PROPOSED STAFF QUARTERS
HOLLAND-CHINA TRADING COMPANY LTD.
Amongst the many projects being held in abeyance for the time being, pending clarification of the political situation, is a building to be situated on I.L.2387, 60 Conduit Road, which has been designed and approved as staff quarters for the Holland-China Trading Company. This building will contain three flats and has several un- usual features incorporated in the
design.
Those who know the Conduit Road area would recollect the very steep hillside of which Conduit Road forms the southern boundary, and will be familiar with the sight of buildings clinging to the hillside which is a usual scene in this part of the Colony.
In spite of the difficulties encoun- tered in construction work as a result of the topography, this district is very popular from the point of view of residential construction. The principal reason is that it is very accessible to the centre of town and the second reason is that, in spite of its high elevation, it is seldom overwhelmed by mist and fog so familiar in other parts of the Peak district. Finally, the area over- looks the harbour and from almost any point of vantage a most magnificent view is obtained of Kowloon with its encircling hills and the waterfronts of both the Island and the Mainland.
Probably the most unusual feature of the planning of this house is that the entrance is on and over the roof. This is, of course, due to the fact that the steepness of the site is such that the top of the three-storey structure is just above the level of the footpath of Conduit Road. A bridge extends over the cutting which separates the
back of the building from Conduit Road into the stair hall which rises a few steps up to roof level. A short distance along the roof leads to the main staircase set into the centre of the building from which is reached the main door to each flat.
The unavoidable positioning of the building which places the main eleva- tion facing north, exposed to the full force of unfavourable winds, cyclonic in the summer and cold in the winter, influenced the architect to use teak in the construction of windows instead of the popular steel sections because the use of teak frames and sashes enabled him to include shutters for all the
main
windows and particularly for the French windows opening on to the large verandah.
A glance at the floor plan will dis- close the advantage of setting the main stairway in the centre of the building. This arrangement permits the T-shap- ed design for the building with a passage separating the dining-room- lounge combination in the main stem of the "T" from the two bedrooms in eliminates the necessity of entering the bedrooms through the living room section which is usual in planning where limitation of space requires the entrance hall to be at one end of the building.
apartment
The position of the lounge with windows on three sides, and particular- ly of the wide curving balcony on the north-west elevation from which the whole harbour view is obtained, pro- vides a living area of exceptionally fine proportion and arrangement.
The two bedrooms of very generous proportions, each with adjoining bath-
CUP
AMAN
DOY
KITCHEN
BATH RICET
LAUNDRY
DED RM.L23
PANTRY
CUPBOARD
CUR
BED RM CO
(Above) (Below)
DINING
LOUNGE
BATH RED)
STUD
BALCONY
FIRST FLOOR
Typical Floor Plan.
Cross section of building showing rein- forced concrete bridge access from Conduit Road.
room and ample closet space, fit ex cellently into the planning. Kitchen. pantry, laundry and servants' quarters in the south-west wing, nearest to the retaining wall, complete the design which has everything to commend it.
The architect responsible for the planning of this building is Mr. Geo. W. Grey, F.R.I.B.A., F.R.I.C.S.
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EXISTING MASONRY
RETURMA MALL
RD. CONDUIT
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