No_5_1955 — Page 54

LYNHALL

APARTMENTS

KING'S ROAD

NORTH POINT

Architect:- Mr. H. S. Tam

In 1949 the boom in Hong Kong was still at its peak. In practically any kind of business venture money was easily made, and those making it were spending it freely and with os- tentation. Places of entertainment. especially nightclubs, were doing a phenomenal amount of business and it was to take advantage of this wave of prosperity that Luna Park was opened in December of that year.

This whole development covered about 4 acres in the very convenient- ly located district of North Point, which in the previous years had de- veloped from what amounted to # rural district into a bustling little district of its own.

11F

Architect's perspective drawing of the new building; with the Empire

Theatre to the left.

Luna Park consisted of the park proper in which were located the usual amusement attractions such as the ferris wheel, roller coaster and

With the outbreak of the War in sible that the ground floor will con- other rides. merry-go-rounds, booths Korea and the subsequent imposition tain a billiard room or ballroom with containing games of every description of an embargo on the export of many four shops on the King's Road front- and various novelties to entertain and products to China. the boom came age while a restaurant will possibly delight the plebeian mind. By far to a sudden end, and when money occupy the first floor. the most important section of the became tight, the "Sky Room," al- Park, however, was that known as though it remained opened for some the "Sky Room" which was a ball time afterwards, proved to be an un- room and nightclub especially design economical proposition and was fin- ed for and catering to that element ally closed down. of Hong Kong's population which de- manded something more opulent and First, and this was some time ago, entertaining for its edification and the amusement park area was sold which was willing and able to pay and the land used for the building for it.

The whole project formed part of an ambitious scheme to provide Hong Kong with an amusement centre at- tractive both in the summer and win- ter and located reasonably close to the centre of population.

In the first stage of construction, the upper 10 floors will contain 66 apartments with a possibility of the addition of 18 more apartments when the three extra storeys are added. On each of the second, third and fourth floors there will be 8 flats with 6 flats on the floors above. All of apartments. Recently plans were kinds of tenants will be catered for that portion of the land upon which family.

from the bachelor to the large announced of a scheme to develop

The smallest flats will con- the "Sky Room" stood. The new tain a bed/sitting room, kitchen and building will be known as Lynhall bathroom; the largest will comprise Apartments and present plans call a living dining room, three bed- for a twelve storeyed building, which rooms, bathroom, kitchen and will be increased to 15 storeys when vant's quarters. There will be other the new Buildings Ordinance is pass- sized apartments in between. ed.

The ballroom entrance occupied but a small part of the King's Road frontage, the rest being valuable pro- The site is irregular in shape and is perty was occupied by 13 3-storeyed separated from the Empire Theatre houses in which shops were provided by a 20 feet wide approach road. It at the ground floor level with two is not known, at this stage, exactly floors of flats above. A third floor of what will be accommodated on the flats was added somewhat later. ground and first floors, but it is pos-

ser-

The flats will lie on either side of central corridors served by two pas- senger lifts, a service lift and two staircases.

The building will be of reinforced concrete frame construction with re- Inforesd concrete floors and roofs.

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