No_2_1955 — Page 15

HONGKONG BANK FLATS

FOR SENIOR STAFF

ON R B. L. 716

PLANTATION ROAD.

Architect: Eric Cumine, F.R.I.B.A.

CAR

WASH

Main front elevation.

DATING

ROOM

GARDENER

+

CHILDRENS COVERED PLAY AREA

SWITCH

ROOM

TRUNK

ROOM

IIII

ENTRANCE

FOYER

ENTRY

&

LIFT HALL

OGGA

Ground floor plan showing position of open laggia and covered play area.

EXISTING GROTTO

PORTE

COCHERE

DRIVE.

WAY.

What constitutes an architectural period or style? Sir Banister-Flet- cher in his well-known book states: "The history of architecture is a re- cord of continuous evolution begin- ning with the simple and constantly repeated forms of Egypt. followed by the more highly developed temple buildings of Greece, passing through the complex types of Imperial Rome, through the ages of Christendom, until the men of the Renaissance reverted to the classic types for the varied buildings of this great period. Architecture, striding down the ages, was evolved, moulded and adapted to meet the changing needs of nations in their religious, political and do- mestic development."

He also says "the evolution of style is due to six leading influences, viz., geographical, geological, climatic, re- ligious, social and historical", and as he reviews each period he shows how these influences have helped to shape architecture. As he traces the deve- lopment of each period, he also men- tions the importance of available materials as an influence on style. In our opinion, this factor is as impor- tant as any of the others in its effect on design.

Concrete, for example, dates back as a practical building material to the Roman Perlod when its use per- mitted increases in the size of vault- ing and in the design of structures of much more complicated planning than was previously possible. It con- tinued to be used during the ages with increased understanding of its possibilities and, therefore, with more efficient application to struc- tural design, but it was not until the nineteenth century that the use of concrete combined with steel result- ed in an originality of concept, which broke away entirely from traditional period design and led to what is now generally accepted as the Modernist Period.

It has often been contended that the use of concrete and steel, having no inherent ornamental values of their own, has cramped the imagina- tion of the architect, and reduced present day architectural design to uniformity and dullness. This may

be true to a certain extent of domes-

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