BLOCK OF APARTMENTS
37/39 CHATHAM RD.
Architects:
Messrs. Harriman
Realty Co., Ltd.
An interesting block of apartments was recently completed in Kowloon at 37-39, Chatham Road. The in- terest lies mainly in the narrowness of the site, and the ingenuity with which the architects have planned Six apartments on each floor certainly worthy of mention.
is
The project was designed to meet the needs of that portion of the community desiring to purchase their own accommodation privately with the minimum capital outlay. The present continuous upward trend in land costs, demanded intensive development to provide accommoda- tion at an acceptable price.
In order to restrict capital expen- diture and maintenance costs, the owner elected to dispense with passenger lifts and set a maximum height of 5 storeys; this, in turn, dictated that 6 flats per storey would have to be provided in order to pro- duce flats at an attractive rent. The plan illustrated was the logical out- come.
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(Above) Photograph of the apartments from the south-east showing the attractive pattern created by the balconies and the staircase grilles.
The flats facing Chatham Road have a clear view across the Kow- loon-Canton Railway to the har- (Right) Ground floor plan, from which bour; while for the flats built at the can be seen the narrowness of the site and rear of this deep tapering site. an the difficulty of providing the required six open area planted with flowers has apartments per flour. been provided. A similar area on the
north side of the building faces the
kitchens and servants' quarters, all apartments on each floor. The ser- having access to scavenging lanes.
vice stairs double as fire escapes. On the upper floors, there are two The frame of the building is of apartments at the front of the build- reinforced concrete with nine inch ing, each containing a living room brick panel and party walls, metal with balcony. three bedrooms. a windows and french doors, and teak bathroom. kitchen, storage space parquet flooring in all living rooms, and servant's quarters. The south- bedrooms and halls. Kitchens and ern apartment of these two on the bathrooms are tiled, and each flat ground floor, however, has only two has built-in cupboards. bedrooms as the space occupied by
the third was required for a motor
Gas service points have been
driveway. All the other apartments stalled in appropriate positions are similar in accommodation, with cooking and hot water. two bedrooms.
Because of the limitations of the site, certain compromises have had to be made in the planning which were unavoidable, but the rooms are generous in size and reasonably pro- portioned. There are three main entrances and staircases and three service stairs, each serving two
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Architects: Messrs. Harriman Real-
ty Co., Ltd.
General Contractor: Construction Co.
BED LIVING
CATHE
ROOM
Hung Hsing
ROOM
LIVING
ROOM BED
ADEM
BED ROOM
Metal Windows: Canton Metal
Window Mfg. Co.. Ltd.
Gas Installation: The H.K. & China
Gas Co., Ltd.
55
CHATHAM
ADAD