No_5_1955 — Page 47

Far East Builder 遠東建築雜誌 All

APARTMENTS

AT

16-18 HEADLAND ROAD

SOUTH BAY

Architect: Mr. Faitfone Wong

In 1948, the Metropolitan Construction Co., Ltd., acquired some property at South Bay. The area was a barren hillside on a long spur running west down from Island Road. The Company intended sponsoring a large and attractive residential develop- ment on this land, which possessed the inherent advantages of magnificent views and good prevailing breezes.

Photograph of the apartments from Headland Road

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To further their object, a

On a relatively steep site, well hidden curve of the hill with very happy results. 2,000 feet

by Headland Road, a block of apartments getting away as it dors from the stereo- long_ approach road was constructed to

was recently completed by private owners. typed square or oblong building. obtain access to the building sites, to-

The site. R.B.L. 694, gether with stormwater drains, sewers and section of R.B.L. 508 of the South Bay from the adjoining block of apartments was originally a An extension to the existing driveway public services. The layout of the main Estate. Although the land covers an area approach road provided for a maximum of about 20,400 square feet, this consisted leads through a stone arch gate to a

road. which swings with fine aspects to the south-west, and solely of hillside before the erection of the private approach

around in a wide are along building.

souch the more restricted sites overlooking Re-

elevation of the building. pulse Bay. The property was divided into 15 lots of varying sizes, all exceeding 20,000 square feet.

number of choice lots on its south side

The development consists of a number of large beautifully designed private re sidences for individual owners who bought the land and built the houses, but there are also included several apartment blocks built and financed by the Metro- politan Construction Co., Ltd., for renting out.

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the

The architect has succeeded in planning a good block of apartments on this for- The west half of the site at the lower bidding site. which before development ground floor level is unexcavated, but in appeared as just so much waste land. the east half there are a large garage, a The site was formed in the least expensive children's playroom and a pram store, way by cutting and filling, and erecting The land south of the site slopes steeply retaining walls where found absolutely up towards Headland Road, while that necessary; yet it still proved possible to to the north and east slopes down to the obtain the most desirable orientation for evergreen valley overlooking Middle Bay. the apartments.

The building has one unusual feature which makes the layout and design some- thing different in building construction work; this is its boomerang shape in plan. The architect in an endeavour to make the most of the site decided to follow the

There are two levels to the garden to minimise site formation work and to separate the lawns for the two ground

TIN L

SPUR

MIP WATER MAT

MAGIN

MIDDLE FELAND

STARLEY MOUND

WEST BAY

SCALE

(Left) Photograph of part of the elevation to the garden.

(Above) Plan of the Repulse Bay area showing the location of the South Bay Estate.

(Right) The north-west elevation showing The entrance to the driveway.

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