March_1970 — Page 17

1970.3

elf-contained low-cost estate

HONGKONG HOUSING AUTHORITY

D. LIAO, B. Arch, Dip LD (Dunelm)

CHEUNG SING-HOI, B.Arch (HK)

WHEN work ends on phase four of the Wah Fu Estate, near Aberdeen, later this year, the Hong Kong Housing Authority will have completed for its audience of municipal bodies in other parts of the world something of a con- juring trick.

For into an area which most authorities would accept as sufficient for little more than a public park, the authority has packed all the facilities of a small township - industry except- ed - plus a population of 54,000.

Yet, while the housing density is ten times that which the Greater Lon- don Council for example considers to be 'high', through careful planning with the maximum use of open site, an atmosphere of space and airiness has been created for Wah Fu's residents.

To achieve this, the planners were aided by one of the most pleasant sites in the colony a fine headland be-

tween Aberdeen and Kennedy Town,

developers

Commissioner for Housing Housing Architect

bounded on three sides by the sea.

The total site area of the scheme is 29 acres and the population density is 29 acres and the population density is 1,855 persons per acre. By utilising space on various levels within the buildings, together with recreation areas between the buildings, it has been possible to provide almost one and a half times the total estate area for recreation, play space and other leisure activities, free of traffic and en- cumbrances.

Apart from its pedestrian-only areas, Wah Fu embodies a number of new advances in the low-cost housing field both in the facilities it provides and in the design of its multi-storey blocks.

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It is for example the first Housing Authority estate to incorporate not just a few shops but a complete town centre to meet the commercial and social needs of the residents and to make the estate self-contained.

Multi-storey garages are another new feature, introduced in an attempt to solve the ever increasing problem of parking without sacrificing recreation space. The garages are so designed as to provide easily accessible play- grounds on the roofs.

Another special facility is the set- ting aside of 32 flats for more than 100 elderly people. The scheme, set up with the co-operation of the Social Welfare Department and Hong Kong Christian Service, is the first of its kind in Hong Kong.

The housing units with living space allocated on the basis of 35 sq.ft. per person - are contained in 23 blocks ranging in height from eight to 24 storeys high.

Twin towers

Phase IV, now nearing completion, entails almost half the total accom- modation in four twin-tower blocks of a new design. In these blocks, 34 flats with balcony access are grouped around a square light well, 50ft. x 50ft., and two of these squares are

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華建樓

WAH MIN

HOUSE

SONG HOUSE

School

SPRAGE

WAN GHING |

15

WARN LEE HOUSG

17

NÁH SUN

18 HOUSE

19

WAN YU HOUSE

GARAGE 'C'

14

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Fun CHUN HOES

Wah Fu Estate site plan

SALT WATER

PUMP HOUSE

Far East BUILDER, March 1970

*1#HOUSE

SCHOOL A

SCHOOL A2

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FALE MUM LOK HOUS

KELLET

PAY

WA

ال

RO

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