No_4_1956 — Page 15

CHINESE RECREATION CLUB

Architect:- Eric Cumine, F.R.I.B.A.

(Above) Architect's per- spective sketch

of the new club

house.

LA

(Left)

Front of the old

club house.

EXISTING

CLUB

LOUNGE

·

DINING

READING

BAL.

FIRST FL. PLAN

HOUSE

MEN'S CHANGING

48

64FT

E

GROUND „FL. PLAN

accom-

Nearly half a century ago, the members of the Chinese Recreation Club built their first club house. It was completed in 1912 and consisted of a very Victorian style brick building with a white stucco pillared verandah extending along the en-

As early as 1952, plans were made to reserved for the men's changing room erect a tire front.

new club house. The lounge and bar,

The first sug- with ample shower and lavatory the changing

gestion to demolish the existing building modation, and space for 157 lockers. The rooms with showers and lava-

and tories.

erect an entirely new all situated on the ground

the terrace and verandah is 132 feet long and floor, and the billiard

same site, was found to be uneconomical. 15 feet wide, and the lounge 13 feet by room, card rooms

Several alternative schemes were submitted 30 feet extends into this area etc. on the first floor.

for con- It served its pur- and discussed, and it was finally decided venience of access and service. pose well before the war as membership to retain the existing building which is was limited.

were

courts.

one

on

still serviceable, and to build a new one The lounge-dining room on the upper However, tennis has since then become on a vacant lot at the north-west side. The floor will be over 70 feet by 24 feet, with a very popular game among the Chinese two buildings extend the whole width of the verandah, 10 feet wide, extending 95 and, as a result, there has been a steady the lot, both facing a battery of tennis feet along the front of the building. The ladies' changing room is on this floor with increase of members particularly with the

the usual shower and lavatory facilities introduction of lady and school-boy mem- The new building will be two storeys and space for 23 lockers. In addition berships. With the present membership high and connected to the existing one there will be a large reading room opening of over 500, the existing clubhouse is by a covered link.

off the lounge with access to the verandah. entirely inadequate.

The design will be modern and

The pantry on this floor is situated im- per-

and The history of the Chinese

mediately above the kitchen,

will Recreation fectly adapted to its purpose, the main Club is closely interwoven with the tennis feature being the verandahs from which serve as the food preparation room from history of Hong Kong as the C. R. C. has the spectators can view the tennis courts which meals will be carried to the dining produced a number of local champions. Ng Sze Kwong was the first Chinese to

The rest of the building will contain the The piling work has now started, and win the Colony Singles Championship in amenities required in a clubhouse. On it is expected that the building will be 1918, and following his footsteps were the ground floor there will be а small completed in five months. The architect- M.W. Lo, Tsui Wai Pui, Tsui Yan Pui, lounge fronting on the main entrance hall in-charge is Mr. William Ling of Eric V.T. Wang and Ip Koon Hung, the pre- with the kitchen contiguous to it. The Cumine's office, and the sent champion.

main portion of the ground floor will be Messrs. King Ziang Kee.

before them.

room.

contractor is

13

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