abilities. A five-screen movie will be projected to ex- plain how human beings have been meeting their en- ergy needs for daily life from ancient time to the modern era of atomic energy. A mock-up of a nuclear reactor will be displayed in the exhibition hall, to- gether with other visual displays and demonstrations of microwave transmission.
Frosted wedding cake
The Wacoal Lingerie Company and Riccar Sew- ing Machine Company will have a joint pavilion, de- signed by Takenaka Komuten. A circular structure, looking like a frosted wedding cake, it is intended to appeal especially to women and its theme will be "Love".
Core of the structure will be one large central column made of white fiberglass. A slightly raised stage at the bottom of the column will be faced by semi-circles of spectator seats. The interior will be entirely in white and will be enclosed in glass walls, combining exterior and interior into a single unit.
Glittering link chains will be suspended around the outer rim of the ceiling. These will be agitated by air jets for a jewel-like effect, and the entire build-
Start on swimming pool in Kowloon
WORK on the construction of three huge public swimming pool complexes in Kowloon, estimated to cost a total of about HK$15 million, is expected to be- gin in May.
The pools will be located in the densely populat- ed areas of Wong Tai Sin, Cheung Sha Wan and Kwun Tong. All will be constructed according to a standard. design of eight pools per complex. Tenders for con- struction of the three schemes have been invited and
the pools are expected to be ready for the 1969 swim-
ming season.
Similar in general layout and design, each com- plex will consist of a main pool with dimensions to in- ternational standard and a subsidiary pool. The main pool measures 50 metres by 21 metres with a depth of 4 ft. at both ends and 6 ft. at the centre. The subsidiary pool measures 50 metres by 20 metres and is 33 ft. deep at both ends and 4 ft. at the centre. In addition, there will also be a diving pool mea- suring 35 ft. square and 11 ft. deep as well as three teaching pools - two measuring 60 ft. by 40 ft. with
Model of the Kwung Tong project
16
ing will be illuminated by spotlights in the evening. In keeping with the pavilion's theme, the exhibits will consist of arts objects symbolizing love and of wedding costumes from all parts of the world. Takara Beautilion
The Takara Chair Sales Company and three af- filiated companies will have a "Beautilion". The pavilion, also designed by Takenaka Komuten, will occupy a 1,000 sq. metre site facing a man-made lake. Most of the exhibition halls will be located un- der ground. Visitors will enter from the underside of the pavilion through escalators leading from the base of the pilotis to the first exhibition hall featuring optical light effects using multi-framed slides and prisms.
Visitors will then proceed to a 200-seat under- ground theatre, the "Tunnel of Time", to see audio visual presentations about historical events. The con- crete roof slabs of the underground theatre will be exposed on the surface of the site, conveying the im- pression of an abstract relief.
The pavilion will be divided into a beautification zone and a rest zone. Computers will give visitors personalized advice for keeping healthy and attractive.
schemes
a depth of 21 ft. at both ends and 3 ft. at the centre, and the other 60 ft. by 40 ft. and 2 ft. deep at both ends and 3 ft. at the centre.
For the children, there will be two small pools. one 6 in. deep and the other a foot deep. Ancillary facilities such as changing rooms, restaurants, and a spectators' stand are also provided adjacent to the main pool. Each complex will have its own car park. Amended Planning Regulations will aid hotel building
THE Hong Kong Tourist Association has been informed by Government that, provided a building is to be used as a hotel, modifications to the Planning Regulations may be granted to permit an increase in site coverage.
This follows representations by the association, which for some time has been appealing for a recon- Under sideration of the 1966 Building Ordinance. this ordinance hotels are classified as domestic build- ings; thus the number of hotel rooms on a given site is restricted because of the limit on the density of usable space.
The association claimed that it was essential for the efficient and economic operation of a hotel to have a minimum number of rooms on each floor. This in turn meant there was a minimum floor area necessary to make a scheme viable. Under the existing regulations the bedroom tower of a large hotel could occupy con- siderably less than half the area of the site; in order to meet the requirements of the regulations an ex- tremely large site would be necessary.
The association has welcomed the proposed modi- fications and said that they would pave the way for more hotels to be built in the colony. One scheme which is likely to benefit is the proposed Fu Centre in Central District (Eric Cumine & Associates, archi- tects). Plans will soon be submitted to the Building Authority for a 27-storey building containing 500 hotel rooms and a convention hall to seat 600.
Far East BUILDER, April 1968.