• TRAJAN'S
COLUMN ·
NEWS
NOTES
TOWN TOPICS.
TOPICS
Connaught Road would have been no There can be no doubt at all that less effective for the running down the here in Hong Kong we have an excel- centre of a 2ft. 6in. wide planted strip. lently organised plastics industry cap- The concrete island on the same road, able of producing first class materials outside the Star Ferry car park could at an economic cost, as a glance be a green oasis in the acres of tar- through the glossy pages of almost mac, whilst the concrete slabs between any issue of a contemporary, "The Princes Building and the Subway Hong Kong Trade Bulletin," wili could be a pleasant planted border. show. But to date the plastics indus- With more of this permanent garden- try has not been of much assistance ing the hexagonal cuspidors ornament- in the field of building construction. ing odd spots of the Star Ferry ap. If 'construction' is regarded as mean- proaches could have their pathetic ing only those parts of the building plants removed and revert to their which do heavy duty work, such as proper purpose.
concrete, steel, timber, etc., then the only significant help that could come from plastics would, perhaps, be expansion joints and cover strips; the manufacture of which can be com- mended to the local firms.
FREE FOR ALL.
There seems to be a clear conten- tion in building circles that the closer the architect/builder co-operation the more economical the structure, and surely the ultimate outcome of this
But if we extend the term to the
is for the client to seek an all-in other bits and pieces that go to make service. The independent architect up the whole, then plastics could be Congratulations to D.P.C. for his would be eliminated, or at best be used for a great diversity of purposes. article on the Broadwalk which ap regarded as an expensive luxury. A With the use of salt water for flushing peared in the last issue of this maga- threat to professional independence ing we have found that polythene and zine. It has brought into sharp focus and artistic integrity? Not at all, if P.V.C. piping is less corrosive than the plea in an earlier edition of the the architectural profession realises it the metals; why can we not also have local-made plastic baths and wash- Column for high level pedestrian in time and climbs on the comprehen- ways to give covered access around sive building service band wagon,
basins, shower trays, bathroom cup- the city centre and lift the humble prepared to take its place as the plodder above the hurly-burly of the active and aggressive leader of the ever increasing traffic problem. The team.
boards, in similar materials? Is there
a plastic floor finish just around the corner which would be cheaper than teak blocks? Has anyone tried extruding window sections or door frames? Would it be possible to produce a wafer-thin film perhaps а self-adhesive to serve as а wall finish which could be used like the wallpaper of Victorian days (and which, incidentally, is still very much de trop in contemporary decor).
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PLASTIC FOIL
Broadwalk is so obviously a good The Institute of Builders, in Lon- thing and a reasonably economic pro- don, has recently published new ject that it is being discussed in a Articles of Association giving the im variety of circles and may, perhaps, pression of turning itself into be the beginning of the multi-storey thorough-going professional institution, city which would be quite in keeping modelled on the lines of the older with the upward trend in our build- chartered bodies. It talks of the ings and which may even bring mid- "building industry" instead of "build- levels prosperity right down into our ing," and stresses that greater atten- business area,
tion will be paid to technical knowl- Continuing the theme set by con- edge in recruitment and training,
A plastic foil which could be used templation of the Broadwalk idea, and that its examinations will make over and over again would be useful and looking at the central district of a significant contribution to building as a cover for green concrete during Hong Kong in re-appraisal,
education and technical efficiency. we are
curing it is already produced in conscious once again of missing a The spirit which is moving this old- a form suitable for use as a humidity chance. "Keep Hong Kong green," established body to new fields is the seal and thermal insulator. A cheap we see at strategic places on the Peak. possibility of future clients seeking a foam slab could be applied as heat Can we change that slogan to "Make comprehensive building and civil en- and sound insulation. The train of Hong Kong green"? A flower bed gineering service, and the builder would thought runs on, and the Hong Kong has been formed at the side of the like the client to come to him. How plastics industry might well explore Bank of China, as at the apex of much better it would be, though, to the field, using an architectural con- Alexandra House, and there is the see the architectural and civil engineer- sultant if they would really like to patch of vegetation alongside the ing professions drop their old-fashion conquer the market, and aim to subway entrance on Chater/Connaught ed codes of conduct and get into exhibit their work at the Plastics 59 Roads. If these could be supplement- business as controllers of this service, International Trade
Trade Fair scheduled ed by planting where railings are enhancing their status and collaborat- for mid-October in Dusseldorf. After erected there might be no cause for ing as partners in the practical aspect all, plastics seem to be the only pro- correspondents to write to their of lowering the cost of building. There ducts which show a tendency to drop editors and complain of cattle pens. seems a real chance for the architect in prices rather than increase at a Opposite Cooks and Messageries Mari to become, in effect, once more the steady rate, as do most building times the railing in the middle of master builder.
materials from year to year.
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THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER
VOLUME 14. NUMBER 2
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