May_1965 — Page 21

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Elevations

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of the service zone to the entrance, without encroaching on the apart- ments; the creation of two zones within the living space, one diurnal (living) and the other nocturnal (dining); and finally, shielding of the bedrooms zone and its respective connection with the sanitary installa- tions.

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The only difference, therefore, be- tween T3 and T2 is, besides extra room, a proportional increase of all the areas with an increase also in equipment (separate wash-basin in the hall and a pantry near the kit- chen).

Extroverted Zone

Basically all these preoccupations and aims are easily apprehended in a study of the plan, and it may be said that here they become almost completely solved. However, the characteristic that appeared to us

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most important was the "living space" which in the end is the most significant within the house, where the common life of the family takes place.

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Thus, it appeared to us most im- portant 10

an extroverted zone in direct communication with the outside terrace through a wide fenestration. In order to emphasise its existence we lowered the ceiling height and changed the flooring into a colder material (even from a sen- sual point of view). We also located a closet, which with a fixed window glass over a flower rack defines the place for a sofa or divan.

In contrast to this zone the rest of the living space is less illuminat- ed and more introverted. It has a wooden floor and a corner for the dining-table, connected to the kit- chen through the dumb-waiter. It is really a quieter and more intimate zone, suitable for reading or playing

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around the table after dinner and in winter.

These designs are not meant to establish "a priori" a single possible way to live in these apartments. For the man who designs houses for others, there has always been obligation to seek to interpret the most valid aspirations of his own time.

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What we hope is that the criteria on which our designs are based will be sufficiently valid to provoke in future inhabitants a movement of identification with our proposals.

Living Together

To conclude, we would like to refer to one of the most important and positive aspects of collective housing living together. This liv- ing-together, which is always more intense in the phases of infancy and adolescence, may take place in this tower-block either on the ground floor, (spreading to the outside zone reserved for pedestrians and free of danger from the motor traffic) or on the terrace, the covered zone of which provides space for games during the rainy season.

The provision of store-rooms for prams and bicycles (one to each apartment) on the ground floor, besides modelling the space of that zone, allows a more convenient use of the area.

The terrace slab is acoustically in- sulated, to avoid inconvenience to the tenants of the upper floors. In general terms we think the ground floor will be used mainly by chil- dren and the terrace by adolescents.

Architects: Natalia and Manuel Vicente. Structural engineer: Alipio Guedes. General contractor: Fong Fai.

Owners: Macau Post Office Department.

* The notations T2 and T3 mean respec- tively apartments with two and three bedrooms.

Site layout

Far East Architect & Builder May, 1965

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