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HK Land plan 35-floor circular tower
Government approval in principle has been given to preliminary plans for a residential block of 35 floors on a site off May Road, Hong Kong island. Site clearance work is now under way and formation work will begin within the next few weeks.
The block will create two firsts in Hong Kong - the first multi-storey apartment building to be circular on plan and the first to be entirely air-con- ditioned from a central plant, with individual con- trol in each dwelling.
Palmer and Turner are the architects for the pro- ject, which is promoted by the Hongkong Land Investment and Agency Co. Ltd. The circular de- sign was chosen as it pro- vides a larger surface area, so giving views from all rooms including the ser- vants' quarters. In addi- tion it will present a clean form on its peninsular site, causing the least ob- struction to other buildings.
May Road tower
The site will be covered by a rectangular block of three floors containing car parking for 90 cars.
Shouson Hill houses
Beacon Hill Road flats
Above this podium at ground level will be a children's play area, separated from traffic, and a swimming pool. Rising from the podium will be the 30-storey circular block with a machine room at top level. Construction will be in reinforced concrete.
There will be 60 three-bedroom apartments, each of about 1,700 sq.ft. They will be fully- carpeted and served by two high speed lifts in a central core.
Signs of a revitalisation of private house-building in the colony were given last month with the an- nouncement by Hongkong Land of two further schemes one for 96 flats at Beacon Hill Road and the other for four two-storey houses at Shouson Hill Road. Both are designed by Wong, Ng Ouyang and Associates.
The Beacon Hill development, to be taken over on lease by the armed services, will comprise four blocks of 24 flats, each with an area of 1,250 sq.ft. The flats will be divided into three bedrooms, a combined living/dining room, two bathrooms and service areas.
At Shouson Hill each of the four houses will have its own patio and small garden. The dwellings are set in a private estate containing a swimming pool at a lower level. Floor area of each house is 3,000 sq.ft. The ground floor has a dining room, study, guest's toilet, and a drawing room with open hearth fire place. Upstairs are four bedrooms with two bathrooms.
Piling plant order for Singapore wharves
An order for piling plant, worth more than S$360,000, has been placed by Taylor Woodrow International Ltd., London, with The British Steel Piling Co. Ltd. The plant includes a 125ft. raking pile frame and a 12-ton single acting hammer to be used for the consturction of new deep water wharves for handling container ships at East Lagoon, Singapore.
The S$32.4 million construction contract has been awarded to Taylor Woodrow in joint venture with Dillingham Overseas Corporation of Honolulu. Some 3,000 ft. of 27in. and 33in. diameter hollow
Far East BUILDER, May 1969
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