E
It is extremely difficult to romanticize a godown building, but if you view something from different angles it is surprising the variety of effects that can be extracted from the most prosaic of objects. And the British-American Tobacco Company's new godown on Gloucester Road, in spite of its strictly utilitarian function, can hardly be classified under the heading of prosaic objects. It towers seven storeys above the ground floor level and impresses by its veritable stark massive- ness. It does not pretend to be anything but what it is, a heavy reinforced concrete framed structure panelled with red brick, beautifully laid and boastfully exposed to show how good it is.
It is a huge building, 186'0" long by 117'6" wide with an overall height of 120′0′′ including ground and seventh floors. Ceiling to ceiling height of each floor is 15′0′′. The building is serviced by two passengers lifts on the west side and two cargo lifts on the east side. Traffic connection between this
THE
BRITISH AMERICAN
TOBACCO Co.
(CHINA) LTD.
NEW PREMISES
new building and the original factory is maintained by a bridge between the two on the third floor level.
The two cargo lifts are designed for a carrying capacity of 4000 lbs. and an additional static load of 5800 lbs. They operate at a speed of 140 feet per minute, and are provided with automatic floor levelling controls to ensure utmost land- ing accuracy. A car switch control reversible to automatic push button operation is also incorporated. A similar third lift is now being erected. The installation of two passenger lifts has recently been completed; these are designed for a capacity of 2000 lbs. and 1000 lbs. respectively and operate at a speed of 250 ft, per minute. Automatic floor levelling is incorporated. The sliding doors of the car and at the landings are operated automatically. Car switch as well as automatic push button control is also provided.
The building fronts on Gloucester and Jaffe Roads and, with the exception of the top floor which is devoted to office
accommodation, is used entirely to store the finished products of this well-known tobacco firm. In order to utilize the floor space to the uttermost the windows consist of comparatively narrow fanlights placed immediately underneath the ceiling beams and extending the full width of the wall panel. This allows the full height of the wall to be utilized and also contributes to the efficient ventilation of the interior. Except for special store-rooms, no air-conditioning is used in the building, reliance being placed in the natural air circulation induced by means of vents set in the centre of each wall panel, low down near the floor through which air enters to be drawn up to and exhausted through the windows set under the ceiling. These steel windows are inter-connected by gears, which operate all windows along the full side of the wall and open and close simultaneously. Standard steel windows were supplied by Crittall, but the special sections required were manufactured in Hong Kong by the Canton Metal Window Company.
One other structural feature deserves mention and that is the continuous canopy extending out from each floor slab and sloping downwards to protect the windows against inclement weather. These canopies gird the entire building at each floor and are so prominent as to acquire a definite architectural value in the design of the building.
The business of the company in North China, which in former years was by far the most important part of their enterprise, having been almost entirely curtailed, the activities of all its branches are now concentrated in Hong Kong. A3 a result it was found that the capacity of this new godown, in spite of its size, would not be sufficient to meet present requirements and an additional building is in course of erec- tion on the opposite side of Jaffe Road,
Architects: Messrs, Leigh & Orange.
General Contractors: Chang Sung & Co.
Schindler Lifts: Jardine Engineering Corp., Ltd.
Crittall Steel Windows: Dodwell & Co., Ltd.
Special Window Sections: Canton Metal Window Co.
Electrical Installation:
Plumbing Installation:
Jardine Engineering Corp., Ltd.
Dodwell & Co., Ltd.
Ironite for floor rendering:
Reiss Bradley & Co., Ltd.
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