on
are housed, and put the block of the physiotherapy and hydrotherapy departments in between to act as a focus. The extension is land nine feet lower than the older part so the relation in levels is tied in by means of a new tower which serves as staff quarters, separate from the wards but near enough for emer- gencies.
Theme behind this design is identity and difference of function, The tower is on a domestic scale; the
wards are on a medical scale and the classrooms creat a school scale. Court vards between the wards and the deep overhangs create a feeling of homeliness and help to create a "get well feeling among the children and also among their visiting parents, because this method of grouping prevents the growth of a feeling of being in a soulless in- stitution.
Simplicity in design and finish help to counteract the environment of a rough valley opening to the sea. Materials used are concrete, rough timber, glass and steel.
The site in Sandy Baiy is reclaim- ed land, with weak soil formation. As a result the tower containing staff quarters is placed on the strongest part of the site and separated from the other buildings which are floated
on
a raft with piling below. The whole is built in reinforced concrete frames and walls. The cover of the ramps linking with the existing building is of mushroom structure to create a sense of movement.
The extension consists of two wards with 54 beds, a central nurses' station. a physiotherapy depart- ment, a hydrotherapy department, machine room, doctor's room, recep- area, three class rooms, open-air class room, kitchen and
tion
one
linking ramp. In the tower the first and second floors are given up to quarters for nurses with two double bedrooms and a single bedroom on each. On the third and fourth floor are male and female staff quarters and the top floor is a laundry.
The site area, covering 110,000 square feet. is leased by the Hong Kong Government. Cost of the new extension was $500,000, excluding equipment, and the entire building was given to the Society by Mr. N. V. A. Croucher. General contractor was Mei On Construction Co. Ltd. Other sub-contractors and suppliers include:
PLUMBING:
Ltd.
Augustine Wong
ELECTRICAL FITTINGS: The British General Electric Co. Ltd.
WINDOWS: Window Co.
Hong Kong Metal
The gently sloping ramp which links the older portions of the Home with the new extension is also used by young patients learning to walk. This mushroom structure has roofing slabs in hollow concrete ▼ supported on hollow reinforced concrete pillars.