with hoteliers both local and abroad. Their conversion scheme was com- pleted in September 1967 but, due to the riots at that time, reactions to the proposition were not favourable.
It was not until April 1968, when building work was well under way, that the architects received firm instructions to proeed with the hotel scheme. In June 1968, Hongkong Land Investment & Agency Co. Ltd. purchased the Star House office block next to the building and agreed to join the new consortium.
At the time the architects were instructed to carry out the conversion, the superstructure had already reached the seventh floor and with it, the various electrical and mechanical installations. While it was possible to keep the framework basically un- changed, the electrical and mechanical services needed a tremendous increase in capacity.
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The flats were not only turned into hotel rooms but also increased in number from 670 to a total of 800 each to be fitted with an electrically controlled panel for lights, room ser. vices, radio and television.
The main kitchen of the hotel, containing more than HK$1 million worth of cooking and washing equip- ment, had to be enlarged in size to cope with the restaurant, coffee shop, grill and bars that were not planned originally. And an extra staircase con- nection was needed between the res- taurants and the kitchen which had to be relocated on separate floors because of the increased capacity.
A PABX system was added to the telephone exchanges and a pneumatic tube system was installed for the cashiers. Water, gas and electricity had to be brought on to the fifth floor. which was first designed for offices but was now a kitchen, and large exhaust ducts and fire resisting steel shutters were installed to meet Gov- ernment regulations.
The conversion of the bachelor flats into hotel rooms was not as problematical as the provision of the public rooms, but electric lighting positions had to be completely revised to suit the furniture layout. Kitchens attached to the flats were made into walk-in closets and water pipes and drainage were plugged off.
As a result of the conversion, a total of 800 sheets of drawings show- ing structural and architectural details were produced.
Time limit
For the architects and contractors the task of planning and converting the structure was made more intense by the setting of a completion date for the building at June 1969. The open- ing of the hotel was advertised to be on July 1, 1969 and room reservations were taken from all parts of the world.
The architects designated a team of ten persons for this one project – five architects and designers, two en- gineers, one surveyor and two drafts- men. A management advisory board was established for communication between the owners and the architects, and site meetings were held daily to deal with problems arising on site where more than 30 contractors and specialists were employed by the
owners.
To gain time, local materials such as glazed pottery tiles, carpets, rattan furniture and lighting fixtures were used wherever possible. But it was
Mai
Reception counters are overhung with rosewood canopies. Lettering, standard throughout the hotel, is designed by Graphic Communications
Far East BUILDER, November 1969
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