No_3_January_and_February__1949 — Page 39

THE HONG KONG AND FAR EAST BUILDER

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MARTINHOE"

Three Storied Apartment House on Barker Road

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A view of the east elevation of the building is shown above, and of the west elevation below.

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Messrs. Credit Foncier d'Extreme-Orient have been responsible for many attractive and well-planned structures, mainly for residential purposes, both in Hong Kong and in Kowloon. Any building designed by them is sure to be attractive both from the tenants' and from the sightseers' point of view, to whom a well proportioned building is an cbject of joy forever.

It is not surprising, therefore, to find one more build- ing erected by this well-known land investment and architectural firm which is not only a house but also a home.

The latest addition to the buildings put up by the Credit Foncier d'Extreme-Orient is that of a modern apart ment house at No. 458 Barker Road, formerly known as "Martinhoe", designed and planned by Mr. G. Volckaert, their Chief Architect.

It consists of three apartments, each of which contains an entrance hall, a living room, dining room and two bed- recms with bathrooms attached, as well as a penthouse also with bathroom. No expense was spared to render the flats up-to-date.

The planning of the floor area deserves special mention. As one enters into the main hall one is confronted with a large L-shaped area which forms the living room and din- ing room. Each room has enormous windows which frame a beautiful view of the harbour and Kowloon looking east towards Lyemoon Pass.

One of the bedrooms, which is accessible from the main hall faces west and the other, at the north end of the flat,

has windows on two sides, east and north, from which it is possible to obtain practically an uninterrupted view of the whole harbour area.

The huge fireplace in the living room sets the decora- tive theme and is so placed as to warm and enliven this most important focal area of the flat.

A glance at the plan discloses the very generous space which has been provided for pantry and kitchen, for ser- vants' rooms and for stores. Modern planners tend to con- sider the kitchen and pantry as of little importance, yet with the tendency of housewives today to participate in the planning of meals and in the preparation of cooking, the part that these two rooms play in the comfort of the whole household should not be under estimated. For this reason

T

VERANDAM

DIENC

DEKLICE TARD

BOOM

PANTRY

1

HITENIN

MATCH

LOVING,

V ook

2.

WITH

L.

BED

TERKAGE

Typical floor plan of each apartment.

Detail of the staircase leading

up from Barker Road,