Lou Kau Mansion, Heritage mansion in Sé, Macau.
Lou Kau Mansion is a two-story residence in Sé built with grey-brick walls, featuring three interior courtyards and traditional Chinese rooms arranged symmetrically. The building follows a nine-grid layout pattern that organizes the spaces around these courtyards in the manner of classical Chinese domestic architecture.
Built in 1889 by merchant Lou Kau, the mansion demonstrates the economic strength of Chinese traders during the late Qing Dynasty in Macau. The residence reflects how wealthy merchants like Lou Kau gained prominence and influence in the trading city during this period.
The mansion blends Chinese architectural elements like carved woodwork and decorative tiles with Portuguese influences, creating spaces that feel distinctly Macanese. These visual details in each room tell the story of how two cultures shaped daily life here.
The mansion sits near Senado Square and opens Tuesday through Sunday between 10:00 and 18:00, with final entry at 17:30. The walk-through typically takes an hour or so, and the building is easy to access on foot from nearby streets.
The interior spaces follow a hierarchical arrangement with three main halls: the Entrance Hall, Tea Hall, and Senior Hall, each representing different aspects of traditional family life. This spatial organization reveals how the household was structured and how family members and guests moved through the home according to social rank.
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