and the ceiling is sloped to ensure ing small windows to the south in the south-east corner will provide very good acoustic conditions and and a large north light window shade. and areas of shrubs and the opportunity for imaginative which will be controlled by floor bushes will create vertical interest. interior decoration. The Concert Hall, to ceiling venetian blinds. From this with flowers planted in beds and though primarily for orchestral con- vantage point a magnificent view sculptured containers to form focal certs, will also be used for perfor- will be obtained of the harbour, and points of colour. mances of Chinese Opera. This dual the hills of Kowloon. purpose arrangement presented a difficult problem in designing the platform and stage area, but this was overcome by the use of a remov- able platform and proscenium arch. The fireproof curtain will be housed in the roof and dropped in- to place as required. Large sliding: folding doors open at the sides of the stage providing adequate wing space.
At the rear of the orchestral plat- form, at a higher level than the or- chestra, is the chair accommodat- ing 160 choristers. This can be utilised to provide addition- al seating when purely orchestral concerts are taking place.
area
The dressing rooms, practice and green rooms are behind the plat- form and stage area, and are entered from the eastern and by separate entrances.
The High Block will be a reinforced whole scheme is the Star Ferry Con- concrete structure faced with granite and tiled panels.
LECTURE
QUIFT
two
Wireless broadcasts will be made from the Concert Hall, and for this purpose two radio control rooms are situated at the rear of the Hall. The controller will command an un- interrupted view of the entire hall and platform as well as over the ballroom area.
The Theatre on the north-south axis of the Central Block, is like the Concert Hall, rectangular in shape with a sloping ceiling, but the at- mosphere of the interior will be cf a more intimate nature.
It will accommodate 481 people in staggered seats on a stepped floor. The stage is large enough for full scale productions and provision will be made for the showing of 35 m.m. films. Broadcasting will al- so take place from the Theatre, and two radio control rooms have been placed at the rear with a wide sweep of vision. Behind the stage is single storey building containing the dressing and property rooms, etc.
a
PROJECT.
RECORDS
LECTURE
ROOM
LIFT
HALL
SEVENTH FL. PLAN
MALE
CONTROL
ILIFT
HALL:
FOURTH FL. PLAN
MALE
MARRIAGE ROOM
LIFT
HALL
GENERAL OFFICE
WAITING
ROOM
FIRST FL. PLAN
On
The general arrangement of a floor in the High Block is as shown
the fourth floor plan above. Various libraries, the museum and art gallery will, gen- erally speaking, have very few parti- tions and will follow this layout. The first floor plan of the Marriage Regis- try and the seventh floor plan of the lecture rooms shows the partitioning re- quired for these units.
The second principal unit of the
course. This includes a three-tier car park. covered pedestrian ways and bridge, and an open paved piazza. The prime object of this area is to enable the large numbers of ferry users to arrive and depart on foot, by cars, taxis and buses in an uninterrupted flow, and to dis- perse as rapidly as possible the vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
It was decided. as a result of the study of existing traffic, that the main pedestrian way should be on the western side of the site, leading to the main business area of the City. and that cover should be provided from the pier apron to Connaught Road, including shelter for bus users and for passengers arriving by car and taxi to the ferry. The whole area will be paved, and vistas will be formed by the concrete grilles and screen walls which direct the pedes- trian traffic along the covered ways to Connaught Road.
Another important problem was to prevent the interruption of the ve- hicular traffic flow on Connaught Road by the pedestrian users of the ferry pier. After a great deal of thought it was decided that a bridge was the best solution.
Since the completion of the Cen- tral Reclamation, practically the whole area has been used as a car park, and there was no doubt that new parking facilities would have to be provided before work could be- gin on the City Hall. After much investigation and experiment, the present three-tier car park to accom- modate 420 cars was found to be the most suitable solution from aesthetic. practical and economic considerations.
The car park is entered by way of the eastern approach road, with ramps to the first and second floor levels. A system of lights will oper- ate to indicate to car drivers when one or all of the parking levels are full. The exit ramp from each level the northern end of the eastern approach road, and thence via the water front to Mur-
reinforced concrete, the unper two
local Societies, and an exhibition
main frame. The exit and discharge room are situated on the ninth floor.
ramps will be continuous units, and Linked together on the tenth and Interest and contrast will be achiev- will be supported on a concrete eleventh floors are the Museum and ed by changes of pattern. colour, frame extending from the Art Gallery, the Art Gallery hav- materials and differing levels. Trees building.
The High Block contains the Marriage Registry on the first floor,
The design of the garden was de- and on the various floors above, the Children's, Lending. Reference and
veloped using paving rather than grassed areas, with contrasting ele- Chinese libraries, with the periodic-
ments in the form of trees and water. discharges into al and stack rooms; two lecture rooms each seating 160 persons, with the colonnade and on the inside of Running parallel with the walls of facilities for the showing of 16 mm. the garden is a continuous strip of ray Road. The building will be of
films and slide projections. Com-
mittee rooms, which may be hired by
still water creating
a feeling of
tranquillity, and isolating the garden floors cantilevered out from the
from the bustling areas beyond.
main
11