Dear Sir,
is
It may be that the architects who have got the wind up are those who apply the two-to-one rule without con- sidering whether the stiffening is real- ly adequate.
on the Dockyard site and on the A LETTER TO TRAJAN Murray lands. Form double decked pedestrian ways giving covered ac- cess around the Centre, serving all In Volume 13 No. 4 of the Builder, the buildings from the City Hall to Trajan comments on the design of Jardine's and the new Shell House, buildings against wind effects. It seems The architects who are responsible giving more value to premises now that he himself must have been affect for the "tradition of sound building" at first floor level Build а clock ed by the ill wind he complains of will not be affected by the new ruling tower, illuminated pools, public lava- because his usual clear thinking because that is their normal practice, tories, and do away with those busy missing from these comments.
nor will the cost of their buildings rise. overcrowded streets where pedestrians The Hongkong regulations stipulate The only buildings which will re- and vehicles jostle each other. In that every building shall be construct- quire extra steel, walls and concrete spite of opposition from the tradition- ed so as to be capable of safely carry- are those to which the two-to-one rule alists, there is a case for considera- ing all wind loads. This requirement has been wrongly applied either tion of the segregated pedestrian pre- is not modified in any way by other through ignorance or a deliberate at- cinct, with its attendant car parks regulations and therefore wind effects tempt to reduce the cost at the ex- and separate service roads. The must always be considered whether pense of safety.
paralysing effects of the increase in the wind loads are calculated or not. It is unlikely that any well built vehicular traffic are so powerful that the older form of City Centre cannot
The two-to-one rule applies only to postwar building, tall or short, would survive indefininitely. It certainly has buildings which are adequately stiffen- be unsafe in a typhoon when it was ed (...to the satisfaction of the dis- newly completed. It might however no place in a newly developed or rapidly changing area. The basic trict surveyor..." in the L.C.C. by- be made unsafe by the indiscriminate forms of a segregated precinct
laws) by walls and floors. There will removal of stiffening walls at a later inevitably be some buildings which date. court, square, promenade sess enormous potential advantages some which are obviously inadequate ing of
In brief, the result of the new rul- are obviously adequately stiffened,
the Building Authority is no through their intimate scale and flexi- and some which are not obvious at more than to make the architect prove bility, bringing back a little of the all. The two-to-one rule therefore that his building is adequately stiffen- self-confidence we are likely to lose applies only to the first group of these ed, and will remain so in spite of any in the midst of being overawed by three and calculations, not necessarily probable change of use. mechanisation and concrete cliffs. detailed, are required for the other
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