No_4_December_1963 — Page 101

The main tower block, with its water tank and lift apparatus on the roof.

govern-

important spectators and ment officials. With the use of these side galleries Mr. Shipley has at- tempted to make the spectators" benches visually a part of the cham- ber while still retaining an air of detachment from the arena of de- bate.

Similar side galleries are to be found in the Senate chamber. which is. in many respects. a scaled down version of the Lower House. Here again. cantilevered arches support the roof structure and penetrate down to basement level. But the most striking difference lies in the fact that the roof is not vaulted. despite the fact that the clerestory windows are there to provide a source of exterior lighting supple- menting the carefully diffused arti- ficial illumination.

▲ The overhang at the top foreground of this view of the tower block is formed by a section of the sculptured precast concrete sunscreen on the facade of the main concourse.

With these windows. however, an interesting decorative device has been combined in the form of a fine red and blue mosaic of a traditional Islamic pattern, sandblasted on the inner cavity of the glass. treated with ceramic paints and then fired. This process alone involved the architect in an exhaustive search of the world's most experienced glass handling firms before he discovered one that had the answer to his pro- blem.

As in the House of Representa- tives, the Senate features a sculpted aluminium canopy at the head of the chamber. although in this case, instead of covering the Speaker's chair. the canopy surmounts the dais of the Senate President.

Seating accommodatión also dif- fers considerably. Instead of the

THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER-VOLUME 18, NUMBER 4

160 members' seats in the Lower House, the Senate seats 60. Its public gallery hold 78 in place of the Lower House's 200. and its side galleries 30 each in place of the 63 each in the Lower House. The height of the Senate chamber is 25 feet. its length 36 feçt and overall width. with side galleries 53 feet.

Adjoining the chamber, as in the case of the Lower House. is રી senators coffee room. partly illu- minated. by day, through an air- well meshed over with a fine alu- minium grill to diffuse the sunlight. This is one of three air-wells sunk through the first floor of the build- ing. all of which give on to orna- mental gardens and pools. the water for which is provided through two ingenious circulatory systems which start on the roof and per- meate through the entire main con-

93