“STAGE OF MATURITY”

Evening Star, Issue 23677, 10 September 1940, Page 3

“STAGE OF MATURITY”

ARCHITECTURE IN HEW ZEALAHD FUTURE CONTRIBUTION MAY BE VALUABLE In a ‘ Centennial Pictorial Survey ’ on houses, Mr Paul Pascoe projects his mind into the future. “ There is remarkable variety, in the dwellings erected during New Zealand’s first hundred years, a variety which could be found only in a new country,” he writes. “ The architecture of England in the same period shows differences, but not to the same extent. England, however, was chiefly responsible for the architectural standards, good or bad, in the earlier part of our history. For it is worth remarking that the first colonisation of New Zealand coincided with the collapse of the architectural food taste of the Regency period in Ingland. To-day . New Zealand has reached a stage of development when it must take full responsibility for its own ■buildings. In architecture, as in e - her things, tliis country has reached • degree of maturity. “ It is to be hoped that the architecture of New Zealand homes will, develop along lines _ of simplicity and common sense. It is possible to learn from Nature how in its growth a body or a plant takes a certain shape, not because that shape looks well, but because it works well. If this natural fact of ‘ function jbefore form ’ is properly understood, the plans of our houses will not squeeze the functions of our living into any preconceived form of stylo, traditional or modern. And, as with plants, they will achieve beauty without deliberately seeking it. “ New Zealand will have gone fay if its homes meet the requirements of living simply and adequately. In fulfilling these primary needs New Zealanders may in time develop a style of their own. For though modern architecture shows a tendenfcy to become international, .it may also be expressive of national character. In New Zealand it will have to take account of the available building materials; it will pay attention to climatic conditions —wind, rain, sunlight, and icniporature—and to the necessity for earthquake-proof construction. Though it is unlikely that an architecture. so distinctive as the Maoris’ will evolve, there is no reason why New Zealand should not contribute d architecture something as valuable in its own way as its contribution to other spheres of human effort.”