September_1966 — Page 33

Far East

ARCHITECT & BUILDER

The oldest trade journal in the Far East

EDITOR: A. G. BARNETT

SEPTEMBER 1966

news review

Contents

News Review

World News

An Architect's House

29

233

35

39

Liat Towers, phase 1, Singapore

45

Pilot Scheme for Urban Renewal,

Hong Kong

49

Prof. W. G. Gregory Comments on Urban

Renewal Report

54

Civil Engineering Section

Batang Padang Power Station

59

W. Phillips, chief resident engineer

Road Research in Malaysia

64

J. N. Bulman and P. J. Beaven

Materials and Equipment

67

Contractors' Plant

71

Building Plans Approved

77

Contracts Awarded

79

Index to Advertisers

88

Cover picture: A cantilevered first floor and the use of fairfaced concrete on all exterior walls are two features of this house built at Chung Ham Kok, Hong Kong, for architect Mr. Jackson Wong. The house is described on page 39.

Published monthly by Far East Trade Press Ltd., 1908, Prince's Building, Hong Kong. Tel: 241031 European Office: Building and Contract Journals Ltd., 32 Southwark Bridge Road, London, S. E. I. Tel: Waterloo 2060. Printed by Shum Shing Print- ing Co.. 7 Ship Street, Hong Kong. Tel: 724513.

Controlled circulation to 5,000 qualified readers

SINGAPORE'S GOLDEN MILE

A GOLDEN mile of tower blocks flats, offices and com- mercial buildings -- lining the main seafront overlooking Singapore Harbour is envisaged in the Singapore Housing Board's second five-year plan (1966-1970).

According to the Board's 1965 report, which has just been published, the golden mile will be the "most im- pressive" feature of its M$125 million urban renewal scheme. The scheme will "redevelop and rejuvenate the slum-ridden areas in the centre of the Singapore City, so as to make the most economical use of the land available.” The report estimates that the second five-year plan will cost M$306 million, about $114 million more than its first plan, This provides for the construction of a total of 60,000 units, as against 51,031 units under the first plan (mid-1960 to mid-1965).

The higher cost, says the report, is due to the higher cost of land in the urban renewal areas, where an estimat- ed $125 million will be spent on 14.190 units.

The report states "With the successful completion of the first five-year programme, the board has managed to clear the huge backlog of housing applications and hous- ing requirements in connection with the clearance slum and squatter settlements.

"It is now in a position to tackle the twin problems of urban renewal and the provision of housing to keep pace with the rapid rate of population growth. This is its major task under the second five-year programme."

Half the 60,000 units, which will be built at the rate of 12,000 a year or 1,000 a month, will be concen- trated in the second satellite town of Toa Payoh. When completed, Toa Payoh will have more than 30,000 units, housing 200,000 people by 1970.

The other important project under the board's second five-year plan will be its reclamation scheme at the East Coast shoreline and at Kallang Basin. It is expected to yield a total of about two additional square miles of land for public housing and industrial and commercial develop- ment.

HUGE HOUSING PROJECTS

WORK will begin shortly on the final stage of site forma- tion works started in 1964 in the foothills of North Kwai Chung in the New Territories, Hong Kong. This phase of the scheme will complete building platforms for multi- storey blocks for a large resettlement estate, sites for private and residential and commercial projects, a school and open areas reserved for recreation.

About 500,000 cu. yd. of rock and earth will be excavated and these surplus materials will be used in The reclaiming a further part of Gin Drinkers Bay. development scheme for this south-eastern section of Kwai Chung will provide accommodation for some 127,000 people and covers an area of about 98 acres.

Another large Government housing scheme starting next month is the construction of the first two domestic blocks at the Wong Chuk Hang low-cost housing estate in Aberdeen. When completed, this estate will provide

Far East Architect & Builder September, 1966

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