+
rows of recesses
The waiting space.
previously formed in the concrete ceiling. These are 6′ 0′′ by 2' 0" and 8′ 0′′ by 2′ 0′′ and each contains six 30 watt or 40 watt "Atlas" 'Double Life 3500 deg. K White tubes respectively. The re- cesses are lined with white assestos sheet, behind which the chokes etc. are concealed. Each recess is cover- ed by an "Atlas" Louverene' panel, braced by clear "Perspex" strips and arranged to slide longitudinally to facilitate one side or the other to servicing these panels are often re- ferred to as 'egg crates'-a descrip- tive if undignified cognomen.
The manager's office.
Adjoining the Bank entrance on The elevations broadly follow those Queen's Road is a covered way lead- of Holland House: this is particularly ing to an open yard, which provides apparent in the fenestration, the an unloading bay for the basement pilasters flanking the Bank entrance storage space: a vehicular turntable and in other minor details of decora- has been provided in this yard which tion. However, the new building is obviates the necessity of running a finished with precast terrazzo, while lane straight through to Ice House the upper floors of Holland House are Street; this, of course, has resulted faced with terra-cotta tiles. in a considerable saving of building ground.
Construction is of reinforced con- crete frame; the floors and roof are The old Queen's Road entrance to of hollow tile slab construction, pro- Holland House has been displaced by viding good insulation and the mini- a new entrance formed in the new mum number of beams to obstruct building and the existing staircase the ceilings; a further advantage in and two lifts now serve both build- the design of this type of construc- In less conspicuous positions, for ings. A third lift may be added at a tion is that it allows the maximum example beyond the air-conditioning later date. The space previously flexibility in the division of floors ducts, conventional decorative com- occupied by the entrance lobby in into individual offices. Office floors mercial fittings are employed mount- Holland House has been incorporated are of parquet, lavatories are tiled, ed directly onto the ceiling: these into the Netherland Trading Society's storerooms are finished in cement combine a high level of illumination offices.
and other floors in precast terrazzo. with a handsome appearance, the main feature being a clear reeded The main office entrance is located The entire Bank premises, includ- "Perspex" diffuser which acts as a in Ice House Street (actually form- ing the vault and safe deposit secondary light source of low bright- ing part of Holland House) and leads department, are air-conditioned with ness which will not cause eye dis- to a hall where there are secondary Carrier equipment supplied and in- comfort.
entrances to the Mercantile Bank stalled by International Engineering and to the Netherlands Trading Society's premises and the office lift lobby with three passenger lifts. The entrance and the lift lobby are finished in Lunel N.D. marble. Be- yond this is a service lobby, lift and staircase and then the open yard. The staircase and lift in the old Ice House Street entrance to Holland House have been removed, as were the existing walls between the two buildings at this point.
On the upper floors, Holland House and the new building form one unit and take the form of offices and ser- vice rooms on each side of a corridor around a small open area. Each floor is served by the three lifts from the Ice House Street entrance and by two lifts at the south side of the building the Queen's Road entrance). There Is one staircase near the south lifts and a second near the north-east corner of the new building.
{Leff) The staircase leading up to the first floor
of the Bank.
(Light) The entrance to the safe deposit vault.
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