Hong Kong Builder
IMPOSING PRIVATE RESIDENCE
COLLEGE ROAD, KOWLOON
35
Photograph from the model of the building showing west elevation.
There is now being constructed on College Road in
Kowloon the imposing residence of Mr. R. Lasala the
well-known business man of Hong Kong. The level of
the building site is considerably above the uphill slope
of the street level and the retaining wall, which was
PANTRY
HALF
KITCHEN
DINING
STUDY
STAVE
1
Ground Floor Plan.
POWDE TOON
LIVING ZOOM.
H
necessary to build up the site, has been utilised by the
architect to form a most unusual entrance to the building.
The entrance gateway, which is at street level, gives
access to a passage way which passes through the retain-
ing wall and leads up to the circular staircase which
rises to the ground floor level of the building
itself.
On either side of this entranceway two
garages have been built into the retaining wall. The roof of garages and passage way has been built of heavy reinforced concrete and not only forms part of the terrace to the building but also provides excellent air-raid shelter cover. The section of this arrange-
ment given on the next page illustrates the
convenience and effectiveness of this construc-
tion.
The circular stairwell, which is carried
up to the first floor, forms a predominant feature of the planning scheme as this stair- case with the huge reception hall with which it is combined, together with the living room and dining room which lead off this hall, forms one complete unit and permits the use of the en- tire ground floor for any social function which