news review
Prestressed foundation for HK building
What is believed to be the first prestressed raft foundation in the world is planned for a multi-storey building in Hong Kong.
Government planning approval is now being sought to erect the structure - a 20-storey multi- purpose block of shops and apartments - on a site at Bonham Strand West and Queen's Road West.
The need for a prestressed raft foundation arises from economical and structural considerations. The present site is covered with boulders and conven- tional piling would entail not only the removal of a large number of these boulders at a high cost but probable damage to neighbouring structures.
A conventional raft foundation of reinforced concrete would require a raft thickness of about 7 ft. 8 in. which would result in overstressing the subsoil to some 11 per cent. in excess of allowable limits. Consequently a prestressed concrete raft of 4 ft. 6 in. thickness is proposed for the foundation.
It is estimated that the total reduction in con- struction cost for the foundation will amount to approximately 25 per cent. Aside from savings in excavation and extra concrete volume, the amount of steel used for a conventional raft would be around 160 tons of high tensile steel, as against 20 tons of high tensile steel and 27 tons of prestressing tendons.
The architect for the building is Mr. Chu Pin of Kwan Chu and Yang. The prestressing consultant is Mr. Andrew Jean.
HK architects design Bangkok grandstand
Sketch plans for a new grandstand to be erected at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club have been pre- pared by Hong Kong architects, Leigh and Orange. The plans, which call for an expenditure of more
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Bangkok grandstand
than US$.75 million, are now being considered by the club authorities.
The reinforced concrete framed stand will ac- commodate about 7,500 members of the public and 500 racing members in private boxes. It will include betting and catering facilities on each floor. The public will occupy the ground, first and second floors and the racing members and stewards will be on the third floor.
All the stewards' and judges' rooms and photo- finish equipment will be transferred into the new stand and a new press box will be built beneath the 40 ft. cantilever roof.
Bids soon for Singapore sports complex
Singapore's Housing and Development Board is to call for tenders this month for the construction of a sports complex at Queenstown, estimated to cost about S$750,000.
A plot of about 10 acres has been reserved with- in the Queenstown Estate for the project which is scheduled to be completed by May next year.
The complex will consist of an open field, an all-weather running track and three swimming
Queenstown sports complex
pools - one built to Olympic standards, one of medium size and one to serve as a small teaching pool for children. There will be changing rooms for both males and females, capable of serving the needs of 2,000 to 3,000 persons per day.
In addition the centre will contain badminton and tennis courts and facilities for indoor games. It will be the first of its kind in Singapore and is the Board's biggest single project aimed at provid- ing improved amenities and communal facilities in its estates.
Russia's Expo pavilion like unfurling flag
The Russian pavilion for Expo '70 will be the largest non-Japanese structure at Osaka. Curving around a 100-metre high "pole", the structure is designed to represent an unfurling flag.
The pavilion will have a huge truss dome made of H-beams and steel pipes. Interior columns will be kept to a minimum in order to provide as much usable space as possible. Roof and outer walls will be covered with metal panels. The front of the
Far East BUILDER, November 1968.