be quite straight from the north-west corner of the ferry terminal, along the edge of the present reclamation, past the site boundaries of the properties on the west side of the square, over the raised parking space between the Hongkong & Shanghai and the Char- tered Bank buildings, and so across Queen's Road. To complete the scheme a flight of steps leading up to the forecourt
Gamment
Battery Path
Future
Ferry
Banks
Commerce
Queen's ROAL
of the Government THE BROADWALK
Offices is here suggested, forming an alternative to Battery Path and pro- viding an opportunity for the appro- priate placing of some statue or memorial.
Though the path is straight, the walk resolves itself visually into three sections, each section occupying just over a minute of walking time, in each one of which the pedestrian is moving through a different kind of space. Starting from Battery Path, he passes first through a narrow cleft between tall buildings; then the space on the right widens out to the main square of the city, with the Supreme Court building, the Cenotaph and the Hong Kong Club, and the new City Hall tower well seen across the gen- erous open space. On the left shop windows and doors and the entrances to the complex of shopping arcades, lift lobbies and walkways contained within the adjoining buildings invite closer attention. Across Connaught Road the spatial relationships again change to the right the lower mass of the Star Ferry Car Park, and to
Government
North
Connaught
Chali Road
Road
The Broadwnik
Above: section through Statue Square, larking west
Scale
Below: plan
Alexandra
inion
Bullding
Banka
Prince Bilg
Queen's Building
200
400 FT.
Bank
Statue Square
Car Park
Ferry Terminal
Supreme
Court
Club
City Hall
the left the as yet unknown form of These aspects of the Broadwalk ly the ground floor ceases to be used the new reclamation permitting, it is are of course secondary; nevertheless, by pedestrians and is given over very much to be hoped, views of the it is necessary to examine them to entirely to vehicles, storage, and ser- harbour and its ships. The Broad- ensure that the project serves the eyes vices. Thus in time, and given the walk, itself a formal and undeviating of the citizen as well as it speeds his encouragement of permissive legisla- promenade, is thus modulated and feet. To return to its primary pur- tion and the example of the Broad- enlivened by the masses and spaces pose: the Broadwalk immediately walk, the logical separation of vehicu- past and through which it runs. joins two existing pedestrian areas, lar and pedestrian surfaces will come So much for the effect on the those around the ferry terminal and almost of its own accord. Freed of Broadwalk of its surroundings; what the Government Offices, with a short, the hazaids of pedestrian crossings, of its effect on them? From other safe, and ample link. This is the traffic lights, policemen and jay walk- vantage points the Broadwalk will justification for building it now. By ers the motorist could at last enjoy chiefly be seen as defining more clear- its existence, however, it also en- the prospect of a properly con- ly the somewhat vague space of Statue courages, without the need for cum sidered system of traffic flow and Square, and of preventing the con- bersome legislation, the eventual crea- parking in the central district. In tained space leaking away through tion of a third pedestrian area, on the this way some of the benefits of a the too frequent openings on the west first floor level of the new and existing town-plan may be obtained, without side, which at the moment blur and buildings. Thus impelled, the ten- the usual delays, even in this tran- weaken its effect as a square.
Tied dency for developers to lay more sient city, where the only tradition, together and unified by the strong but accent on the use of their first floors it sometimes seems, is that of making low lines of the pathway and its will continue the process automatical- shift; and the public may, for a small cover, the
а square would be more ly, until considerable hinterland expenditure, gain that relief from the effectively contrasted to the narrow opens up, running back by means of frustrations of its jammed streets that streets which adjoin it. The bridges bridges across the intervening streets other cities have spent millions to over the roads which enter this
towards Pedder Street and beyond. attain. effectively articulate the points where Once having become established on streets debouch into square, making the higher level, the natural preference the release into the open more enjoy- of the pedestrian will be to stay able by their slight compression of there; where the pedestrian goes, the the points of entry.
shopkeeper will follow, until eventual-
space
D. P. C.
5. This is already evident in the Man
Yee Building.
6. Such a system will form the subject
of a future article.