March_1965 — Page 24

STANDARD PLAN

FOR H.K.

FIRE STATIONS

Ten-Storey Blocks on 30 Sites

A

N OBVIOUS way of increasing the

vice is to have the appliances on call from as close to the blaze as possible.

In Hong Kong this is to be done by decentralisation of the fire stations and the Architectural Divi- sion of the Public Works Depart- ment has produced a standard design for 30 sub-stations to be located on

Model of new ten-storey fire station

corner sites throughout the Colony,

First four of these ten-storey buildings will be at Western District, Shaukiwan, Ngau Chi Wan and Taipo. Each will cost about HK$14 million, including site works and foundations.

The new sub-station design allows for the garaging of two fire engines, compared with six in the existing stations. On the floors above the station will be flatlets for the firemen and their families.

The traditional rest room will be retained on the ground floor adjacent to the covered yards for those on standby duty. However, in an em- ergency, every one of the 50 or SO men attached to each station could, if at home, be summoned within minutes.

The mezzanine floor will be set aside soley for a promenade and a joint recreation/dining room leading on to a large balcony.

In addition to these amenities, the third floor will be used as a children's

play area. The walls will not be fill- ed in, leaving the floor area running out on to two open balconies on both sides.

First and second floors will house two 1,200 sq. ft. flats and two 980 sq. ft. flats for officers. These flats will have three bedrooms, servants' quar- ters, toilet, bathroom, drying spaces, and verandah.

The fourth to the ninth floors will contain a total of 48 flatlets for firemen and their families. Actual living space will be about 240 sq ft., including kitchen, verandah, toilet/ washroom similar to that offered

in low cost housing estates.

A refuse chute will serve the whole building. It will be centrally posi- tioned between the lift and store- room space and will be surrounded by glazed, washable tiles. The chute. which will empty into a refuse cham- ber bin on the ground floor, will be built of interlocking cement asbestos sections.

-

REST ROOM

COVERED YARD

METER

AM.

LIFT

PIT.

READY STORE

OFFICE

UP

LOBST

LOY

STORE

STORE

LIFT

LOBBY

VERANDAN

UPPER

RECREATION & DINING

PART OF

COVERED YARD

:

LIFT

I

APPLIANCE ROOM

PROMENADE

ON

KITCHEN

UPPER PART OF

COVERED YARD

54

SECTION 'A'— 'A'

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

MEZZANINE FLOOR PLAN

Far East Architect & Builder March, 1965