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AMBIENTALIAN
(Above left). Detail of the main
entrance.
On each of the four upper floors, there are wide balconies on both the north-west and the south-east sides of the building.
(Above right)
Longitudinal section of the building.
(Left) Photograph
of the lecture
hall.
are divided by horizontal bars which indicate the landing levels. The in- set precast concrete cross in a panel near the top right hand corner of this facade is that mentioned by Bishop Hall as having been engraved on the tablet at Sian.
The front or north-east elevation presents a very striking appearance with its sunscreen in front of the main staircase forming the dominat- ing feature; the strong vertical lines The small balcony at the mezzanine are reminiscent of Gothic architec- level, as well as that on the south- ture of the perpendicular period with east side of the first floor of the the same feeling of striving and as- building, has a solid wall which con- piration which was characteristic of tinues round the front of the building that style. For structural reasons, as a broad band of concrete to form the pre-cast reinforced concrete fins a suitable base to the building.
NEW ALUMINIUM WALL
All other balconies in the building have light and airy steel railings.
All classrooms and the lecture hall are well-lit by large windows in the south-east wall, with smaller windows in the opposite wall for the purpose of cross-ventilation.
The wide vertical expanse of con- crete wall to the north-west enclos- ing the main staircase is relieved by three small compositions in concrete sculpture.
With its external finishes of squared stone and cement plaster with Snow- cem wash, the building presents a very attractive appearance.
The floors of the lecture hall and
the classrooms are finished with as- of the apartment are of teak parquet. phalt tiles, those of the living rooms
while most of the staircases, the toilets, and the kitchen and bathroom of the apartment are finished with mosaic tiles: all balconies have quarry tile floors.
Architect: Mr. G. D. Su
General Contractor: Lam Woo & Co. Plumbing: Tung On Plumbing Co.,
Ltd.
WALL PLUG
A new product has recently ar- up to the correct diameter. rived on the local market, which should be of considerable interest to The exclusive inner construction those in the building, electrical and ensures that screws will drive in plumbing contracting trades. It is straight and no plugs will have to known as the "Alex" expanding be scrapped. A plug grips the screw aluminium screwplug and is manu- and the wall with equal firmness and factured by Linread Limited of Bir- so will hold heavy loads. mingham, England. the manufac- turers of the well-known "Tutch- Because the plugs are both mois- Latch" patented cupboard latches. ture and rot proof, they can be used in fresh concrete without risk of The plugs come in six lengths and loosening. They can also be used in two diameters to cover every screw wood to salvage a damaged hole or size from a No. 5 to a No. 18. The to add strength to an end grain. two standard hole sizes mean that only two masonry bits (Nos. 12 and
The manufacturers claim that the 20) are needed for drilling holes in cost is less than that of other plugs. the walls. For oversize holes, extra Shewan, Tomes & Co., Ltd., are the plug halves may be added to build local agents.
3/
A diagram showing one of the plugs on the right the simple
method of
firing on the
left.
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