Sessional_Paper_1923 — Page 124

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Sub-Head (2) - Cost of House-Building: (a.) Constructional.

68. The recommendations under this sub-head are in most cases based on suggestions made in the letters contained in Enclosure 1. There are other suggestions in that enclosure which we have discarded as being either impracticable or inadvisable.

69. The consensus of opinions, in which we concur, expressed in the various letters in Enclosure 1, is that the standardisation of the designs for houses will reduce the cost of buildings, and will render the work of the Buildings Office in examining plans much lighter. This opinion is shared by Mr. Jackman, Mr. White and Mr. Lam Woo (see their statements in Enclosures 8 (5), (3) and (2) respectively).

* 70. With the view of arriving at a good standard type of house suitable for accommodating the Chinese working classes, we make the following recommendations:---

(1) That the Government invite from the Public designs for standard

types of houses for the Chinese working classes, divided into—

Class 1.-Reinforced concrete houses of two, three and four

storeys.

Class 2.-Brick houses of two, three and four storeys.

Such designs must be accompanied with sufficient details to explain the construction, and with an accurate estimate of the cost, exclusive of foundations.

Suggestions received.

Standardisa- tion of houses.

Designs of standard types of houses to be invited.

Prizes for accepted

(2) That the Government offer 4 prizes for the accepted designs,

namely, a first prize of $2,500 in each class, and a second prize desigus. of $1,000 in each class.

(3) That the successful competitors be required to build a block of houses specified in their accepted designs, in order to check any wrong estimating of the cost of building, and at the same time to give to the successful competitors the opportunity of showing that their plans will successfully stand the test of actual application.

71. In making these recommendations we are influenced by the fact that a standard design (a print of which, with Bills of Quantities, should be supplied, on application, by the Public Works Department) must lead to cheapness of erection, inasmuch as it will enable contractors to know exactly what is required. This will obviate the present natural tendency of con- tractors to add a considerable sum to their tenders to cover the cost of contingencies, and will also standardise the materials to be used in each class, thus further aiding in cheapening the cost of building. The letters recommending the standardising of designs of houses are (22), (34), (39), (41), (42) and (13); and the use of standardised fixtures and fittings are (10), (36), (12), (43) and (51) in Enclosure 1.

72. Various suggestions for designing and building cheap houses are referred to above in paras. 25 and 38 to 41.

* 73. As regards the standardisation of fixtures and fittings for houses, we recommend—

(1) That, as far as possible, the sizes of doors and windows be standardised, and so lead to standard-sized openings and frames and glazing fittings, thus saving time, labour and material-(see letters (24) (35) and (36) in Enclosure 1).

(2) That encouragement should be given by architects, contractors and house builders to locally-made fittings, such as brass bolts, casement stays, grip-handles, etc., which can be produced satis- factorily in this Colony according to letter (10) in Enclosure 1.

Successful competitor to have right to build ou his design.

Reasons for

type houses.

Cheap houses

Standardisa- tion of fixtures, &c.