Hong Kong Builder
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Looking along Argyle Street from the Upper Level of Garden City. The Building to the Extreme Left is the One Described Below.
The buildings being erected on this development maintain to the fullest degree the promise of exclusive- A ness and distinction which such a site deserves. number of buildings have been completed during the past two years, many are in course of erection and, as a result of the favourable conditions prevailing in the Colony, even more intensive development is contemplated. A mere description cannot convey the striking impression of modernity and luxury produced by the sight of the various groups of buildings already completed. They have to be seen to be appreciated. But a description of a block of semi-detached houses which have just been made ready for occupation will serve to illustrate the originality and care which has been incorporated in the planning of all the residences so as to insure the maximum amount of comfort and pleasure to the tenants.
Situated on a spur, forty-five feet above the junction of Waterloo Road and Argyle Street, it commands a view which included Lyemoon to the east and Stone- cutters Island to the west. The ground floor level, being on a hillside in front of and below the road which gives
to the building,
unusual feature incorporated in the design in that the entrance hall is situated on a spacious landing between the first floor and the ground floor.
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Entering one of the houses from this entrance hall, one reaches a comfortable study which is well away from the rest of the house and isolated from the disturbing sounds thereof. The sitting room is of ample proportions with a coal-burning fireplace sur- mounted by a wide mantelpiece and flanked on both sides by built-in bookcases of modern design. From the
sitting room there is direct access to the dining room with its adjoining kitchen-pantry, an arrangement most convenient for the conscientious housewife and hostess who wishes to personally supervise the preparation of
meals.
This consideration of the tenants' convenience and comfort is further in evidence in the planning of the three bedrooms on the upper floor, for each bedroom has its own bathroom and a built-in wardrobe which is dampproofed and shelved with camphorwood. A large boxroom and a linen cupboard complete the amenities on this floor. Each bathroom is equipped with electric hot water storage boiler and a built-in medicine cabinet with illuminated mirror.
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Undoubtedly the greatest attraction of these houses is the large covered terraces facing south-east and south-west in the direction of the prevailing summer
breezes. The fortunate tenants are most enthusiastic about the cool wind which continually sweeps the terrace and tempers the trying heat of our Hong Kong summer.
Access to the flat roof is from a verandah upon
which all bedrooms open out. The roof consists of the increasingly popular hollow slab construction in which lightweight "Grayeblock" hollow tiles are laid between thin ribs of reinforced concrete, with another air-space formed by Canton tiles on red bricks laid over the waterproofing. This form of roof construction insures perfect insulation from the heat of the sun for the rooms below and results in cool rooms during the hottest periods of the year. A similar hollow-slab construction, incorporating "Grayeblock" hollow tiles is employed for the first floor, and in this case the hollow tiles act as insulation against the transmission of sound from one floor to the other.