WIDESPREAD UGLINESS

Evening Star, Issue 22456, 29 September 1936, Page 2

WIDESPREAD UGLINESS

HEW ZEALAND'S I DUES A critic has said that many thousands of New Zealand’s bouses must be as uncomfortable as they arc unsightly, because their structure shows obvious defects and the planning has not been adapted to the sites. “ We accept as sufficient* standards which would not have been considered adequate in tho past; standards which, if applied in the case of the motor car, would soon show tho tale of inadequacy in decrease of sales of the particular car,” comments a Wellington architect. “ It is frequently suggested that to make a building beautiful, it is necessary to add adornment, and that is consequently costly, but it usually costs no more to make a good shape than a bad one—it is sometimes less costly. Much that is added is entirely superfluous, and, if it is not actually displeasing, often tends to a restlessness of expression, a lack of repose “ We encourage people to tour tho country and admire it, but wo do not sufficiently realise that a very large proportion of our buildings are so unlovely that the impression they convey detracts from the fuller measure of enjoyment which would be _ given if we gave expression in our buildings to the feeling of appreciation of natural beauty which is evidenced by the vast majority of our people. Many visitors to our shores go away delighted with our scenery, but with a feeling that they would have had a keener appreciation of it if thp work of man had not produced so much that was incongruous, for they have looked with pleasure on the beauty which has remained of the works of man in older lands.

“ For our own sakes we should endeavour to turn toward something better, but the means of doing so is not so apparent. It is clear that the effort of the individual can be of service ; but it is most discouraging when the perpetrations of tho majority tend to nullify these efforts. Wo should realise that buildings, after all, cannot bo allowed to bo considered as the affair of tho private individual. Posterity is most vitally effected in economy, social conditions, health, _ and amenities by the results of individual efforts.”