SHAW HOUSE & LIDO THEATRE, SINGAPORE
LIDO
SHAW HOUSE
T.
Architects: Van Sitteren and partners J. G. Dowsett, A. R. I. B. A.
Perhaps the most serious criticism building control line was imposed by of well-lit office space on each floor, that can be levelled at modern archi- the Singapore Improvement Trust (in addition to the 1,300 sq.ft. taken tecture is that the great diversity of well back from the lot boundaries, to up by lobbies, corridor, lifts, stairs materials and structural techniques, allow for the construction of a large and plant rooms) within a building and the subsequent variety in archi- traffic round-about at a future date. perimeter of only 462 feet. It has no tectural expression, while admirable The obvious location for the office unsightly "rear facade" or light area, in itself, tends very often to produce building was on this control line, but presents an equally pleasing ap disharmony and general "untidiness" facing due North and South, and pearance from every view-point. The in street architecture. This is evident diagonally overlooking the street inter- plan arrangement gives maximum in almost any street, in any city, section. Siting of the cinema on flexibility in sub-division into offices, where modern buildings stand side Scotts Road (which had been the
To give added flexibility each floor by side.
original intention) was not permitted, has been individually air-conditioned, Shaw House and the Lido Theatre, so that the cinema had to be placed with a plant room at one end supply. two buildings recently erected by on the rather irregular piece of land Messrs. Runme and Run Run remaining of the Orchard Road front- Shaw at one of Singapore's most age. Almost all of the rest of the site prominent street intersections, have has been utilised as a car park, prob- afforded a rare opportunity for the ably by far the largest private car architects to give some attention to park in Singapore, accommodating this problem. The buildings present over 250 cars.
one harmonious entity while still The open nature of the site has retaining those special characteristics made it possible, in the case of the of their widely diverse uses.
office building, to give far more atten- The basic planning and siting of the tion to questions of basic planning and two buildings was influenced to a very economy in structure than is possible large extent by restrictions imposed on the usual restricted city lot. by Singapore's planning authority, the result is a surprisingly economical Singapore Improvement Trust. A structure containing over 10,000 sq.ft.
The
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THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER
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VOLUME 14, NUMBER ?