Lac de Morat Clubhouse at Valais
On the left bank of Beas River in Hong Kong’s Northern New Territories, and within a short canter across the river to the Jockey Club Equestrian Centre on the other side, Valais, a thoroughbred residential development from the SHK Properties stables, captures the proximate verdant countryside in its architecture, landscaping and interiors.
The development comprises a total of 330 individual three storey detached homes set in richly landscaped parks. There are two Residents’ Clubhouses: Lac de Morat, the larger of the two, illustrated here, and a smaller satellite clubhouse, Lac de Zug.
In the main lobby lounge, a warm beige coloured travertine limestone is the ambient wall and floor finish. Furnishings, in an array of hues and tones of browns and greens, bring out the natural theme. The sculpture suspended from the ceiling suggests a fresh bloom of spring sakura through which sunlight shines from the glass roof above. Free-standing floor lanterns could sit as easily within the adjacent outdoor landscape as within the Clubhouse itself. With daylight streaming in on all sides, the overall effect is that the transition between indoor and out is blurred; a deliberate stroke, leaving the impression of not being quite sure which is which.
Immediately off the Main Lounge, The Terrace Bistro is an informal eatery that enjoys a close relationship with the gardens around the clubhouse. The same travertine floor carries through from the lounge, and hardwoods and fresher spring tones appear here in the chair upholstery. There is an abundance of artificial soft landscaping not seen in the Main Lobby giving the Bistro that al fresco feel.
There are two function rooms that are predominantly for self catered events with the larger one shown here. A pre-function space sits at the far end and, in the main area, there are two round tables seating 16 diners apiece; one of the more conventional configurations. This room can be divided into two smaller, acoustically separate event spaces. Prepared meals appear from adjacent kitchens and food prep areas. Richly piled area rugs soften the acoustic ambience for diners while the natural though more autumnal tones of the finishes and furnishings add to the overall natural theme.
There are two pools at Lac de Morat, indoors and out, separated by sliding glass screens that can be opened when the weather suits. Both share the same limestone coloured non-slip ceramic tile deck, matching the indoor floor finishes. Custom designed mosaic tiles with a large scale foliage pattern line both of their underwater surfaces.
Indoors, deck loungers face the pool against a backdrop of dense foliage while submerged loungers, grouped in pairs, sit at either side of a setting of chrome sculptural pieces.
Post-plunge, a rest lounge flanked by the outdoor gardens and an indoor living wall is a meeting and relaxation area.
CLIENT:
SHK PropertiesLOCATION:
Kam TinROLE:
Interior DesignCOMPLETION:
2010