December_1966 — Page 35

Far East

ARCHITECT

& BUILDER

The oldest trade journal in the Far East

EDITOR: A. G. BARNETT

DECEMBER 1966

news review

Contents

News Review

27

World News

33

New Baptist College, HK

37

Royal Grandstand, Selangor Turf Club

42

Mobil's Laichikok Project, HK

49

Philippine Cultural Centre

53

Civil Engineering Section

Flour Mill Complex, Perak

57

Materials and Equipment

Contractors' Plant

Building Plans Approved

Contracts Awarded

Book Reviews

Index to Advertisers

:

65

69

73

75

77

82

Cover picture shows the canopy over the main entrance to the new Baptist College, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong. The supporting V-shaped columns are faced in glass mosaics. See page 37.

Published monthly by Far East Trade Press Ltd., 1908, Prince's Building, Hong Kong. Tel: 241031 European Office: Building and Contract Journals Ltd., 32 Southwark Bridge Road, London, 8, E. I. Tel: Waterloo 2060. Printed by Shum Shing Print- ing Co., 7 Ship Street, Hong Kong. Tel: 724513,

Controlled circulation to 5,000 qualified readers

HOTEL COMPLEX CRITICISED

THE Singapore Institute of Architects has criticised the scheme for a 33-storey hotel complex at the corner of Orchard Road and Grange Road (FEA & B. September 1966) as a fault on the part of the planning authorities. The proposed skyscraper would, it says, pose "inter- esting questions" on the amenity of the important stretch of Orchard Road leading to Tanglin Circus.

"With Government plans to construct a new trunk road parallel to Orchard Road, flyovers, etc.. we see that the intention is to redevelop the area into Singapore's "What we wonder Regent Street'." states the Institute. is whether Government's plans are comprehensive enough to cover the town planning aspects of such an ambitious scheme in terms of positive zoning, plot ratio and amenity of the whole".

From various applications to the planning department it seemed that the area was well on the way to piece-meal development entailing all manner of contradictions and indecisions.

The SIA statement concludes: "The Orchard Road area, if executed in conformity with the existing_zone as prescribed in the Master Plan, will constrict flexibility and result in a glorified ribbon development. Re-zoning will be necessary to allow for complex development in depth. But re-zoning is a long painful process in terms of time and hard_cash.”

BUILDING PLANS APPROVED

THE Building Authority approved a total of 43 new building plans of all types in Hong Kong. Kowloon and the New Territories during the month of October.

In the same period, completed buildings certified for occupation numbered 91 a decrease of 13 as compared with that in the preceding month. This total includes 13 buildings for domestic purposes, 22 for non-domestic purposes and 56 for combined domestic and non-domestic In addition, the Building Authority approved the demolition of 56 buildings.

use.

Cost of new building work in the Colony during the month of October was HK$94,795,840. Another $4,238.- 035 was spent on site formation work. New buildings of all types erected totalled 116, including four factories and godowns, nine offices and shops, and 103 houses and flats.

HK$4.5 M. ROAD OPENED

THE Ching Cheung Road link joining Castle Peak Road and Tai Po Road in the New Territories of Hong Kong was officially opened last month. It cost HK$4.5 million to construct and, together with a flyover across Castle Peak Road, forms part of the alternative route into the Western New Territories to relieve pressure on the over- loaded Sham Shui Po and Cheung Sha Wan road networks. The flyover, forming part of the link, has two 50 ft. spans and is similar to one built at the junction of Tai Po Road and Lung Cheung Road. It is the fifth flyover opened to traffic in the Colony.

About one mile long, the new road runs through

Far East Architect & Builder December, 1966

27

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