January_1967 — Page 19

MACDONNELL ROAD

DINING

PLAY

BLAT

PLAT

PLAT

FLAT

FLAT

PLAT

PLAT

FLAT

OFFICE

PARONG BRACE

PARING PACE

SECTION

A

Far East Architect & Builder January, 1967

FANONG SPACE

PARING SPACE

The Hermitage:

Viewed from the east

KENNEDY ROAD

יT

HE Hermitage is a twelve storey block of service flats, built by the Government to provide accommoda- tion for civil servants in the Colony. A committee was formed to assess the building's requirements and func- tions and to compile the design brief.

The type of occupancy to be serv- ed by the building fell into three categories: unmarried government officers, married officers without child- ren and government servants in tran- sit. It was decided that the type of accommodation provided should be more spacious and comfortable than the normal hostel type single room, yet sufficiently compact to keep main- tenance at a minimum. Two types of flats were to be provided to cater for senior and junior officers.

In the resulting building there are 30 senior flats and 94 junior flats. Basically, each apartment is a self- contained unit comprising a living room with dining alcove, a small cooking and storage area, and a bed- room with attached bathroom.

Each unit is reached by an open access balcony, partially protected against the weather by precast con- crete panels In addition to the flat accommodation, each floor contains a workroom and living-quarters for the servants. The ground floor is oc- cupied by administrative offices and store rooms, and the main servants quarters. All public room dining room, lounge and bar are located on the top floor, while the roof has been utilised as a recreation area.

Covered car parking facilities are provided on three levels below the ground floor. Also at this level is the laundry with open and covered dry- ing yards attached.

The site, a peninsular piece of land at the junction of Kennedy Road and Macdonnell Road was previously the site of a small Government hostel for women. Because of its convenient location for Government workers, it was considered a suitable position for the new project. However, the very nature of the site posed several pro- blems for the architect, who was faced with the task of providing a maximum amount of accommodation on a piece of narrow, irregularly shaped land that had a steep fall of 35 ft. across it from the Macdonnell Road side to Kennedy Road.

Endeavouring to retain the interest- ing character of the site the architect

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