PLANS APPROVED
FIFTY-FOUR plans for new buildings of all types in Hong Kong. Kowloon and the New Territories were approved by the Building Authority in November as compared with 52 in the previous month and 64 in the corresponding month in 1964.
During the same month, 85 completed buildings were certified for occupation. Of these, eleven were buildings for domestic purposes, 25 for non-domestic purposes and 49 for combined domestic and non-domestic use. In ad- dition, the Building Authority approved the demolition of 80 buildings.
Cost of new building work in the Colony during the month of November was HK$71,510,653. Another $3,875,389 was spent on site formation work. New build- ings of all types erected totalled 97. including eight factories and godowns, three offices and shops, 75 houses and flats and eleven others.
CALL FOR INDUSTRIALISATION
HONG KONG might well give more thought to the use of industrialised building systems, said Mr. H. C. Astbury, FRIBA, president of the Hong Kong Society of Architects. at the society's annual dinner last month.
Hong Kong industry had proved itself capable of remarkable expansion, he declared, and the necessary ex- pertise was available in the Colony for builders and manu- facturers to explore the possibility of making under licence components for one or more of the existing industrialised building systems now being manufactured in the advanced countries in particular in France.
Mr. Astbury continued: "Our contractors still work at the mercy of the weather. We still expect precision from builders working in blazing sun or biting wind. We and the clients still expect punctuality in building pro- grammes, while the workers are combating site muddle and mud.
Conversational group at the Hong Kong Society of Architects' annual dinner. Left to right: Mr. Stanley T. Kwok, Mr. J. R. Firth, Commissioner for Housing, and Mr. Cedric Astbury, president.
Sir Sik-Nin Chau (right) presents the Society's first silver medal award to Mr. Ian Campbell and Mr. Dick N. Pang, of Palmer and Turner
30
NEW PRESIDENT OF H. K. S. A.
Elected president of the Hong Kong Society of Architects for 1966 is Mr. Stanley T. Kwok, ARIBA. B Arch AA Dip.
Mr. Kwok was educat- ed at the St. John's Uni- versity. Shanghai, and completed his studies at the Architectural Asso- ciation, London.
He joined the firm of Eric Cumine in Febru- ary 1949 and has been responsible for several of the firm's largest projects in Hong Kong, includ- ing Pacific House, Shell House and Fontana Gar- Mr. Stanley T. Kwok
dens. He is at present engaged on a large commercial complex known as the Harbour Centre.
"Documented information is available here in Hong Kong on more than 100 industrialised building systems. Not only could Hong Kong solve its own problems more quickly but it could begin to help others with population problems to solve theirs."
Mr. Astbury referred earlier in his speech to the apparent division between designers who maintained a scientific approach and those who designed from the heart
"the classic versus the romantic”.
He said: "I have heard the view expressed that a schism is appearing between architects who are in effect custom tailors and those who are mass producers. I do not think this sentiment is correct.
Both
"Architecture is like a stereophonic_record. sides of the groove are being played by the same needle and the full depth of our art is only produced as long as both sides can be heard. The two extremes of thought are like the lictors pressing back the crowd on each side. as the mistress art proceeds on her majestic course.'
**
Mr. Astbury said that the thought that system build- ing spelled the doom of craftsmanship or that mass pro- duction meant an end to individuality was preposterous.
SINGAPORE NEEDS NEW PLAN
SINGAPORE'S Town Planning Institute has called for a new plan defining basic planning policies and objectives that are to shape the future of the city.
An editorial in the institute's Malaysia Branch news- letter states that the new plan should be adaptable to changing conditions and provide a new approach to plan- ning and new techniques.
"The scale of building operations and the compre- hensive renewal of the city area," it states, "present unique opportunities to create an urban environment suitable not only for the present needs, but for those likely to be de- manded by the end of the century."
Parts of the city centre are worn out and must be renewed and rehabilitated, says the editorial.
"No longer can we plan in three dimensions only: our planners are continually aware of the everchanging requirements of our people, in culture and recreation amongst other things. Personal spending patterns and leisure habits are taking new forms. Car ownership is rising, travel is becoming more popular, and new patterns of recreation are emerging”—
SARAWAK HOSPITAL CONTRACT
THE Federal Government of Sarawak has approved a con- tract with San Development Co., Ltd., Kuching, for the construction of the Sarawak General Hospital in Kuching. Contract documents, being prepared. provide for com- pletion of the work in 33 months at a cost of M$14,419.-
Far East Architect & Builder January, 1966
Page 40Page 41
1