New bank points the way to older parts of Hong
TH
HE Hong Kong Metropolitan Bank Ltd.'s new premises, de- signed by Wong and Ng Associates. strike an attractive note among the older buildings of Bonham Strand East, Hong Kong, and give a good lead to other businesses in rebuilding the older part of the town instead of crowding into the more fashionable banking area. Hong Kong will be come a more attractive city when a vigorous attempt is made to rebuild the run-down western parts.
This fresh approach is reflected in the design of the bank. The site is actually at 45 degrees to the street. and instead of putting the facade flush with the boundary the archi tects have kept it parallel to the road. This has given space for the decorative feature of a podium with a plant box on the left hand side. another guide post to changing the utilitarian aspect of one of Hong Kong's older commercial streets.
On the 2.920 square foot site, a seven-storey building with mezzanine
and basement has been erected. The structure is a single span (30 feet 6 inches) with columns at 13 foot centres.
The facade is dominated by a series of box-like features whose purpose is utilitarian but whose effect is decorative. Their primary purpose is for protection against the rays of the sun, to prevent the erection of advertising devices and to hide from public view any furniture inside which could show through the win- dows. The net result is striking and attractive.
On the ground floor is the entrance hall leading to the main banking hall and cashier's department. whence there is direct access to the vaults in the basement.
Walls of the banking hall are faced in black marble and the floors are in white marble, while the columns, structural walls and beams are pickedd out in gold mosaic. All lighting comes from a wall-to-wall luminous ceiling with ancillary light-
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ON
UP
LIFT
Sua MANAGER
SENIOR ASSISTANT
SCAL EFT
16FT.
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
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ENQUIRY
HTMÍT ASSISTANT
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DEPOSIT CURRENT
REMITANCE
SAVING
SOFA
MACHINE OPERATOR
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1
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DEPOSIT CURRENT ACCOR
BANKING HALL
WRITING
TABLE
THE HONG KONG & FAR FAST BUILDER-VOLUME 16, NUMBER 4