plete villages, were worked out by the architects after close consultation with both clients and representatives of the future occupiers. Obviously a main aim is to make the best use of the funds, but to build attractive and lasting homes is as important.
To this end the elements of the construction are simple but of good quality. The coursed masonry is of stone, quarried as near to the sites as possible. This gives the villages an appearance that blends well with the locality, as well as exterior walls that should not deteriorate or need much in the way of maintenance.
The walls are 9 in. thick, with the party walls of brick but finished in stone where they protrude above the roof level. The line of the roof is marked on the side walls by the pro- jection through the walls of the pur- lins.
Asbestos Roofs
Roofs, although of light and sim- ple construction, are in fact double layer. Flat sheets of asbestos on top of the corrugated sheets provide extra insulation and strength. The lower section of roof, over the kitchen, has a 2 ft. 3 in. projection over the 3 ft. 6 in. balcony, giving some measure of protection.
The access balcony itself is of solid hardwood construction, supported primarily
cantilevered оп
rafters which pass through the walls and act as wall plates to support the joists of the floor within, being attached to the side walls.
As well as providing a sound cons- truction, this means there is a step up, the floor being 6 in. above the balcony. (6 in. is the depth of the joists supporting the hardwood floor). Solid supporting posts, rails, and floor- boards complete the balconies, which have to stand up to a good deal of hard use. A similar timber construc- tion is also used for the stairways giv- ing access to the balconies.
Access to the homes on the ground level is along the 5 ft. wide concrete paths which, together with the con- crete steps between changes of level. form the main circulation pattern. The ground floors are of screed on concrete. Doors to the homes, open- ing inwards to the kitchens, are dutch double doors, so that the top half may be opened while the lower re- mains closed. to keep the children inside.
Other villages have houses design- ed on similar lines, but with various differences. The first fishermen's village built for CARE, for example, was more or less experimental and had only single-storey dwellings. They were of similar materials, but simpler. The asbestos roofs proved to be rather prone to typhoon damage, and overhanging eaves were fastened down with tie-wires at un- protected corners.
Au Tau Bridge, which is a resettle- ment village at present under con- struction. is rather different, with blocks consisting of a dwelling on
Far East Architect & Builder January, 1966
Interior courtyard, Tsing Yi
each side of a central portion con- taining separate showers and kitchens for each dwelling. These homes also have separate living and bed areas.
A feature developed for Au Tau which should prove more satisfactory than the corrugated asbestos is a roof built up of prestressed concrete planks, which are post-tensioned after erection, and covered with a concrete topping. Perhaps surprisingly, this rather novel method is cheaper than the use of asbestos. and is being repeated on the newest village at Cheung Chau.
The Cheung Chau houses will also be slightly higher, with more window area on the ground floor and access directly into the living rooms, kitchens being at the rear. This arrangement is preferred by the occupiers.
In spite of economies the rising costs of construction in Hong Kong mean that the cost per unit has risen considerably since the schemes began
View from the road over Taipo village
in 1961. The cost for Taipo was HK$11,000 per unit, while that for Cheung Chau will be HK$15,000.
There is room, even in such simple schemes, for continual modification and improvement. Consideration is being given to the development of something on less traditional lines, for instance the use of precast concrete blocks instead of the rough masonry walls.
It is too early to pass judgment on the weathering qualities of the design. since neither Taipo nor Tsing Yi has been occupied for long. Perhaps the most vulnerable point is the asbestos roofing which may become brittle after several years. However at the moment it is proving a very satisfac- tory covering.
The contractors for both Taipo and Tsing Yi were Tung Cheung Construction Co., who assumed re- sponsibility for all aspects, no sub- contractors being nominated.
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