Two photographs illustrating construction detail.
A serious attempt was made to disguise a temporary building to conform with modern building construction prac- tice by the inclusion of special architectural features designed for durability without detracting from the aesthetic view.
To assist in the thermal insulation of the metal hutting and to provide unusual and attractive decorative effects the walls and ceilings have been lined with timber carcassing cut segmentally to walls and sheathed with masonite boarding.
The floor finishes to the various rooms have been provided with an eye to functional suitability and decorative appropriateness. For this reason it was decided to use
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Mastipave for the games room, asphalt tiles for the lounge and cafe, teak parquet for restaurant and quiet room, canton tiles for the tavern, and quarry tiles for the sanitary annexes.
Canton tiles were used to the floor of the tavern to give that touch of old world appearance, and these were treated with two coats of silicate of soda solution to avoid dusting.
It was originally planned to use lead flashings where gable walls joined steel sheets, as that was thought to be the most satisfactory waterproofing for this purpose. However, in practice it was found that wherever steel sheets butted on to permanent construction, either in dormer cheeks or masonry chimneys, etc., lead alone was insufficient, the expansion and contraction of the steelwork being too great in comparison with that of the masonry work to be entirely taken up by the lead. As a further expedient a mastic expansion joint was inserted, the greater elasticity of this material proving more satisfactory for the purpose. On the isolated bay windows attempts at waterproofing included the use of Corbett fillets.
Owing to the proximity of the Railway line, great trouble was experienced in laying the main drain as the excessive vibration from passing trains caused joints to open up. In spite of the fact that Doulton's pipes were used throughout, ine trouble persisted. The suggested use of plastic jointing was not approved and it was finally decided to compromise with 1:2 cement-sand joints haunched practically solid.
Aluminium paint to exposed sheets was used throughout, not only because of its greater durability but as a measure of extra insulation, and in the small cafe aluminium foil was used in between external sheets and wall linings with marked
success.
This new building added to the various establishments already in existence, together with canteens run by the NAAFI in the New Territories, mainly in tents, huts and requisitioned buildings, and supplemented by mobile canteens used to visit more isolated and smaller units, should materially assist the caterers' task of keeping the existing garrison fairly happy.
The entire project was designed by Mr. L. Dollery, Chief Draughtsman to the C.R.E. Hong Kong, and the supervision, erection of steelwork, and execution of the contract was carried out by the Kent Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. Vi-Con Blocks: Manufactured by the Hong Kong Building
Service Ltd.
Stone & Masonry Work: Electrical Installation:
Ltd.
Supplied by China Supply Co. By British General Electric Co.,
Crittall Metal Windows: Supplied by Dodwell & Co., Ltd. Asphalt Tile Floors: Supplied & laid by Getz Bros. Mastipave: Supplied & laid by Reiss, Bradley & Co., Ltd. Hall's Distemper & Aluminium Paints: Supplied by
Pekin Syndicate
Doulton's Pipes: Supplied by A. R. Burkill & Sons Ltd. BRC Fabric: Supplied by Davie, Boag & Co., Ltd.
The Officers' Cafe.
The Games Room.
The Billiard Room.
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The Tavern.