world news
City centre first at new town
John Madin Design Group, the planning con- sultants for Britain's new town of Telford, Shrop- shire, have decied that the first buildings to be erected there must be the city centre. They con- sider that the centre is vital for the progressige de- velopment of community living in both work and pleasure.
The area at present has a population of some 69,000, spread in small towns and villages. By 1991 the population will be 250,000.
Outline proposals for Telford, one of the largest new town projects yet sponsored by the Govern- ment, were presented in mid-1969. Now the Tel- ford Development Corporation, heeding its con- sultants' advice, has published draft plans for the town centre. The site for this covers 160 acres and will provide facilities for work and leisure for Tel- ford residents from the opening of the first phase of town development in 1973.
A major attraction will be the city-scale shop- ping complex which will be developed in five
cover 800,000 sq. ft. and will include banks, post office, cafes, restaurants and public houses. All- weather protection will eliminate draughts and wind funnels.
Close by the shopping area a regional entertain- ment, recreational and leisure centre will be group- ed round covered and open squares, terraces and courts with views over the town park. A major element will be a covered sports centre.
North of the shopping area a site is to be develop- ed as the major commercial office complex in Tel- ford, providing more than 800,000 sq. ft. of floor space. This will make an important visual focal point when approaching the area from primary roads and roads and a new motorway. Multi-storey car parks will be built near the shopping malls.
Mass-produced housing system
With the completion of a new factory of its affiliate firm, the Japan Housing Co., Takenaka Komuten, Osaka, has started mass production of precast concrete panels to be used, through various
Telford city centre
phases over the next 20 years. The centre will have one main shopping level with a full range of depart- mental and other stores with other shops and specialist trades integrated.
From the first phase of more than 200,000 sq. ft. in 1973, the retail area will ultimately extend to
Eleven-storey Osaka block constructed by ICS system
combinations, to build houses and apartment blocks under the Integrated Construction System (ICS).
Developed by Takenaka, the new system is de- signed to make many types of rooms by combining a minimum variety of precast panels. Currently there are 11 standard room types, but more than 100 variations are possible through combination of the precast panels to comply with the family com- position and living style. Kitchens and bathrooms can be fitted into any of the rooms as prefabricat- ed units.
The ICS system permits a fast construction time. By using high-intensity precast panels, it does not need a curing period for concrete solidification as in conventional construction methods.
The new factory at Osaka has a total floor space of 5,250 sq. metres. Production is divided
Far East BUILDER, October 1970