May_1970 — Page 16

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Two-storey parking under podium deck

Landscaped podium with fountain & ceramic mural

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building.

Apartments radiate from the central core which houses the lifts, a refuse chute and fire stairs. By this means in- ternal light wells and long dismal cor- ridors are eliminated.

The central core is standard for all towers with the exception of those which accommodate schools at their lowest levels. Although each core is standard in dimension and accom- modates two fire stairs, four lifts and the mechanical/electrical services, the architects have been able to 'design-in' to this core a multiplicity of apart- ment sizes and numbers, ranging from one-bedroom to four-bedroom units. The building designs accommodate a minimum four units per floor to as many as eight per floor.

Adjoining the lift lobby at each floor level is a refuse disposal chamber. It is separately ventilated by a mech- anical system and gives access to a 24 in. diameter chute which carries refuse to the ground level for collection.

The external walls of the blocks are virtually maintenance-free. Mosaic tiles, used on balconies and below sill levels, cover in excess of 50 per cent of the building' facades in colours that blend with the large surfaces of cement rendering finished with plastic emulsion base paint.

Part of the tower superstructure for the first and second stage of the project is a reinforced concrete post and beam system with central core walls design- ed as shear walls for resisting the lateral wind pressure.

In Stage II and onwards the design criteria was modified in order to eli- minate interior beams within the flats and to provide greater planning flexi- bility. A flat plate system without in- ternal beams was adopted.

Structural systems in the commer- cial areas are predominately post and beam, with the exception of the stage II central car park where a waffle slab system is incorporated. Waffle slabs will be formed with 3 ft. square fibre- glass formwork, 16 in. deep. Prestress- ed post-tensioned roof structures are envisaged for the cinema and bowling centre in Stage IV.

Materials

The windows are made to withstand a 50/60 lb. per sq.ft. lateral force, or 160 m.p.h. wind force. Imported Co- malco (Commonwealth Aluminium) billets are extruded in Hong Kong and these extrusions are used to fabricate and assemble the window and door units locally, Lock sets for the doors are also made locally.

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Far East BUILDER, May 1970