architectural features. The low garden wall has been replaced with a high concrete wall with massive piers like buttresses between bays or recesses which are being used to display large advertising signs. It is rumoured that the villa has been acquired by film star Jackie Chan and this seems to be borne out by the advertising panels which are promoting his latest film."
marker
The marker needs to be moved to the property at the corner of York and Waterloo. It'scurrently pointing at #4
Thanks Phil
Marker has been moved
#2
Thanks Liz.
"It is rumoured that the villa has been acquired by film star Jackie Chan and this seems to be borne out by the advertising panels which are promoting his latest film."
According to the Panama Papers the building is registered to Jackie Chan's wife, Lin Fong Chiao (Joan Lin). Their son, Jaycee Chan, also has a registered office on the ground floor. There is a new large house development next door at 145 Waterloo Road - Jackie Chan's former Hong Kong HQ - that has been built in a similar style to this older house and has the same "JJJ" emblem on the gates. So it looks like the JJJ might refer to Jackie, Joan and Jaycee Chan. There has always been open access between the 145 Waterloo Road and 2 York Road via the garden which the new property at 145 has been built on.
Phil
2 York Road
I remember this large house at #2 York Road when I lived on Suffolk Road. The exterior of the house was painted a shade of mustard yellow as I recall. The Triggs family lived directly across from this house at #1 York Road. Mr. Triggs worked at the Peninsula Hotel and one of his daughters was a good friend of mine. Ron and Dorothy Hardwick lived in the adjacent house at #3 York Road. I think there were two Figueiredo sisters who were living at the #2 house at that time. I was informed by a friend that this house belonged to Eduardo "Erdo" Figueiredo and was used solely by his family. The last remaining family member who lived there was Alda who passed away some fifteen years ago. The house was sold by their Estate to their next door neighbor Jackie Chan.
1938 Reference to 2 York Road
Wedding
Miss Maria Celeste de Figueiredo and Mr. Braz (Braziti) Herculano Alves were married at St. Teresa's Church on 17 July 1938. A reception was held at 2 York Road, Kowloon Tong, the home of the bridegroom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. S. Alves. The bride was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. de Figueiredo.
Source: Hong Kong Daily Press 18 July 1938.
Mr Trigg
Angie-r - you may find this interesting: https://gwulo.com/node/37575
2 York Road
Moddsey, thanks for this piece of information from the Hong Kong Daily Press on the marriage between the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. de Figueiredo and the son of Mr. and Mrs. J.A.S. Alves in 1938. I am wondering if Mr. J.A.S. Alves also worked for Hughes and Hough Limited, which might explain why he and his family resided at #2 York Road. In LizB's earlier post there was mention that the two-storey building was actually two semi-detached houses with separate entrances. It's possible that both families lived at this same address at one time. I have always heard the house referred to as "the Figueiredo house", so it would seem likely that Mr. E.J. de Figueiredo and/or his family members lived there, especially as the house was constructed for him as per the above-mentioned AAB Appraisal. A friend of mine whose family lived at 135 Waterloo Road remembers Alda who lived in that house.
Mr. Triggs
Thanks, Phil, for the link to the article on Mr. Triggs. It was very interesting to read about his life. I do remember him and his wife on my visits to the house. Their daughter Betty was in kindergarten with me at Maryknoll and now lives in New Jersey. I also remember the monkey in the garden which was actually Mr. Triggs' pet, and always felt rather sorry for it living alone outside. I am doubtful that their house is still there, given the many changes made around Kowloon Tong.
Re: Figueiredo House
Yes, in my time it has been known as the Figueiredo House. But prior to that, I am not sure about the original owners of the property.
(Update - Angie-r - I think you are correct. The de Figueiredos appear in the Juror Lists from 1930 residing at 2 York Road. J. A. S. Alves worked for Hughes & Hough Ltd in 1930. He resided at 145 Waterloo Road. According to the 1938 Street Index, the latter address was adjacent to York Road.)
Figueiredo House
Moddsey, thanks for the update confirming that the de Figueiredo family resided at 2 York Road as per the 1930 Jurors List. It also seems more appropriate that the wedding reception would have been held at the bride's family home and not at the adjacent Alves house.