Casa Garden (Orient Foundation)

In 1770, Manuel Pereira, a wealthy Portuguese businessman; Founder in Macau’s insurance industries; built a two and a half-storey garden-style villa. It was absolutely gorgeous, show its noble kind; and claimed as the most spectacular building of all. Recalled by one of American Businessman “The Palace”. In 1780, Pereira leased to the British East India Company. The tenant invented Portuguese-English named Casa Garden; (Orient Foundation) describing this mansion.

After the East India Company ended in 1885. The property purchased by the Macau government. The mansion converted as Museum in 1920s. In 1989 resold to Orient Foundation as their office.

Building structure

The Camões Garden is a freeestanding mansion with a magnificent central staircase leading to the main hall, surrounded by lush gardens. The fresh neoclassical design adapts entirely in the local weather; considering large traditional movable shutters in doubled canopies; forming a sheltered transitional spaces between the house and the garden. The mansion owners have inhabited a number of times; which from the past, the building gradually followed to its transformations. Originally found one extra floor on top. Currently owned by Macau Orient Foundation; Frequently used as a exhibition gallery and event venue.

World Heritage Design Features

This three-storey building has a garden and a fountain in the front part of the building. The building adopted its South European styles. The main entrance has Spanish marble steps and an ancient Roman porch. The exterior walls are white, and the window frames and exterior walls all painted in pink. The interior decoration was just magnificent. The original building has a gold-shaped red tile roof and a Greek-style front eaves. There are all delicate and exquisite stone eaves engraved on top. In the middle of the eaves created Pereira “Nobility pattern” of Pereira. The top floor of the building destroyed by a typhoon, where cannot be seen now.

Camões Museum

Among the many museums in Macau; the Camões Museum is one of the most significant ones. Well, where is it now?

The Camões Museum, named for the commemoration of the Portuguese poet Camões. It was originally located in the Park, next to the current site of the Orient Foundation. In the early summer 1927, set up in the city hall for nearly ten years; Today, poet statuesstill remained in the park.

Having library’s second floor expansion; In 1936 it moved to the Government Houses, which is now the official residence of the Macau Governor; and over to Camões park year after; which all now kept at The Orient Foundation. In 1960, the Government Bureau shifted all printing out; The Camões Museum remained alone; and again in 1988. The exhibits temporarily stored in the basement of the Macau Forum. In 1999, items exhibited at Macau Museum of Art till now.

Museum collection

The museum owned two thousand plus antique collections; and cultural relics belong to the Portuguese collectors. Some were bronzes, iron ceramics, and ancient jades; ancient coins from the past China Dynasties; and many other rare treasures. Among them included Shiwan Ceramics mostly;

Works by famous Chinese and foreign painters included. Traditional Chinese paintings include Ba-da-Shan-Ren (The big eight cave man) and Su Ren Shan (Su Ren Mountain). Western paintings include Chinnery and George Smith, which owned high artistic values. There are ancient vehicles like Chinese Sedan chairs and Rickshaws.

In 1988 the sudden transfer of the property next to the Oriental Foundation, The Camões Museum forced to move out. There was no new location to house the exhibits. After collected and temporarily set up in the warehouse of the Camoes Museum at Macau Forum’s basement.

In 1999 the Macau Museum of Art re-opened; The Camões Museum collectio transferred all items for re-exhibition. According to reports, the original collection found no loss after re-counting; A total of 4,000 new collections added on the list a decade ago; value over 100 million worth.

Reference:

https://www.macaumemory.mo/specialtopic_fcdf031a68d3423e9600900b0d940db9

https://www.openhousemacau.com/plan/casa-garden/

https://www.macaudata.com/macaubook/macauserial/amfwz/html/098.htm

https://www.macaumemory.mo/specialtopic_2e4c69e5b1054b6aa0b500d3f62ec695

http://www.vakiodaily.com/mobile/news/view/id/386164