February_1966 — Page 57

MULTI-LEVEL TOWN CENTRE

FOR HONG KONG

ESTATE

ONG

Ho

HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY developers

GOODMAN CO.

GOODMAN (E. & B.) CORP., LTD.

KONG'S largest housing estate. the Wa Fu Estate at Pokfulam, is to have its own traffic- free town centre a multi-level de- velopment in the heart of the estate. providing all the communal and com- mercial facilities for the planned po- pulation of over 51,000.

This is the first complete town cen- tre planned by the Hong Kong Hous- ing Authority and it may set the trend for future estates, especially those which like Britain's new towns are somewhat isolated from existing urban areas. All the accommodation will be designated for a particular use

site formation

first phase contractors

so that every type of product and service will be made available.

Wa Fu Estate, on which work has already started, will comprise about 7,500 flats. It is being constructed on a fine headland site surrounded on three sides by the sea and situated on the island's coastline about midway between Aberdeen and the Mount Davis-Kennedy Town area. The site covers an area of 29 acres of which seven acres is being built upon.

There will be 23 multi-storey blocks of dwellings, the units ranging from small five-person flats with cen- tral corridor access to seven eight-

person flats in four 22-storey twin tower blocks with balcony access. All the flats are designed on a minimum space standard of 35 sq. ft. per per- son and have separate kitchens, toilets and balconies.

The estimated capital cost of the whole project is HK$90,000,000, of which $3.750.000 will be spent on the town centre. The estimated building cost for the town centre is $2,800,000.

Pedestrian Podium

Covering an area of 72,160 sq. ft.. the town centre is planned on a slope facing Kellett Bay and is linked on different levels to adjacent blocks of flats on three sides. The fourth side, with a promenade deck along the coastline, commands a magnificent view of Aberdeen Harbour and the distant islands.

Height of the main podium deck above sea level is approximately 140 ft. while the lowest deck is about 90 ft. above sea level.

The main deck of the complex con- sists of a pedestrian-only podium. with direct access from street level at

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Town centre viewed from Island Road (east) over Kellett Bay

Far East Architect & Builder February, 1966

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