T
FIRST OF TWO ARTICLES ON THE MANDARIN
HOTEL
MANDARIN HOTEL
IN SPITE
PILING P
ORK on the design of the 27- storey Mandarin Hotel. right in the centre of Hong Kong's busy water front. began in July 1960. he fore demolition started of the four- storey Queen's Building which had stood on the site since 1901.
In spite of troubles and conse- quent forced changes in plans design. piling and construction have gone ahead according to the original time schedule and this newest addi- tion to Hong Kong's attractions to tourists will
open on time next
month.
The site.
in common with all others on the waterfront. lies on land reclaimed from the harbour and so presented all the problems attendant on working in reclaimed land and on having to deal with a geological formation already infam- ous for the difficulties it presents to architects and foundation engineers.
Speed was essential from the de velopers' point of view because of the high value of land in the centre of the city. The site had to be re- turning a revenue as quickly as pos. sible.
In these circumstances it was de cided, as a matter of policy. that the contract for piling should be let be- fore demolition of the old building was completed so that piling for the new building should begin im- mediately the old foundations had been removed.
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