Hong Kong Builder
PROPOSED NEW COOLIE SETTLEMENT
The object of the proposed building is to provide improved living conditions for a large number of coolies and foremen, normally employed and housed by the Wharf Company. The scheme is based on the types of development adopted recently in Europe and elsewhere in so far as they can be applied to local conditions, and although the proposed layout departs from the letter of the Hongkong Building Ordinance governing this type of residential accommodation, it is apparent that the living conditions obtained are a considerable improvement over those offered by the standard type of Chinese houses.
The scheme takes the form of an open court type of development, with a building surrounding it, which in turn has a further 13′0′′ wide open space on East and South, and Canton and Haiphong Roads on the North and West. Thus with the windows on the open court and also on the surrounding open space, in no case having a greater depth than 27'0" between them, the building has excellent light and ventilation from all sides. The plan is based as far as possible on normal routine sequence suitable for the type of tenant.
Commanding the entrances to the courtyard, on the one side, at ground floor level, are a doctor's consulting room and first-aid room to deal with any casualties, and control inspection in the case of an epidemic, while on the other side are placed the watchman's quarters and building services control room.
7
court.
The south wing, ground floor, comprises separate kitchens for the various gangs accessible only from a lane off Canton Road, through which all raw foods will be delivered and refuse removed, thus avoiding the possibility of uncleanliness in the central Adjacent to the kitchens are eating rooms accessible from the court to which the food is served through hatches. Each kitchen serves a separate eating room so that segregation of various gangs can be easily effected.
The east wing comprises the showers and bathrooms to deal with the entire population of the building. Hot water is supplied to these from a boiler room situated between them and the kitchens, to which steam can also be supplied for cooking purposes.
The north wing ground floor contains a dormitory, similar to those accommodated in the north, south and west wings in the upper four floors of the building.
All dormitories contain bunks in two tiers, spaced at intervals round the external walls, with windows
between each pair, and also spaced in a single row down the centre. The dormitory accommodation is based on the cubic space requirements per person of the Sanitation Ordinance, while the window to floor area ratio is considerably in excess of the Building Authority minimum requirements.
219.9.
bo
BUILDING & BOUNDARY
POR
&
LAY.
LAVATOR
SHOWER.
SHOWER
„ČANOPY NICIVI
OPEN
SPACE
6.15
}
25:5
BOILER
ROOM
LATING
KITCHEN
URINALS
DOCTOR
FIRST AID
CONTROL ROOM
WAITING
FORCH
PORCH
WATCHMAN HOUS
LAV.
BATING
ROOM
KITCHEN
LATING
HUTCHIN
EATING ROOM
T
KITCHEN
EATING
BOOM
*KITCHEN
The ground floor plan showing disposition of dining rooms, showers, lavatories, first-aid unit and dormitory.