including piling and toundations, but that at least double this amount could be needed to provide a good quality structural complex housing supermarkets, multi-storey car-parks, hotels, department stores, flats, shops and offices.
cinemas,
A Government spokesman said that although only one tender had been received, an overseas company was interested in an alternative method of developing the whole site, but it had not submitted a formal tender.
"The matter is still under consideration. It will be up to the Tender Board when it meets to consider the tender made, accept or reject it, and then make recom- mendations as to what might be done to develop either the eastern or both portions" a Government spokesman told the Far East Architect & Builder.
The successful tenderer is to be notified before July.
BLOCK RENEWAL URGED
THE advantages of block renewal over piecemeal redeve- lopment in urban areas were expounded by Professor S. Mackey last month, in his opening address as president of the Hong Kong Engineering Society.
He said he wondered if Government should not reconsider its general approach to the whole problem of urban renewal, rather than continue with its present ad hoc solutions, which were more suited to development of new townships.
Block renewal encouraged orderly development in accordance with a comprehensive city plan, with adequate provision for advance planning of services and utilities. For the developers it allowed full concentration of finan- cial resources on productive construction, without need- less waste of effort on maintenance of dilapidated, obsolete buildings.
"It also economises on unit construction costs,” the professor went on, "because of the larger building units and faster rates of construction, and permits more inten- sive site development, while providing adequate light and air to the tenants.
"For the tenants themselves, block development allows provision of improved central services and car parking and central management of the completed units.”
In order to encourage such development, Professor Mackey suggested the construction of temporary transit camps each capable of accommodating the residents of an average city block in the Western District of Victoria.
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
A COMMANDING hilltop site at the Jurong campus has been earmarked for the M$1 million Nanyang University library.
The six-storey library will have a flat concrete roof and is designed so that a further three floors can be added in the future. Other features of the building will include: A cafeteria on the roof; the installation of fans as there will be no air conditioning, fluorescent lighting; and vinyl flooring. The work will be undertaken by Singapore Housing and Development Board.
Artist's sketch of the proposed library
Far East Architect & Builder April, 1965
30-STOREY ECONOMY FLATS
A massive H-shaped block of 30 storeys is to replace old three-storey dwellings on an area of over 90,000 sq. ft. between the harbour and Shaukiwan Road, Hong Kong.
To be built for the Hong Kong Land and Investment Agency Co., Ltd., the development will comprise an upper and lower level shopping arcade over most of the
Model of the 30-storey tenement block
site and 27 upper floors containing 1,368 "economy" flats, each of between 390 and 535 sq. ft.
Twelve lifts will serve the building, and on each floor will be space for recreational purposes. Seawater flushing and individual mains water meters will be installed.
The architects are Wong Ng Ouyang and Associates. Piling work on part of the site will begin shortly and the whole scheme is expected to be completed by mid-
1968.
SKILLED LABOUR SEARCH
A FACT finding mission comprising 15 building contrac- tors from the Sanadakan Contractors Association, visited Kuala Lumpur last month to look into the position of availability of skilled labour.
They require 40 masons, 10 joiners, 20 carpenters, 10 steel benders, 10 blacksmiths and 5 plumbers. The workers will be paid about M$12 a day.
The association stated that they were seeking men of not more than 50 years old, with three years working experience in the construction industry and capable of reading working drawings. Travelling expenses for the workers to Sabah will be paid by the employer.
OFFICERS ELECTED
MR P.V. SHAWE, chief building surveyor, Hong Kong Buildings Ordinance Office, was elected chairman of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Hong Kong and China Branch) at the branch's 37th annual general meet- ing, held last month.
Other officers elected were: Vice-chairman, Mr. J. V. Moore: hon, secretary and hon. treasurer, Mr. F.A.F. Foster; committee, J. D'Eath, R. H. Honnor and J. Hsi; luncheon secretary, T. Knight.
HOUSING MANAGERS INSTITUTE
BRITAIN'S Institute of Housing and Society of Housing Managers merge this month into the Institute of Housing Managers.
A Hong Kong branch of the new institute is to be formed when the new constitution is received from London. Mrs. J. Glover, secretary of the Hong Kong
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