No_6_July_and_August__1949 — Page 27

SINGAPORE & THE FEDERATION OF MALAYA SECTION

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION IN MALAYA

View of the extension to the Radin Mas School.

The report of the Municipal Architect & Building Surveyor to the President of the Municipal Commissioners of Singapore on the work of his department during 1948 shows that their greatest concern was, and will be for some time to come, the provision of adequate housing for all classes of Municipal officers.

However, in spite of a limited personnel and restricted funds available for new construction of other types, the im- portance of school accommodation was by no means lost sight of, and we illustrate below (a) the extension of the existing school in Radin Mas and (b) a new single storey school building, both of which are described below.

Kampong Jagoh School

This is a single storey school comprising Headmaster's room, two Teacher's rooms and six Classrooms each 30′0′′ X 22'0" in size together with a sanitary annexe. Semi-detached quarters for the Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster are also provided.

Radin Mas Extension

Four classrooms of the two storied standard type have been added to the original Radin Mas School. Eventually the original school which is a converted private residence will be demolished and the new extension will form one wing of the entire new scheme.

The single storey type as built at Kampong Jagoh is particularly suited for smaller schools in town or schools in rural areas while the two storied type at Radin Mas will be adopted for larger schools in town.

A Boys' school of 12 classrooms and a Girls' school of 8 classrooms are now under construction at Geylang and these follow the new standard design as built at Radin Mas.

One of the problems in the design of the classrooms is to ensure an even distribution of adequate light on both sunny and dull days but at the same time avoiding the problem of "glare" on sunny days.

There are large window and vent areas provided on two sides of the classroom protected by either & verandah or projecting sun hoods. The casement windows are partially glazed and the remaining area provided with wood louvres. It is hoped that by observation of the new classrooms at Radin Mas and the experience of the Education authorities in their use will lead to the "perfect" tropical classroom.

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BACK ELEVATION -

CUT LOOK-

·CLAK MOON

OLD FLOOK PLAN

AKT WID 1.

General Specification

EXIST&C

Corp way

Brick construction with cement rendered wall and Marseilles type tile roof.

Ground Floor-Mass concrete with R.C. floors in two storey types. The whole specification is for straightforward and economical construction.

The approximate cost of the project at Radin Mas is The $22,850 (excl. quarters) which equals 39 cts. per ft. cu. general Contractor was See Wing Sum.

The cost of the Kampong Jagoh Project is about $50,000 approximately 37 cts. per ft. cu. The work was carried out by Sino-Malayan Engineers.

Whilst there is a shortage of school accommodation, these classrooms will be expected to accommodate 40 students, but it is hoped to eventually reduce this figure to 30 students.