October_1966 — Page 54

HONG KONG

PWD DEPOT AND GOVT. OFFICES

H

ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, PWD

D. W. MCDONALD

architects

ob architect

quantity surveyors

P. C. RUSSELL AND PARTNERS

WINSOME CO.

general contractors

Twelve-storey block for the Electrical and Mechanical Office, seen from west of Caroline Hill Road

48

IN 1954 a large mechanical work-

IN

shop building was constructed at Caroline Hill. Hong Kong for the Electrical & Mechanical Office, Public Works Department, to enable them to carry out works on Government vehicles and plant. The main elec- trical and air-conditioning workshops with their related offices and stores were located at other centres on Hong Kong Island in old and unsuitable accommodation.

It was therefore decided that the Caroline Hill site should be develop- ed to provide accommodation for all the principal sections of the E. & M. Office.

As the Roads & Drainage Depot at Morrison Hill had to be relocated to permit development of that area, and the headquarters of the Civil Aid Ser- vices also required to be re-housed, it was considered that a larger develop- ment of the Caroline Hill site could provide for all these requirements.

Demolition and site formation works commenced in October 1963 on a phased programme, with piling works and general building works fol- lowing immediately behind each stage of formation.

Principal Elements

The complex consists of the follow- ing principal elements:

1. A 12-storey block fronting on to the south leg of Caroline Hill Road and containing offices. workshops, stores and a canteen for the Electrical & Mechanical Office and Government stores. 2. A seven-storey block of offices, lecture rooms, stores and canteen for the Civil Aid Services. A series of typical apartment veran- dahs project from the north face of this block to allow for rescue training from the yard below. 3. A single-storey long block run- ning at right angles to, and link- ing the high blocks. This build- ing contains emergency stores for the C.A.S. and lavatories, chang- ing rooms, and workshops for the E. & M. Office. 4. A basement to provide garage accommodation for Government transport and attendant offices. 5. A lower basement containing offices, workshops, stores, and a vehicle garage for the Roads & Drainage Depot.

6. A six-storey block of quarters housing duty staff of the Roads & Drainage Depot and E. & M. Office.

Far East Architect & Builder October, 1966