•TRAJAN'S
COLUMN
NEWS
NOTES
TOPICS
ARCHITECT AT SEA.
THE HIGHER THE FU-er! planning of the Murray Barracks area, Talking of skyscrapers; Fu Centre (when it reverts to public land), there is surely going to cause interest outside should be a fine sculpture done by one the Colony in the building achieve- of the world's greatest. Not a bust or ments here. The day after Eric a portrait, but a group symbolizing Cumine had received approval of the the period of his administration which plans the local press had the headline more than any other time, has been "Tallest Building in Asia". The full responsible for stability, prosperity. story of its development and planning, and the well-being of so many people if Eric would tell it sometime, must would indeed be a fine gesture for the during a very difficult period. It
be really interesting.
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SUBTOPIA
contractors and their associates in the Little did Louis Sullivan, Holabaird Building Industry to sponsor such a & Roach, William Jersy and the other project. early Chicago pioneers of the ancestors of the skyscraper know that their examples would spread to the Orient, but it is a stimulating thought to con- template the time when the Hong Kong skyline will out-do Manhattan, Johan- nesburg, and the newer cities of Brazil. Shall we one day rival F.L.W. and go more than a mile high to gain face and fortune?
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FESTIVAL FIZZLE
Recent news appearing in the daily papers of the boom in Shipbuilding in of the Arts turned out to be, architec- What a disappointment the Festival the Colony led Trajan to contemplate turally speaking, and this was the big the use of local architects as designers chance for a collective publicity effort of public rooms, cabins, deck space, by the Society of Architects which will and other accommodation afloat. But not occur for another year. Rather so far as can be ascertained from dis- than being over-selective in choosing creet enquiries, it appears that the the architectural exhibits it would be architect-designed, Hong Kong-built, better to show buildings in quantity-- vessel is not yet on the stocks.
at this stage in the Society's existence. In the yachting world especially, We know there are large numbers of there is surely scope for some enter- very good models and perspectives of prising builder to enlist skilled aid in the multitude of buildings now planning the complex interior of a 35 course of construction or about to go foot cabin cruiser or similar craft. up. Trajan is by no means suggesting that blank floor areas and enhanced the the hull design should be part of the display in the eyes of the visiting architects job
- based on the Build- public, with all the benefits to the Architectural ings Ordinance, with 8" walls and a with such interest. When the business Profession which goes D.P.C. there may be some doubt as
world was accepted the Society as a to buoyancy, although the height, volume, and open space formula would power in their midst, then the quality
present no trouble
These could have filled
but below deck
side
can be stressed.
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the detailed arrangements require care-
up
ful and logical planning to provide CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION living, eating, cooking, sleeping, and storage space. Drawings are required
Please note.
in
the
A propos of a previous grouse con- cerning the unnecessary messing up of our landscapes we reproduce on this page a poster which the R.I.B.A. are using to advertise an exhibition they have prepared which is touring towns in Great Britain at the present time. Spoilation of our townscape here in Hong Kong is indeed a problem and it would be nice to see this exhibition or a similar one at some future date.
SUBTOPIA
I
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ADVANCED BUILDING
TECHNOLOGY
Trajans Column has made the grade! A correspondent has been roused to write in reply to a point made in the second issue. His letter is printed
and a specification. Tenders are invit- H.E. The Governor, Sir Alexander below. It is nice to know the column ed (usually too high, as in building!), Grantham, is leaving, as we are all is being read and the bait taken. What and the job needs supervision as it aware. And this is a sad thought. So is more, we hasten to say that we far there has been some talk of fare- agree with the correspondent in much
goes up.
Not quite architecture, perhaps, but well banquets and so on; but could of what he writes. But he, too, must when the last skyscraper is up and the not the building industry's apprecia- agree that if there is a leader of the bridge built, and the last bit of open
tion for Sir Alexander's part in their building team it must be the designer--- space is roofed over for parking, then prosperity take a more concrete form? using the word in its broadest sense- here are fresh fields to be explored.
Right in the centre of this re-building: the Architect, the only member of the in Statue Square; the New City Hall team who takes a comprehensive view group; or even as a centrepiece in the of the whole building process.
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