CONVERTED GODOWN
Photograph of the converted godown on Queen Victoria Road.
When. soon after the re-occupation, the influx of immi- grants into Hong Kong assumed substantial proportions and construction work had not yet got underway, the lack of accommodation for staff members who were returning either from home leave or from various refugee centres soon became a serious problem.
In an endeavour to obtain quarters with the least possible delay, the possibility of converting any sort of standing building to residential purposes was explored, and in a number of cases it was found possible to utilize the concrete buildings erected by the Military and by the Hong Kong Government to store rice and other foodstuffs, by spending a reasonable sum to provide necessary window space through the heavy walls and the erection of partitions to divide the large areas
into room units.
Illustrated above is one of these godowns, situated on Queen Victoria Road, near its junction with Dairy Farm Hill. converted for the use of small families of the Dairy Farm staff. In this case, a small additional building was erected to provide servants' rooms and a bathroom.
Although there are quite a large number of these stores scattered all over the island, very few were found suitable for conversion to residential purposes. In the first place, most of them were built away from the main roads and were not easily accessible or convenient to electric and water supply. In the second place, most of them were constructed of 12" doubly reinforced concrete walls and the cost of converting them was more than most people could afford. Many of the godowns, particularly those erected by the Hong Kong Government, which were built of rough squared stone were demolished and the stone used for the construction of other buildings. notably the temporary offices of the Public Works Department.
However, two very fine examples of buildings which were successfully converted can be seen on Chung Am Kok, near Stanley.
Architect: Geo. W. Grey, F.R.I.B.A., F.R.L.C.S., F.L.ARB. General Contractors: Sung Kee & Co.
Plumbing: Dodwell & Co., Ltd.
Electrical Installation: Jardine Engineering Corp., Ltd. Crittall Steel Windows: Dodwell & Co., Ltd.
E
AMAHD)
AMANID
KTCHER
DATH
RN KI
TO 1+
LATIONS
LAP L Bath km
131
BLU
ROOM AN
LIVING ROOM
LIVING ROOM(2)
LIVING ROOM (3)
BAD RM (2)
Present floor plan of the building.
STANDARD METAL WINDOW CO., LTD.
WEST BROMWICH.
ENGLAND
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BLAIR & CO., LTD.
WINDSOR HOUSE
KICIEN
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TEL.
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(3 lines)
28087
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