CTCLE PALI
MERCANTI
ITORAG
TICKE
FOYER
Above, Plan at Mezzanine level. Left, Ground floor plan.
The projection room, housing all Shaw House was erected by one of that is latest in projection and sound the leading contractors in Singapore equipment, is situated below the bal- and Malaya, the Union Construction cony, rather an unusual position, but Co. (Shanghai). This firm has its the ideal location for accurate projec- Singapore Office at 405 Asia Insurance tion onto the 62 feet x 30 feet screen, Building, Klyne Street. the largest in this part of the world.
Union Construction Co. (Shanghai) The walls of the auditorium are of was founded in 1921 in Shanghai. acoustically designed, polished wood Various types panelling, relieved by large abstract ing and building projects ranging engineer- murals of acoustic panels of varying from long-span steel bridges across colours and texture arranged in bold spiral waters, to difficult tunnelling; relief. The ceiling is an airy, undulat- from public works to busy harbours; ing canopy of closely-spaced, white from skyscrapers to painted-wood strips.
of civil
well-decorated
theatres and hotels; from residences The cinema, as is the office build- to factories; all came within the com- ing, is air-conditioned throughout by pany's scope of activities in various Frick. All interior finishes and furni- parts of China before World War II. ture (except the auditorium seating The founder of the company came and restaurant interior) were designed to Singapore and established a branch by the architects.
The structure, except the roof, is of reinforced concrete. The roof is con- structed of patent steel decking on steel trusses, insulated and roofed with bituminous felt.
there in 1938 when a contract was
signed with the Johore Government for the construction of the General Hospital, Johore Bahru. The com- pany thus became the first Asian construction company to be awarded Exterior finishes match as far as such a substantial contract during possible those of the office building, the prewar days, and a host of with the same marble and white bush experienced technicians and skilled hammered plaster wall finishes, glass workmen subsequently contributed mosaic fins and sloping windows. greatly to the improvement of the Large screen walls of specially design- standard of construction in that part ed asbestos units conceal the emergen- of the world.
cy staircases from the auditorium's The company has also been instru many exits. The large marquee at the mental in training local people in front continues the line of the facade various branches of the construction of the office building, while the main field. Many other outstanding projects facade of the cinema curves gently in Singapore, Malaya and Borneo into the Orchard Road frontage. have also been carried out by the The office building, named "Shaw company. Among them are the wharf House," is now the property of the at Sebuyau; Metal Box factory, Bad- "Shaw Foundation," a charitable or minton Stadium, foundations for Shell ganisation recently established and Building and Chartered Bank Build- endowed by Messrs. Runme and Run ing, Odeon Cinema, and Ngee Ann Run Shaw.
flats, in Singapore; Great Eastern Life
22
Building and Asia Insurance Building in Kuala Lumpur.
General contractor for office build- ing: Union Construction Co. (Shanghai).
General contractor for cinema:
. Lim Kah Ngam. Sub-contractors and
suppliers
Sime, Darby (Singapore) Ltd.: Vibro concrete piling, security equipment, flooring.
Watts & Baker Ltd.:
Baker Ltd.: Sanitary installation (cinema).
Tong Nam Contractors Ltd.: Sani-
tary installation (office building} United Metal Works Ltd: Steel
windows.
United Engineers Ltd.: Electrical
installation.
Otis Elevator Co.: Lifts. Raoul Bigazzi, A. Clouet & Co. (Singapore) Ltd. (agents): Marble and Italian glass mosaics. Chop Chye Hock: Roads and pay-
ing.
Yang Ah Kang: Interior finishes
and furniture.
William Jacks & Co. (M) Ltd.: Roofing (office building), door furniture, mail chute.
Guthrie & Co. Ltd.: Roofing
(cinema).
Sandilands Buttery & Co. Ltd.:
Floor ducting.
Philips Electrical Co.: Light fittings. Alliance plastics: Plastic signs, special light fittings, iron work floor ducting.
Cement Asbestos Products: Asbestos
grilles and sun baffles. China Engineers Ltd., A. Clouet & Co. (S'pore) Ltd., Dobb & Co.: Floor and wall tiling.
THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER
VOLUME 14, NUMBER 2
Page 30Page 31