No_11_November_1968 — Page 22

treated with spray-on Pyrox acoustic oval-shaped canopies. The central ca- plaster.

nopy cantilevers 10 ft. from the wall and is jointed to the wall and the reinforced concrete roof beam above. Suspended from its centre is a stainless steel cross with the crucifix outlined in brass.

Throughout the church the oval shape is used as a design, motif. It is featured in the curved roofs below the spires, the hoods over entrances, windows, carved patterns on the seat- ing and frames of exterior and interior murals. The curved hoods which sweep up to the spires are only 5%1⁄2 in. thick and are of heavily reinforced concrete clad in hand-set lin. white mosaic tiles to contrast with the bright blue of the exterior walls. These walls are also clad in mosaic tiles which were imported from Italy.

The oval shape is again used on two exterior features of the church. It outlines the two series of six con- fessionals which are set into the rear wall of the church and are built on a 6ft. cantilever over the car port. And three oval outlines in gold mosaics surround a huge mural of St. Joseph the worker above the Garden Road frontage.

This mural was executed in brown and white sand and cement by Fran- cisco Borboa who was also responsible for three murals which form a back- drop to the altar. These interior mur- als are framed in slim, mosaic-covered,

The central mural, with the figures of Joseph and Mary on either side is 15 ft. high and is composed of trans- luscent fibreglass panels which may be lit up in red, white, green or yellow to match the colours of the liturgical feasts and the vestments worn.

The altar is floored in black and white terrazzo. Lecturns on either side of the altar take the form of stainless steel swords stuck into the ground. The altar table is a block of Italian Onyx with a white marble top.

Elsewhere internally the flooring is green terrazzo. Walls are gypsum plast- er and panelling, doors and seating are of teak. The four massive support columns are clad in white glass mosaic. Ceiling lamps, taking the form of leaf clusters, are made from copper and gold fibreglass.

The blue and white exterior colour scheme was chosen "to symbolise the purity of our soul and the love of God".

The building time was 12 months. Kwong Hing Co. carried out the main contract which was worth HK$1,072,603.

Costs and contractors

Sub-contractors included:

American Engineering Corporation Ltd. air-conditioning installation, HK$ 139,800.

Philips Hong Kong Ltd. - light fit- tings, HK$29,560.

mural design,

F. Borboa

HK$10,000.

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Rainbow Glass Fibre Products Ltd. mural, HK$4,836.

Dodge and Seymour Inc. - locks, HK$9,353.

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Radio People Co. Ltd. wireless and amplifier installation, HK$13,641.

The Victory Manufacturing Co. - fire services installation, HK$600.

Floor areas

Ground floor First floor

Second floor

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8,772 sq. ft.

church 7,180 sq. ft. offices 1,907 sq. ft. total

9,086 sq. ft.

gallery 3,700 sq. ft. priest's

quarters 1,753 sq. ft. total 5,451 sq. ft.

Mural by F. Borboa on Garden Road frontage

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If

Cantilevered hoods over altar

Far East BUILDER, November 1968.