June_1965 — Page 20

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MA TAU

Court below Hibiscus House, Multi-coloured paving contrasts with stone dwarf walls

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ARE has been taken to provide an enjoyable environment in the Hong Kong Housing Authority's Ma Tau Wai Estate, Kowloon, the second and final phase of which was completed recently to bring to 2,075 the total number of flats on this 7.2- acre site.

In Hong Kong, with its acute short- age of building land and its crucial problem of housing many thousands of people in at least respectable conditions, the opportunities

for landscaping are extremely limited. At Ma Tau Wai the housing density is 1,886 persons to the acre, which leaves little free circulation area, but even so the authority's architectural staff this is the first estate to their own design have attempted to lay out the area in the most attractive way possible.

Advantage has been taken of the gentle slope of the ground to provide buildings of different heights, while keeping the roof line level. The site is within the restricted flight funnel zone for Kai Tak Airport and build- ings are limited in height to 150 ft. above the principle datum.

The common roof line necessitated changes in ground levels, toe walls. railings or solid parapets, flights of steps and turfed slopes. These, toge- ther with the coloured and textural paving, have provided interest in the

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View of tree-lined footpath leading from Narcissus House to Geranium House

Far East Architect & Builder June, 1965

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