The long arms of the building, con- taining the multi-bed wards, comprise the bed areas proper of about 22 ft. width between two rows of columns with a cantilevered section on each side of about 8 ft. width. The can- tilever running along the north side provides the access space to the wards, while the cantilever on the south side provides a verandah with a magnific- ent view over the harbour to Hong Kong Island.
These two cantilevers have the ad- ditional function of further protecting the bed areas from the direct rays of the sun. The edges of the cantilevers are filled in with lightweight cladding, mostly fully openable windows, which forms the weather walling of the building behind the sun breakers. Patients in the multi-bed wards are therefore able to enjoy the wonderful views to the north and the south while in bed and are able to take full ad- vantage of unobstructed through ven- tilation.
These advantages, together with a very considerable degree of freedom in the layout of services within the build- ing, are obtained by the use of can- tilevered flat plate construction with a complete absence of downstand beams or of column caps projecting below the structural slabs.
The main part of the building is carried on large diameter cylinder piers, up to 70 ft. deep and bearing on decomposed granite. These piers vary in size from 3ft. 9in. to 5 ft. in diameter, belling out at the base to a maximum diameter of 7ft.
The eastern end of the building is carried on a stepped raft which sup- ports a "bridge" carrying four bays of the building from the third floor up over two service roads.
Accommodation
Kitchens, up-patients dining and patients welfare departments are situated on the top floor. The eight floors below this are the ward floors.
A typical ward floor of the tee- shape previously described comprises seven single-bed wards grouped around the sisters office in the centre of the tee which, together with the treatment rooms, etc. in the tail of the tee, are air-conditioned, and two six-bed open wards in each arm of the tee, making a total of 31 beds on a standard floor. Each arm of the tee also contains separate sanitary annexes for each six- bed ward and a communal space for cach pair of wards.
The reason for this breakdown is that there is a great variation in the numbers of beds required for each type of ward; in fact almost as great as the types of wards and this results in an average of 31 beds per floor.
The ward floors, working down, are arranged as follows:
14th
Enteric
13th
Skins
12th
Medical
11th
Medical
Isolation Skins Medical Officers
10th
Surgical
Surgical
9th
Female
Female
n
Detail of projection on south east facade. Operating theatre is at fifth floor level
8th 7th
Children
Children Maternity Maternity Immediately below the maternity wards on the sixth floor is the ante- natal and delivery, and below that on the fifth floor the operating suites and plaster unit. Should the lifts be out of operation (despite standby equip- ment) it is possible for an ambulance to drive to an entrance to the operat- ing floor where there are emergency wards and the orderly medical officers duty suite.
The fourth floor is occupied by the hospital administration and by the central sterilising and supply depart- ment. Here also are the staff chang- ing rooms, the chapel and entrance from the covered way leading to the lower ground floor (entrance floor) of the staff quarters block.
pathology,
are
Specialist departments radiology and physiotherapy located on the third floor with ver- tical access, independent of the main vertical circulation, from the out- patients department at ground level.
The second floor is occupied by the dispensary, medical stores and ste- wards and general stores. Owing to the site formation and the construc- tion of the retaining walls, it was possible to provide vehicular access to the second floor stores. The dispen- sary has the same independent ver-
Far East Architect & Builder September, 1967
tical connection with the outpatients department as the specialist depart-
ments.
Main entrance and reception is on the ground floor, at the back of which is the ambulance entrance. Access to all parts of the outpatients depart- ment is obtained from the main en- trance hall. The maternity clinic, the S.T.C. and the casualty department have separate entrances in addition.
Outpatients
The outpatients department is а large single-storey structure, measur- ing 102 ft. long by 179 ft, wide, from which the main building rises. It contains the full range of clinics for service personnel and families and includes a full casualty and minor operating suite.
This department is founded on a raft foundation, 9in. thick, designed for a maximum bearing pressure of 0.5 ton per sq. ft. It is separated from the main building by a movement joint carried down through the raft to allow for possible differential move-
ment.
Above part of the outpatients de- partment, and forming an interesting architectural feature, is a hyperbolic paraboloid, 34 ft. square on plan, with a concrete shell only 3in. thick. The design of this roof was the sub-
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