No_3_September_and_October__1953 — Page 25

ILANG SENG

BANK

BUILDING

QUEEN'S ROAD, CENTRAL

Architect: G. D. Su

3.

假期】

BANK

1:4000

龄

飯

覽

УНИ

SENCE

Two details of the front of the bank.

lines but carried out in a modern floor leads to three offices of various spirit with the columnar effect pro- dimensions. duced by the continuous vertical

rels.

emphasis of the combined window A board room occupies most of the areas and intervening bronze spand- third floor; this room is very nicely proportioned and richly decorated. It can be divided lengthwise into two The whole appearance of the new smaller rooms by a curtain running bank is one of richness, prosperity in a built-in wooden pelmet and side and dignity, both externally and in- recesses. The board room is also to ternally, and completely satisfies the be used for dining, recreation and requirements in this sphere of design. entertaining, and for this purpose

The new bank is a 4-storey building with mezzanine, located at Nos. 163 and 165 Queen's Road Central, The site was previously occupied by two tenement houses. The owners at- tempted to purchase a third lot, but this proved impossible, with the con- sequence that the present site is smaller than was desired and con- siderable thought was needed to design a building that would utilise the restricted area to the utmost.

Bank designing is a branch of

The site is not quite restangular in architecture requiring special treat- shape and covers approximately 1450 ment. For psychological reasons the square feet, which is practically the finished building must present a whole area of the lot. The height of dignified and prosperous appearance the building from the ground floor to to the world, as a symbol of assurance the top of the upper roof is 68'6". and confidence to the institution's

depositors and customers. This is too The main entrance is on Queen's often achieved by using a purely Road at the right side of the building, classical and traditional facade, which with a fine bronze door and bronze though having the desired effect sliding gate leading to a small lobby completely neglects all aesthetic and from which access is had to the technological progress. On the other banking hall on the ground floor, and hand, the architect cannot give free to the staircase to the upper floors. rein to ultra-modern trends and pre-

sent a finished building new and The Belgian Black marble counter startling in its modernity, as the dividing the public section from the public generally cling tenaciously to working space in the bank is 33 feet their ideas of banking conservatism long. From the working space and a too violent departure from staircase leads down to the vault. tradition in design might have the adverse effect of suggesting a corre sponding deviation in accepted bank- ing procedure.

The mezzanine floor overlooks part of the banking hall which extends up through two storeys; it can, however, be completely shut off by steel sliding It contains the accounts windows.

The ideal would seem to be a happy medium between these two extremes. room and manager's office. Most bank buildings today depend on On the first floor is one large solid masonry or concrete bases and general office which extends the walls to give a feeling of firmness and entire width of the building and a stability. This, however, was impos- small office at the back.

sible in a building as small as the one now under review. It is of classical

A reception room on the second

there is a small built-in bar having a movable counter and folding doors of bird's-eye veneer with an inlaid cocktail design. The panelling in this room is mostly of Movinghi veneer Various with Curl Avodire sections. other woods are embodied in the de- corative scheme. Concealed fluores- cent lighting is located in a teakwood cornice running round the walls. bronze wall: this has a relief bust of the panel occupies part of one

founder of the bank, Mr. Lim Ping Yin, together with a dedication to him. A small lounge opens off the board room and is similarly finished.

Detail of the main entrance,

A

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