NATIONAL IDENTITY
GOVERNMENT architects in the Philippines were urged to initiate the modernization of the National Building Code in a speech last month by Publilc Works Secretary, Jorge A. Abad.
Addressing the Association of Philippine Govern- ment Architects, he said that efforts to evolve a more impressive national identification and a more lucid ex- pression of Philippino arts and culture in Philippine architectural design was hindered by the lack of a responsive building code.
"This lack, he said," is further compounded by the disparity in standards of ordinances and regulations imposed which vary with the community or city, depend- ing on the thinking of elective officials."
Mr. Abad put forward several suggestions for pro- ducing a "new dimension in Philippine Architecture."
These included: "A more functional beauty in design, seasoned by simplicity in elegance, and tempered by economy and utility; the maximum use of locally produced construction materials in order to help local industries and conserve foreign exchange; the more righteous employment of native skills as against foreign consultants; and the institution of measures that can open more opportunities for private practitioners in govern- ment jobs."
FLOOR LAYING MARATHON
THE half-way stage has been passed on what is believed to be the biggest ever single order for timber flooring in Hong Kong.
Prince's Building, a new 28-storey structure in the Central Area, will have 500,000 sq. ft. of kiln-dried Western Australian jarrah hardwood as parquet flooring in all its offices.
Hong Kong Teakwood Works, Ltd. manufactured and processed about one-fifth of the consignment of
Trimming and laying jarrah flooring
jarrah planks at their works on Peng Chau Island, the remaining four-fifths having been provided in already processed form by the suppliers, Hawker Siddeley Building Supplies Pty., Ltd, of Perth, Western Aus- tralia. The total order is worth more than HK$1 million.
BANGKOK SLUMS SURVEY
THE Municipal Government of Bangkok has launched a one-year survey of slum conditions and their cause. Its purpose is to provide data for preventing the recurrence of slum areas after resettlement.
Meanwhile the Public Works Department has com- pleted plans for 3,000 housing units on a 1,000 rai site at Klong Chan district. The cost, over two years, will be about 70 million baht. Some 520 detached houses houses for lower income
and 190 smaller detached families will be built.
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The estate is scheduled for completion by August 1966 and will be used by athletes attending the Asia Games. They will be ready for residents by January 1, 1967.
The Public Welfare Department, which started its housing project in 1955, has so far provided 6,000 families in Bangkok and Dhonburi with houses.
TERMINAL HOTEL PLAN
CONSTRUCTION of a HK$30 million theatre-arcade-hotel complex in Hong Kong is expected to begin shortly. The project has reached the final-plan stage.
The three-in-one structure will be built on a 60,000 sq. ft. site at the landward end of the new Ocean Terminal, Kowloon. An arcade from the new building will lead into the main plaza of the terminal, and first and second floor terminal shopping centres will also be connected.
The new structure will be 200ft. high with shopping arcades on the lower four floors, offices on four floors at mid-level, and 11 residential floors. Whether it will have one or two theatres has still to be decided.
A new company Harbour Centre Development Ltd. has been formed to develop the site. The company is jointly owned by the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co. Ltd., and Metropolitan Investors Ltd. Metropolitan will construct the building, while Wharf and Godown provide the land.
The two firms signed a construction agreement on March 20. Eric Cumine are the architects.
KUALA LUMPUR CENTRE
A CONTRACT worth M$24 million has been awarded to Taylor Woodrow (Overseas) Ltd. for the erection of a shopping centre and offices for the Rural and Industrial Development Authority of Kuala Lumpur.
The ten-storey reinforced concrete framed building on pile foundations will be clad externally in brick and alumimium. It will be fully air conditioned and three lifts will operate to all floors.
Architect is Mr. Philip Marques D'Almeida, ARIBA, of Ee Hoong Chwee & Co., Kuala Lumpur, and consulting engineer, Dr. Y.S. Lau.
Work which has recently begun, is due for com- pletion in March, 1966. Quantities of material to be used in construction include:- 4,830 cu. yd. concrete, 424 tons rod reinforcement and 12,800 yd. super of mesh reinforcement.
DEVELOPMENT SETBACK
HONG KONG Government's plan to re-develop 134 acres of the city centre at a cost of HK$300 million-plus suffered a severe setback last month.
Although the government invited tenders from all over the world to build on the former dockyard site only one tender was received.
This was from a local organisation, and was only for the western section. No tender was received for the eastern section.
Mr. Henry Fok, a leading real estate developer, and members of his syndicate, tendered to buy and develop the western portion. This comprises seven lots situated between the proposed Kapok Drive and Murray Road planned by Government for office and commer- cial buildings.
Originally Mr. Fok had planned to invest $330 million to develop the entire dockyard site over a seven- year period. He reportedly lost interest in the eastern portion because of the $5 a cubic foot building covenant. The eastern portion comprises 10 lots between Kapok Drive and the former Wellington Barracks).
Mr. Fok is reported as saying that the high covenant would automatically push most of the tenement flats to be built there into the high-cost category
which had now reached saturation point.
The Government stipulated in the tender notice that at least $200 million be spent on the project, not
Far East Architect & Builder April, 1965