June_1965 — Page 22

$57 million through self-financing. At the end of 1964 the authority had spent more than $201 million and its rent roll reached $22.5 million.

Sites for the authority's estates are provided by Government at one-third of the estimated market value, and rents are calculated on the basis of

working estimated

and expenses amortization of capital expenditure on buildings and land at five per cent over 40 years.

Phase 1 of Ma Tau Wai, almost four-fifths of the entire project, was started in 1960 and provided 1,628 flats for 9,980 people at rents ranging from HK$76 to $95 a month. It in- cluded 18 shops, a pavilion and party caretaker's quarters and a

rooms, kindergarten.

Phase 2 provided 347 flats and a further ten shops.

The flats are ranged in five multi- storey blocks of in-situ reinforced concrete framed construction. These are name Hibiscus, Magnolia, Rose, Narcissus and Geranium House. The number of flats is: five-person 476, six-person 862, seven-person 716, and ten-person 21.

For Hong Kong this is a medium- sized low-cost development. Con- siderations of economy led to the use of central corridor type flats and finishes were either eliminated alto- gether or selected with a view to a minimum of maintenance. Twelve lifts are installed in the blocks.

A typical flat in the estate consists of a combined living and bedroom, a toilet and kitchen. The living room area can be partitioned by the ten- ant, and each flat has its own bal- cony.

New Head Office

Incorporated into the estate is a new head office building for the staff of the Housing Authority. This is a six-storey structure with approximate- ly 20,000 sq. ft. of office space.

Part of the ground floor is left open to give space for car parking and the remainder contains the en- trance hall and stores.

The exterior of the upper floors is attractively finished with black ver- tical mullions contrasting with yellow ceiling-to-cill mosaic panels.

Architects

The Housing Authority architects responsible for designing the estate were: Mr. J. R. Firth, ARIBA, FRSA (now commissioner for hous- ing), and Mr. D.P.H. Liao, BArch (Hons.) HK, Dip LD (now acting housing architect).

The head office building was planned by Mr. Firth and Mr. Cheung Sing-hoi, BArch.

General contractors were: Cheong Lee Construction Co., Ltd. for phase 1, and Goodman Co. for phase II. The latter company also built the head office building.

56

Q

CORRIDOR

انا

BAL

PLAY

SPACE

P

~$

AL

TYPICAL

FLOOR

PLAN

KEY

:

BAL.

K

(10

CORRIDOR

K

W. C.----

SAL.-

K

ST. -

BAL

BAL

50

100

200

300

PARTY RM

NARCISSUS HOUSE

*****

GERANIUM

HOUSE

Dildo avan

MA

MA TAU кок пр.

HIBISCUS

HOUSE * 44

S PERSON FLAT

LIVING AREA: 175.48 SQ.FT.

7 PERSON FLAT

LIVING AREA : 24500 sq.ft.

JO PERSON FLAT

LIVING AREA : 351.36 SQ FT

KITCHEN

WATER CLOSET & SHOWER

BALCONY

STORE

MAGNOLIA HOUSE

ROSE

NOUSE

玫瑰樓

SHING TAK STREST

TAU CHUNG ROAD

H

Hibiscus House and the estate's community hall or party room on left

1

Far East Architect & Builder June, 1965