DBS-a school that grows
FORESIGHT on the part of the Com- mittees of the Diocesan Boy's School, through successive generations, has en- abled this well-known day and board- ing school to keep level with the demand for school places.
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The extensive school grounds sited in near country when the school moved across from Hong Kong Island in 1926 are now an oasis of green bounded by Argyle Street, Kadoorie Avenue and Prince Edward Road, high above Kowloon's high-density residen- tial area.
Geography, music and art rooms, as well as a gymnasium, were added to the early school buildings in 1952. Chemistry, physics and biology labora- tories followed, and more recently, when the school pupil roster rose to 800, a lecture hall block and staff flat, library and physical training wing over- looking the playing-fields were added. These extensions were illustrated in the Hong Kong & Far East Builder, Volume 15 Number 5.
Now, to meet a pupil attendance ap- proaching 1,200 the latest extension a sixth form physics and chemistry science wing, with four classrooms on a second floor and provision for an additional later floor was opened in time for the September term 1968.
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This further extension follows the general 10 ft. column spacing, 28 ft. classroom spans and cantilevered ac- cess balconies of earlier extensions without sacrificing environment for the sake of conformity. Fenestrated east- west - whereas earlier classrooms faced north-south west windows in this case have been shielded from afternoon sun by concrete louvred canopies. Free-standing single column staircases, also of an original design, serve both ends of the wing and provision is made for further extensions which will link with the northern staircase.
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An unusual feature of the design is the open-sided chapel, dedicated to Bishop R.O. Hall, on the ground floor of the building. At this garden level shallow pointed arches at 20 ft. spac- ing support the conventional column and brick panel walls of the classroom floors. The three-colour abstract ter- razzo floor, designed and full-sized on
New staircases are cantilevered off single triangular central columns
THE COMMITTEE OF THE DIOCESAN BOY'S SCHOOL
STEPHEN MARKBREITER & ASSOCIATES
LEE, LEUNG & TSANG
JOHN LOK & PARTNERS
the site by Kwan Yu Ting, the school art master, echoes in shadow form the arches of the chapel perimeter. A Cal- vary window, lectern, font, and candle holders in ironwork were specially de- signed for the chapel by S.J. Lowcock, the headmaster of the school.
An anonymous and well-timed do- nation of HK$300,000 enabled the construction of the school swimming pool and sports building to be advanced as a continuation of the science wing
owners
architects
structural engineers
main contractors
native schemes for the pool which fits snugly into a promontory on the west side of the playing-fields looking across Kowloon to the harbour. These early layouts were then fully discussed with the physical education instructors both of the school and the Education De- partment. It was the general opinion that Hong Kong schools need pools for the learner rather than for the already expert swimmer.
The economic aspect of pool design was also of no little importance. A The architect prepared three alter- standard type 25-metre pool with deep
contract.
Far East BUILDER, June 1969
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