No_2_August_1964 — Page 112

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ALBEROSE'

UNIVERSITY

Architect:

Consulting Engineer:

Quantity Surveyors:

THIS apartment block was built by the University of Hong Kong

to house eighteen families, twelve in three-bedroom two-bathroom flats

and six in two-bedroom one-bath room flats.

The site was originally occupied by a pair of old semi-detached houses; it is small and limited at the back by a steep cutting. The original idea was to provide maisonettes, six accessible from each lift landing of which there would only need to be three above ground. This was later modified to give three flats on each floor, with a lift stop at each floor.

This site has a very strong ex- posure to the west, presenting not only the problem of the setting sun but of very strong light from the sky. This exposure gives also the best view. The design is therefore a compromise between giving a full sight of the view from the flats and facing directly west. resulting in the angular treatment.

Arguments that the under building car-parking did not count as a storey (containing no living accommodation) and that the building was in effect not more than six-storeys high did not prevail with the Building Authority and alternate means of escape in case cf fire had to be provided from each flat; this did much to destroy the origina! economy of the design.

Normally in flat design the en- trance is placed at one end and passage to and from bedrooms and bathrooms is obtained through the living rooms, which become high ways; children and servants coming and going are a continual source of disturbance to

to parents using the living room.

The central staircase and lift.

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