No_4_August_and_September__1941 — Page 37

Hong Kong Builder

IMPOSING PRIVATE RESIDENCE

COLLEGE ROAD, KOWLOON

35

Photograph from the model of the building showing west elevation.

There is now being constructed on College Road in

Kowloon the imposing residence of Mr. R. Lasala the

well-known business man of Hong Kong. The level of

the building site is considerably above the uphill slope

of the street level and the retaining wall, which was

PANTRY

HALF

KITCHEN

DINING

STUDY

STAVE

1

Ground Floor Plan.

POWDE TOON

LIVING ZOOM.

H

necessary to build up the site, has been utilised by the

architect to form a most unusual entrance to the building.

The entrance gateway, which is at street level, gives

access to a passage way which passes through the retain-

ing wall and leads up to the circular staircase which

rises to the ground floor level of the building

itself.

On either side of this entranceway two

garages have been built into the retaining wall. The roof of garages and passage way has been built of heavy reinforced concrete and not only forms part of the terrace to the building but also provides excellent air-raid shelter cover. The section of this arrange-

ment given on the next page illustrates the

convenience and effectiveness of this construc-

tion.

The circular stairwell, which is carried

up to the first floor, forms a predominant feature of the planning scheme as this stair- case with the huge reception hall with which it is combined, together with the living room and dining room which lead off this hall, forms one complete unit and permits the use of the en- tire ground floor for any social function which