No_2_1956 — Page 53

BANK FLATS FOR PORTUGUESE STAFF

Architect:--- Messrs. Palmer & Turner

t

FLATS

N.K.LL,3847

\STAFE FLATS

NEW

CORNWALL

STREET

The location of the site.

View of the new buildings from Cornwall Street.

400FT

The three new blocks of flats for the Portuguese staff of the Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation have been completed and are in occupation. As most readers are aware, quite a furore was created when the engineers for the new Kai Tak runway discovered that the three original buildings, which were erected on College Road in 1949/50, pro- jected into the flight funnel of aircraft approaching from the north-west, and it was thought that it might be necessary to demolish the whole of the three build- ings. In order to save this loss, the ar- chitects even considered а scheme to move the buildings bodily to a new site, but the problems involved were too com- plicated and the idea was abandoned.

be possible that only the upper floors of the original buildings need be demolish- ed, and that the major portion can be left without endangering approaching aircraft.

It is not yet known how many storeys may have to go, and the final decision in

this matter will not be decided until the

construction of the new runway is well advanced. In the meantime, Govern- ment has taken possession of the old buildings and will have the use of them for housing Government staff for at least another three or four years, thus salvag- ing a considerable portion of what at first appeared dead loss of about $4,000,000,

BALCONY,

KIT.

W.C.

BED

SERVT. &

ROOM

BATH

CL.

The new buildings, located as they are at the top of Kowloon Tong, are actually better located from the tenants' point of view than the old ones, as they are

situated in much more attractive sur-

foundings, and are much cooler owing to the more open character of the sur- In all respects they are rounding area. exact duplicates of the buildings erected on College Road, except that advantage has been taken to improve small details such as the design of the doors, the thick- ness of the parquet flooring and the size of the rear balconies which were widened to allow better facilities for the servants, and to increase the laundry drying area.

LIFT

BALCONY

KIT.

W.C.

SERVT.

BÉO

ROOM

15

BATH

CL.

DINING

RECESS

CL.

HALL

LOBBY

HALL

DINING

ROOM

CL.

SITTING

ROOM

DH.

BED

SITTING

ROOM

BED

the

ROOM

ROOM

Eventually, Government granted Bank a new site of equal area to the north of Cornwall Street, Kowloon Tong, and paid for the entire cost of construc- tion of the three new buildings.

It is now found that, owing to slight alterations in the Kai Tak scheme, it may

VERANDAH

VERANDAH

Typical floor plan of the two-bedroom flats.

51