September_1970 — Page 15

courtyard, opened to the full height of its five storeys and covered only on its second floor with a twin octagonal glass dome permitting natural daylight to filter through.

The main lobby, reception, coffee shop and specialty restaurants are ar- ranged around this courtyard on the ground floor. On a separate extension is an In-Trend discotheque which boasts of a three-tiered arrangement and psychedelic light effects.

The next floor up contains the function fooms and banqueting hall. The function rooms are decorated in Japanese and Polynesian themes res- pectively, while the banqueting hall, holding 400 persons, has for its name the "Peacock Room" suggesting its decor.

At an intermediate level between the ground and first floors in the front section are the shops, and this arcade is also accessible via a grand staircase and ramp from the outside.

Above these is prestige office space with an independent lift to serve this section of the podium. This lift con- tinues to the uppermost deck of the podium which is a landscaped garden with a swimming pool, sun deck, health club and dressing rooms. It is encased in a glass tower which lights up automatically in relation to the

position of the lift travel.

Hotel bedrooms begin from the first floor of the podium and rise slab- wise to a total height of 17 storeys, served by four high-speed lifts (650 ft. per min.). Every room has a balcony with a specially designed handrail of fiberglass and those facing towards the front of the building enjoy the view of the landscaped pool deck.

Windows, in aluminium are design- ed on a 2ft., 4ft. and 6ft. module depending on the structural grid which varies between 16ft. to 40 ft. The glaz- ed panels are tinted and set alternately forward and back to break the mono- tony of uninterrupted spans of glazing.

The horizontal bands are finished externally in Italian glass mosaic in three shades of grey, the darkest being applied to the podium and graduated lighter on the upper floors.

Architectural treatment has also been afforded to what are normally design left-overs such as the aircondi- tioning cooling towers, water tanks, machinery rooms, etc. which accounts for what may otherwise seem elabo- rate roof-cowls.

Structure

A reinforced concrete frame with con- ventional beams and slabs for the five- storey podium; a flat slab construction for the tower block; and to accom. modate the differential settlement between the foundations on either side of the drain, 40ft. precast prestress hollow planks each 24in wide by 14in. deep, span across the drain.

Interior design

Close co-operation between the owners, architects, and interior design- ers has produced a continuity of theme within the hotel which relates the varying design modes of the many public areas with those of guest-rooms

and suites.

Finishing materials and colour schemes reflect Singapore's tropical environment and partake in detail de- sign of the many handicrafts and art forms inherent in the area.

An atmosphere of traditional Chinese motif conveyed in terms of contemporary hotel usage and modern materials pervades the guest-rooms and public areas, particularly in the main lobby and the Chip Bee Hall.

Individually designed and coloured carpets for the hotel were supplied by The entire structure is supported John Crossley & Sons Ltd., of Halifax, on steel piles.

UK, who worked throughout 1969 to Three structural systems are used: produce 136 dragon motifs for the

Section A-A

Far East BUILDER, September 1970

MATE

Section C-C

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