Take a Peak into the past: Controversy over hotel plans for century-old mansion at 27 Lugard Road

Walking into the century-old mansion at 27 Lugard Road is like going back in time. Sunlight shines through the tall windows onto the wooden floor and chandeliers in the entrance hall give visitors a glittering welcome.

The neo-classical mansion on The Peak, built at nearly the same time as Lugard Road itself and overlooking Victoria Harbour, has been under the spotlight for the past year over plans by the new owner to turn it into a hotel.

Lugard Road is one of the most popular hiking trails in Hong Kong and traffic is rare as cars need a special permit to travel along it. Hikers fear hotel service cars would cause a traffic nuisance, but conservationists say developing the mansion would protect its heritage – and that the effect of the two golf carts per hour the hotel plans to use would be negligible.

The grade-two heritage building, built in 1914, was designed by Lennox Bird, a senior partner of prominent architectural firm Palmer and Turner, for his brother. It was sold to Tai Koo Dockyard and Engineering Company and became a residence for the company’s staff and their families.

Since then it has had its ups and downs.

Watch: Inside the 27 Lugard Road mansion