April_1971 — Page 21

Fair-face finish for

hostel and chapel scheme

Main entrance showing 25ft, high tower, chapel (right) and mess hall (left)

THE Diocesan youth retreat hostel and chapel built at Shatin Pass, Dia- mond Hill, Kowloon, brings to mind the old architectural adage about 'form following function'. Its entire exterior is deliberately uncompromis- ing in its oneness of material and treat ment, relieved only by the 'joggled' re- lationship of the various blocks.

This functionalism gives the build- ings an austere charm which is carried through internally too; concrete walls are unpainted or painted white, red brick partitions are left fair-faced but glazed, and ceilings are painted white or blue.

Steel windows, giving a light ap- pearance are used for the mess block and chapel, and Naco louvres for the cabins and secondary windows.

Originally it was proposed to use granite blocks for the buildings, but this idea had to be abandoned because

Far East BUILDER, April 1971

DIOCESE OF HONGKONG AND MACAO

LEIGH AND ORANGE

SAMN LIM

SHIU TAI & CO. LTD.

TOM CONSTRUCTION CO.

owners

architects angmeers

1.1996. „sburge

mindsker Fructor, stage I

II

of the rapidly rising cost of this mate- tion, lindy by and and lease rial. Instead, concrete was employed, conditions, intuerintones for 80 being left fair-faced both inside and people, alahai kitchen, out. Formwork for the concrete was a chapel fot 24 pond care- specially designed to give a regular patta quartets,

› tern of horizontal and vertical lines running continuously through all the blocks.

Steep terrain

The project has taken about ten years to materialise. At first the Dio- cese of Hongkong and Macao required simply a humble village-style house with facilities for about 20 people. But with the passage of time these require- ments grew and the final accommoda-

sq.ft. is

The site of about 1 located on the east slope at Shutha P.

galands a breath- taking vil of Hong Kong harbour on the uth side and a glimpse of Shatin Bay on the north Hill ise on both the castor was, skles ad the terrain is generaly stay. A wream, providing all year you and apply, runs past to the north e tue site and contributes a great deal to its clikum.

The exposituation means that

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