ASSESSORS' COMMENTS ON WINNING DESIGN
THE design chosen for the top
award was selected as being generally most competant but never- theless with some reservations. The architectural quality and suitability of the character of this design was considered quite outstanding and the assessors were confidant that the architect would have no difficulty in making any amendments which may be required at a later stage within the general character of this scheme
The winning design, although bold and vigorous in conception had a dignity and restraint which the asses- sors considered a necessary quality in university design. There was no seeking after forced character and the function of the buildings was clearly and economically expressed.
The assessors considered that in- sufficient emphasis had been placed on expressing the pedestrian access from the Students' Union and the residential buildings across the brid- ge within the general site-develop. ment plan, but the architect had sited the scheme to achive maximum economy in earthwork.
An excellent feature of the design is the relationship of the major elements and the sensitive handling of scale, an aspect to which many competitors failed to give adequate attention.
In the development of the site the assessors considered that insufficient emphasis had been placed on design- ing the landscape, but the architect sited the scheme so as to achieve the maximum economy in earthwork and although in doing so he failed to make full use of the natural charac ter of the site, the placing of the
buildings is otherwise very satisfac- tory.
The car parking has been sub- divided into a series of areas which do not visually compete with the buildings. The assessors felt that architect had not given sufficient consideration to the segregation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, also that access should be provided to the stage area of the theatre.
In the design of the Great Hall the architect provided most of the floor space at one level as this hall was not designed for visual spectacle. The assessors were of the opinion that the multiple use of this hall would have been considerably im- proved if some form of tiered floor- ing had been adopted.
Although the assessors approved the idea of placing the theatre within another structural enclosure they felt that the architect had not explored the possibilities of enclosing the auditorium in some flexible manner which would enable the shape of the theatre to be changed in order to accommodate the various audience! actor relationships required.
It was considered that the experi- mental character of the theatre should have been expressed in a less formal manner. It was also con- sidered that the provision for the storage of scenery and the area of the workshop was inadequate in size and height. It was recommended that the access to the air-conditioning plant room should be improved.
The assessors considered that while the floor area of some of the accom. modation in the administration cen-
tre was too large no provision had been made for the mail distribution office or the telephone exchange but an extra store was included,
It was added that since this had been designed on the modular basis the accommodation could be redis- tributed to include the rooms omitted within the existing perimeter. The assessors did not consider that ade- quate provision had been made for the separate use of the council chamber, committee senior common room.
rooms
SEATING IN
THEATRE
PLAYS BEHIND THE PROSCENIUM
and
70
West Elevation
DJ BETON PRE M
PLAYS ON AN APRON STAGE
བ
Section through administration block and Great Hall
PLAYS ON AN OPEN STAGE
THE HONG KONG & FAR FAST BUILDER—VOLUME 17, NUMBER 2