No_6_April_1962 — Page 58

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North facade of Concert Hall floodlit after dark,

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The south elevation of the High Block facing Statue Square. This facade has black mosaic tile panels surrounding the small windows. The spandrel panels to the large window are of black stove enamelled asbestos and the frame and side walls are finished in white Shanghai plaster. The whole sits on a base faced with Italian marble concrete tiles.

whose interest has grown as the two blocks have approached comple tion. have daily thronged to see for themselves what this modern build- ing, so different in appearance from the old City Hall. has to offer them

The old City Hall, built in the old Colonial Classical style of its time in 1869. was partially demolish- ed ind 1933 and finally disappeared in 1950. making room for the Hong kong and Shanghai Bank and the Bank of China.

The fussy pomposity of the old hall has been replaced by a group of buildings whose clean external lines reflect their internal purpose. This simplicity, in

in keeping with the changed tempo of life and business in the Colony, has also brought with it an economy in cost which has en- abled natural facing materials to be used within a budget which is small for a building of this size and com plexity.

f The complex of buildings which make up this new City Hall are five in number a central block. thea- tre, concert hall, high block and memorial garden. Major element in the design is the large, glazed north wall over the main entrance facing Queen's Pier. Through this wall can be seen the ballroom and free-stand-