No_9_September_1968 — Page 18

is through an octagonal, marble 'moon gate'. The room is lavishly decorated in traditional Chinese fashion.

Adjoining the Mandarin Room are three inner rooms for private parties; these are separated by movable walls so that a party giver can occupy one, two or all of them.

The ancient ceramics are displayed in silk-lined, lighted niches in the walls. They include pieces from the Ming, Ching and Sung dynasties, after which the rooms are named.

The Crystal ballroom, occupying 305 sq. metres at the eastern end of the mezzanine level, has a capacity of 350 persons for banquets. Its eastern window wall overlooks the swimming pool, while on the western side are

six curved balconies overlooking the hall. Chandeliers of tinted German glass hang from the ceiling. The northern and southern walls are of adobe and the doors of narra.

Finally at mezzanine level are the three private dining rooms named after Philippine provinces. These are decorated in accordance with their themes. The Mindanao room for example has walls of red narra with alternating panels of cloth woven by the Tagabili tribe. To set off the Tagabili cloth with its intricate black, purple and white designs, the ceiling is black and the carpets are red and orange. The Tagabili designs are echoed by the doors which are made of camagong inlaid with brass.

The walls of the Luzon room are

of narra and are decorated with bas- relief of flower carvings inspired by 18th century designs appearing in ancient buildings in parts of Luzon.

Guest rooms

Including the five-room presidential suite, there are 265 guest rooms in the Sheraton. These are arranged on floors one to nine, the tenth floor being a private dining room and sup- per club and the 11th a penthouse for the hotel owners.

While the building presents its west gable wall to the sea, all guest rooms along the north and south faces have views of the bay. This is achieved by placing the exterior window and wall of each unit at a 45-degree angle to

22

MAIN LOBGY

REFLECTING POOL

ADIENISTRATION

OFFICES

LOBBY BAR

Ground floor plan

lobby blow

CONCESSIONS

#dre spect

TEMPURA

300

CHINESE KITCHEN

LOJ T

MAIN KITCHEN

FLOOR LOBBY

LOUNGE

W

Mezzanine floor plan

Typical floor plan

A.C. MACH RM.

PASSEGER

KITCHEN

EXIST.

MUSEUM BLDG.

POOL

GRILL ROOM

SHO

+ R-4

LOLE

FOYER →

BALLROOM

8

12

16 20 24 28 32 36 40

40

Far East BUILDER, September 1968.