Cool colours have been used in the decorations throughout the build- ing, with white predominating. The Ambassador's office has been finished in pale grey and blue.
Garages, storerooms and plant rooms are at the rear of the site, linked to the office building at the east end. They are single storey, and generally of load-bearing con struction with flat concrete roofs.
A reinforced concrete car shelter is linked to the office building on the south side; it is curved to fol- low the bend of the front hounary of the site.
Provision has been made for the generation of electricity on the site. and a private water supply is avail- able from an artesian well. The site has been landscaped and planted with tropical flowers.
The main drive-through entrance to the Djakarta offices is set within the actual building, obvia- ing the need for an external ▼covered porch.
EMBASSY IN SAIGON
MAIN work was completed last
July after eighteen months in construction of a new four storey office building for the British Am- bassador and his staff at Saigon, at a cost of £135.000.
The site is rectangular and the main building fronts on to the prin cipal boulevarld leading to the Pre- sident's Palace. Single storey wings at the side and rear accommodate stores. plant
rooms and garages. Existing trees on the site were pre- served and the open spaces around and between the buildings have been landscaped and planted with grass and shrubs.
The main building has a central porte cochere and entrance hall with a free standing staircase of rein- forced concrete construction with open black marble treads and is sup ported on central spine beams. The offices on the ground and upper
floors are arranged on each side of central corridors.
The multi-storey block is of rein- forced concrete frame and flat slab construction with concrete block partitions and walls, and the single storey wings are of load bear- ing block construction, apart from one section which is of concrete frame construction to allow for a
extension. possible future vertical An open coluumn and beam treat- ment above the roof of the main block conceals a pent house contain- ing lift equipment.
The external walls to front and rear elevations of the main building have continuous fenestration and are set back for sun protection behind free standing circular columns and projecting floor slabs at the storey levels. Horizontal emphasis has been given by hands of balustrade panels faced with grey-blue glass mosaics and sunbreaker louvres in front of the structural columns.
THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER — VOLUME 18, NUMBER 1
ITA
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