August_1967 — Page 4

UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE'S ANNUAL EXHIBITION

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HE annual exhibition held by the Department of Architecture of the University of Hong Kong gives the profession an opportunity of re- newing their acquaintance with ar- chitectural education and enables it to see what it may expect from Hong Kong graduates.

Staged this year in the City Hall, Hong Kong, from June 2 to 5, the exhibition was arranged in a number of sections, starting with an introduc- tory part outlining the the curriculum of the five-year course in architecture. Successive sections illustrated the work of the five years and a final section dealt with the technical aspects of the teaching of architecture.

Besides the display of drawings and models there were free-standing fea- tures; a tensegrity mast and a 15 ft. diameter geodesic dome both made by the students as part of their practical training. A third feature was an ab- stract stabile which formed part of the sculpture design for one of the Fourth Year projects.

Although the exhibition was divided into Years, the work also illustrated the studies of Hong Kong problems which the Department had made dur- ing the current year. For example. on display was a major part of the Fourth Year's work dealing with an environmental study of the Tai Hang squatter area. This involved the study on the ground by the students of the conditions under which the people

were living, which was presented as an illustrated report and was followed by a planning design in broad terms for the general area and in detail for one viable section. The final stage of the project was a detailed design of dwelling units which could be erect- ed by the squatters themselves.

This programme was conceived on the basis that such squatter areas were uneconomic to develop by the normal means employed by the Resettlement Department, that the environment of the Resettlement Estate was inferior to that produced by the organic and intuitive building of the squatters themselves, and that further improve- ment could be achieved by the intro- duction of fire-resistant construction, and better services. The initial study had revealed a high sense of social consciousness among the squatters and that the communities were fairly well self-contained as to their daily needs, characteristics which were to be pre- served in the improved design.

Thesis Subjects

Other studies with a local relevance on display were contained in the Fifth Year research projects such as "Pre- war Tenement Houses", "Colour in Chinese Architecture", "Hong Kong Townscape" and "Chinese Domestic Architecture." The thesis subjects, included proposals for various pro- jects, considered needful or desirable

Mr. K. E. Robinson, vice chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, examines student thesis reports

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Tensegrity mast

in Hong Kong a cultural centre, an opera house, a children's home, a lunatic asylum and so on.

In the Fourth Year section, studies of two subjects which have already received considerable local discussion. were illustrated by the students. One was an urban renewal programme for the so-called "black spots" of Hong Kong, which was tackled realistically in terms of replanning to existing den- sities but to improved standards.

The other was a scheme for the Convention Centre proposed for Hung Hom.

A special feature of the work of the Department of Architecture is the production in each year of the course of at least one illustrated report on a subject leading to the determination of a programme for a detailed study in the studio. In the first year, the student makes a study for a small house which requires an analysis of basic human needs. In the second year he studies the larger environment of a village in Hong Kong so as to understand the basic social and econo- mic needs.

In the third year, a similar study is made to evolve a programme for a more complex type of development where the identity of an individual client is brought in, so as to create a greater degree of realism. In the fourth year, as has already been men- tioned, a study is made of a large and complex social environment such as a densely populated urban area or a squatter area in order to formulate proposals for renewal or improve- ment.

In the final year the student makes two reports, one is on a small research programme which he sets himself and the other for his thesis which requires him to make a thorough study of all the factors affecting a programme in order that a final design may follow. In this exhibition, the technical dis- play emphasised the architects con- cern with the artificial environment required in buildings. This involves study and appraisal of such subjects as artificial illumination, day lighting, air-conditioning, acoustics and other services. These studies produce much of the design criteria for the modern architect.

W.G.G.

Far East Architect & Builder August, 1967