J
this may have been visually satisfy- ing, it would not have been good architecture.
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a
The programme for the tall block, which of its nature calls for a petitive character in its accommoda- tion. is required to house diverse accommodation ranging from Marriage Registry to an Art Gal- lery. Despite the restrictive limits of a repetitive floor plan, the diverse functional requirements of the tall block are satisfactorily met.
And at the same time a happy re lationship. despite or because of a contrast in style, has been establish. ed between the tall block and the Hong Kong Club.
Admittedly, the Hong Kong Club has been recently decorated, but it is only since the advent of the City Hall that one is made to look at it, and observe an unsuspected quality. There are some trivalities and fri- volities not found in the best clas sic revival style, but there is elegance and grace and good proportions. Is it a vain hope that this will be pre- served? Where is our Arts Council or Civic Trust?
This juxtaposition is not fortuit- ous but carefully contrived, and it is also interesting to note the rela tionship of the proportions of solid and void in these two buildings and the critic should not miss the view from the Star Ferry of the Hong Kong Club, seen between the talk block and concert hall block.
The grouping of the whole com- plex does not appear to have attracted criticism, nor has the ex- pression of the concert hall block raised comment. But the concert hall and small theatre interiors have attracted a great deal of favourable notice. There is no doubt that both the acoustics and sight-lines are ex- cellent in both. Acoustics not be- ing an exact science, it is an achieve. ment to obtain such excellent re- sults, "first time off," and no ad- justment would seem necessary, at least for orchestral performances, for which it has been well tried.
The acoustic design of a dual pur- pose hall
the main "concert" hall is also to be used for theatrical pro- ductions calls for great skill and also for ingenuity in the methods employed in the quick structural conversion from one type of audi-
. torium to another, and this has
been successfully accomplished.
The stage mechanical equipment and lighting control consoles would appear to be as good as can
be found anywhere in the world, and the projection equipment in the small theatre is capable of showing "everything except Todd A.0.",
which should be sufficient for
purposes.
our
The provision of this and its in- tegration into the plan and its co- ordination with the other technical requirements of the building was the architects' responsibility; which is not to lessen the value of the ad- vice they have been given or the in- trinsic technical quality of the equip ment, but this integration and co- ordination of the specialists, is the essence of architecture and cannot be omitted from a critical survey thus an expression such as "damned awful building but technically damned good" is a contradiction in
terms.
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A feature of this whole complex, which perhaps is not noticed by the average visitor, is the architec- tural unity achieved by the interior decor, which is achieved by a petitive use of the same materials and colours; moving from the tall block to the concert hall block through the courtyard, there mains a constant impresrsion of be- ing in the same building.
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▾ Although there are large expanses of white wall and ceiling and black appears in floor finishes and else where, it is the warm brown of the Siamese teak that ties the design to- gether. Monotony is avoided by the use of individual colours, deep mauves on the end wall of the ball room, and a restrained red in the bars, but some discriminating visi- tors have felt that the Italian tile facing to the columns, and the car- pets are a little out of key.
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However the carpets require to be of a utilitarian design and colour, if for no other reason than to be able to absorb without blemish deposit of cigarette ash, and this is one of the compromises that an architect has to make and to which reference has already been made. And in respect of the tiles, there is always an element of taste diver gence in the aesthetic appreciation of the most discerning critic.
Taste in
in all criticism is the ground on which differences of opinion may be legitimately ex- pressed, provided it is formed from a true process of aesthetic appre ciation, and provided condemna- tion is not made because of non- chosen by the architects, is well in conformity with personal taste.
The loose furniture, designed or keeping with the general decor of the building except for some Chinese style settees and low tables, which it is understood were introduced by the advisory committee; these bring in a discordance with their poor pro. portions and heavy construction, and draw particular attention themselves by their red cushions of the brightest tone in the whole build- ing.
to
The idea of introducing the Chi- nese idiom is reasonable, but it is possible to design furniture in this idiom in scale with and related to the general furnishing.
It is hoped that this is not a fore. runner of things to come; naturally as the full possibilities of use are exploited, additional furniture and fitttings will be required and since this is a public building, there is reason in consulting the "public" architects for advice in these matters.
Will posters appear fixed to columns with sticky tape? Will en- amel utensils appear in the corners, in the name of tradition, for the deposit of cigarette ends and other less hygenic uses?
This may appear trivial criticism but it is symptomatic of what can and does happen, increasing in scale and operation as the years go by, until the unity of the original design becomes submerged.
This not being an architectural criticism, but rather an answer to some criticism, it would not be fair, for the reasons indicated, to go further. It would be of educative value, if this building could be "written up" by the architects and published in suitable journals in Hong Kong and overseas.
These would then be a basis for a proper architectural evaluation of this building, and there is no doubt, that such an evaluation will show that in the main, the City Hall is a building of merit, and an architec tural as well as a cultural asset to the Colony.
THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER-VOLUME 16. NUMBER 6
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