No_6_1956 — Page 43

TRAJAN'S

COLUMN

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NEWS

NOTES

TOPICS

FEUD OR FANCY

HONG KONG HERITAGE

bamboo poles to hang out for drying

It was indeed a pleasure to read the smalls, unless the owners put a of the re-decoration and renovation of clause in the tenancy agreements to the Man Mo Temple in Hollywood prevent it.

Road, under the auspices of the Board We visited the Man Yee Building a of Directors of the Tung Wah Group few evenings before opening night, and of Hospitals. In this hard-headed and were amazed at the activity. Like the hard-working business community, inside of an ants' nest! The ingenuity sentiment for the past is often sadly and skill displayed by the shopfitters lacking and the opportunity to pre- was amazing and fascinating. Shelves, serve a national monument is usually counters, showcases, cocklofts, signs, irretrievably lost in the demand for lettering, colours and lighting, all fit- square footage of building area.

ting together like a jigsaw puzzle-we

Some years ago the then oldest particularly liked some little balus- Church in the Colony was pulled trades in M.S. rods at the Queen's down to make way for a new Western Road end. But, despite a lavish use Police Station, when the Church could of aluminium and marble, in places quite easily have been retained as a there is danger of a ha'porth of tar museum piece without obstruction to spoiling the ship; the floor tiling in the the planning of the new building arcade shows uneven joints and chip- group. Then there was the Belchers ped comers and edges. A pity, for Fort, now covered with middle-income the building otherwise is a credit to group apartments. Jardine's Godowns the Architects and Contractors. and the Noel Coward Mid-day Gun The colour scheme of white and site is changing character, and whilst very dark green on the new U.S. this column does not advocate saving Consulate shows up the simple and un- The Trajan eyebrows were elevated all museum pieces, it would suggest pretentious design to good advantage. that a list of buildings and sites of Now that we can see it, it is obvious an inch or more on hearing of a re- historical interest be compiled, and that it's not a bad building after all! mark attributed to the Hon. A. Inglis some system of consideration of pro- on the occasion of his reply to a motion of their retention drawn up speech of welcome at a meeting and with official approval. As a gesture, Chinese dinner of the Society of the Column would be willing to com- Architects recently. This remark, pile such a list, and to start it with after an expression of the admirable the Man Mo Temple at its head. sentiment that Architects and En- gineers must always continue to work together, went on to say that the engineers know that a cube is the strongest and cheapest form of build- ing, but they often had to come to

Any ideas?

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AROUND THE JOBS

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FINE ARTS COMMISSION FOR HONG KONG?

That building is so much a part of our daily lives is evident from columns of the newspapers, Chinese and English alike. Every day we read of new skyscrapers, new office blocks and shops, a changing skyline, develop- ment plans and projects. And, thanks from what Trajan has seen of them in and the overall control of the Building Four of Hong Kong's new buildings, to the regular designers, contractors, recent casual visits, command atten- Authority, these structures can be tion in points of detail. The Manson relied upon to be stable, safe and free This remark could have been said House in Nathan Road, Kowloon, has from worry even in a typhoon. This in fun; or it may have been spoken an interesting system of aluminium is truly a blessing.

the

architect to decorate the outside of their cube!

in the stress of the moment, the panel filling between structural mem-

But with the impact of the visual speaker being taken somewhat un- bers, combining a window unit with awares in having to reply to an unex- the cill and stallboard in a most effec- emotion which all this building makes pected toast. Whatever the reason,

tive way. It would be interesting to on our minds and environment, could we feel sure Mr. Inglis did not offer see how the architects, Messrs. Harri- we not have a body incorporated into it as a serious comment; he is a man man Realty Co., Ltd., propose to deal the Building Authority's Office, who with long experience in working with with the junction between panel and could control the taste as well as the

structure to make it wind and water- strength of the new structures? architects and he must, therefore, be

tight, and at the same time prevent haps "control" is the wrong word. butes to the design of the building aluminium. Still on panels, have you the advice might come from a suitably electrolytic action from powdering the

found in England and elsewhere, and within the limitations laid down by

seen those grilles on the servants' the architect.

Per-

aware that the engineer only contri- tight, and at the same time prevent 'Advice" would be better, as has been

"yards" at the new flats on the Bowen qualified officer in the Office of the

If he does more than this, then the Road-Garden Road junction? It is Building Authority. architect is not the master mind Palmer & Turner's solution to effec- Our townscape can benefit enormous- behind the conception for which, pre- tively screen the usual washing and ly from an aesthetic cleaning-up; what sumably, he is being paid.

Tongue in cheek??

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other paraphernalia which goes with a service it would be to the community the amahs and very pleasant indeed to have even a one-man "Fine Arts is the small pattern of the design. But Commission" for Hong Kong. Mour guess is that it's just right for the

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