May_1965 — Page 23

By

Frank

Ng

Author of this article, Mr. Frank Ng. A.A.Dipl. (Trop), A.R.I.B.A., studied

prefabricated construction in France and West Germany under an RIBA Henry Jarvis Scholarship. Born and educated in Hong Kong, he completed his architectural training at the Archi- tectural Association of Architecture in London, its post-graduate School of Tropical Studies and the Royal Acade- my

of Arts' School of Advanced Architectural Study. He joined Booty, Edwards and Partners in London in 1962 and worked on hospital buildings. Mr. Ng was a member of the Ministry of Health's Hospital Study Group and the Modular Co-ordination Study Group. He recently joined the Kuala Lumpur office of Booty, Edwards and Partners. and is now teaching at the K.L. Technical College.

The Elements

These principles have led them to erect buildings by means of elements: of large dimensions, carrying out the maximum number of functions, of rapid and simple erection, and re- quiring little further treatment after erection.

The main construction elements are of the largest size compatible with their destination and with the maxi- mum size of structure authorized for transport. The power of the handl- ing and erection equipment is deter- mined accordingly.

These elements have the maximum functional complexity and are com- posed from the time of their manu- facture of the supporting portion (concrete and steel), the insulating

portion (heat and sound insulation), and facing materials (in the case of wall-facings, smooth surface concrete, sanded concrete, tiling, etc.: for the floorings, such materials as tiles, granite or parquet; and finally, for the walls and for the ceilings, mould- ed concrete).

The manufacture includes the in- corporation in the factory of the largest possible part of the equip- ment, especially outside window- frames, shutter or blind fixtures, elec- tric wiring conduits, heating and air- conditioning ducts, flues and ventila- tion chimneys. They are provided with all the holes and tapped tubes

which permit the passage of piping and the fixation of all the equipments which are not incorporated: sanitary equipment, radiators, etc.

Far East Architect & Builder May, 1965

The main construction members are few in number 20 to 25 per habitation. The perfection of a pro- ject, seen from the industrial aspect, is of course characterized by the re- duction of the number of elements constituting the housing unit.

These elements are all made with great precision and consist of:

Reinforced concrete floors, either solid or hollow, the ceilings and floorings being of completely finished manufacture:

outside-wall panels--sandwich walls composed of two sections of con- crete enclosing an efficient insulating agent (expanded polystyrene), the in- ner and outer facings being an in- tegral part of the element;

solid or hollow inside walls of concrete and partitions of solid con- crete, the facings of which are form- ed in the mass;

flights of stairs of solid concrete, the steps being pre-finished;

smoke ducts and ventilation ducts one storey high.

The erection of these elements on the site is carried out in a simple and perfect manner without the least re-touching and with insignificant play: the adjustment or fitting is automatic due to dovetailing systems arranged in such manner that the erection can be carried out without the need for measurements or check- ing of level. On account of the specially designed shapes, the joints are perfectly sealed.

Manufacture

All the elements are manufactured in precision machines having me- chanically actuated movements which

are

as far as possible automatic. These machines permit the pouring of the concrete in the most practical position, usually the horizontal posi- tion and removal from the mould in the vertical position. They usually

comprise a fixed portion, which is the base, and a movable portion, which is the mould.

The different movements such as lowering or lifting, pivotal or rock- ing movement. displacement and ejection of the products, are slow and gradual.

The most highly perfected ma- chines entail no human operation after the concrete has been poured, other than the operation of a push- button, the different movements following each other in succession without further intervention and leaving the product quite free and ready to be taken away. After re- moval from the mould, the members of the machines come into position to within one millimetre. No control or inspection is necessary to ensure the strict accuracy of the dimensions of the products thus manufactured.

In order that they should be cap- able of large-scale production, the machines are provided with a system of heating which permits rapid set- ting and hardening of the concrete. The moulds are of hollow metallic walls which permit the circulation of

The heating fluid.

concrete is hardened two to three hours after its manufacture.

а

(a) Description of factory

The factory must be located in immediate proximity to a means of economic transport. Depending on its size, the factory building is com- posed of a variable number of halls of approximately 16 metres in width and 40 metres in length, which house the machines for the manufacture of the concrete elements. Each of the halls is served by one or a number of travelling cranes of 8 to 10 tons lifting power, the rail-tracks being extended into a storage area which they also serve.

The manufacturing machines are of different types according to the products to be made. They are pivotally mounted their base- plates and include different moulds for ordinary flooring, for terrace

on

Group of 1,100 Coignet apartments at Lille, France

57