HOUSING PARLIAMENT-

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1765, 2 June 1913, Page 5

HOUSING PARLIAMENT-

THE NEW BUILDING. ITS PRINCIPAL FEATURES DESCRIBED. As described to a Dominion reporter on Saturday by Mr. J. Campbell (Goveriir meat Architect), tho new Parliamentary Buildpgs are designed in tho classic renaissance style, and 'will be of massive construction, but of an appearance comparatively plain and severe. On the front of tho building, facing Molesworth Street, tho central position will bo occupied by n lofty pillared portico, flanked on either plain tower-like features. Access to tho portico will be gained by & gently rising flight of stoma steps, fifty feet wide. These stops mill lie in the centre of the oompleted building, but almost at ono end of the portion for the construction of which tenders aro now being called. [From tho flanks of the portico to tho corner towers will extend a pillared loggia or colonnade, about ten. feet broad. The colonnade, with its massive, pillars, will give pleasing effects of light and 'shade, and add greatly to tho appearance of tho building. Tho big dome which is shown in the plans over tho portico is being omitted from tho present contract, and the portico will be lighted overhead by a giazed dome-lantern. Tho smaller domes at the end of the building are also being omitted. Throughout the peater part of its length, the building 'will be three stories in height above the basement, and' it will rise to four stories in its centre and end features. In the centre and at tho ends the building will rise G2 foot from tli» ground level, and the other portions will be 52 feet high. For a. height of H feet from ground level the structure will bo of Coromandel granite. For the portion above that l'evel alternative tenders are being invited Jor four different classes of stone, Tonga Bay granite, grey marble from Sandy Bay (Nelson), Mount Somers limestone, and Coromandel granite. Irt front of the building there will be a twenty-five foot drive, bordered by flowerplots and a terraco. Beyond tlieso a low stone balustrade of artistic design will run parallel with the front of tho building.

The most important internal features of that part of the building comprised in the present contract will be the two Legislative Chambers. Tho Chamber for the. Lower House is planned to accommodate 100 members, and that for the Upper House CO members. In each House dual desks and benches are to bo used. Both Chambers have been mado as large as possible, consistent with tho necessity of so designing them that a speaker will be easily heard by_ all the members present. At a pinch, either Chamber could be adapted to accommodato nearly twice as many members as is now intended. Elaborate provision has been made for the lighting and ventilation of the Legislative Chambers. Each of them will have courtyards, open to tho sky, upon practically three sides, and mechanical, as well as natural, ventilation is being provided for. Besides the Legislative Chambers, the structure for w'hich tenders are now being invited will contain tho ordinary lobbies and a commodious lounge lobby, 90 feet Ijj 35 . feet, a complete range of Ministerial suites, offices for tho various Parliamentary officials, numerous committee rooms, committee clerks' rooms, waiting rooms, and ample accommodation for tho "Hansard" stnff and for the members of the Press Gallery. In the basement thero will bo heating and ventilating chambers, bath rooms and extensive storage accommodation for documents. The plans of the building are basrd upon the prize design which was submitted by Messrs. Campbell and Paton, and Las been to some extent amended. The principal sections of tho building which are being held over in tho meantime are tho library and Bellamy's. September 1 is the date by which tenders for tho construction of the building must be in the hands of tho Public Works Department, and tho successful tenderer will be allowed a period of 2+ months in which to complete the work. A penalty of .£2O per week is provided for failure to carry the contract to completion within the time specified. Contractors are required to lodgo a deposit of ,£2ooo when tendering, ana to enter into a bond for a like sum. Tlvo "tube" which connects the present Parliamentary Buildings with the library block is to be maintained by the contractor (13 long as possible, and in any case during tho session of 1913. Afterwards the contractor is to provide a covered way through the corridor of the now '-iilding until lus contract is completed.