THE CIVIC SQUARE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 94, 7 May 1937, Page 50 (Supplement)

THE CIVIC SQUARE

Handsome Additions to Beauty Spots A COLOURED FQUNTAIN • Hastings is vigorously planning for the future- Civic Square, as Mr. G. A. Maddison and his council have envisaged it, -will probably do more than any recent aequisitipn to enhance the beauty of Hastings as an inland town. That the eonncil is not prepared to countenance half-measures is manifest in the fact that the present seheme proposes the eareful planning of the building frontages facing the ^square. The proposals include.a coloured fountain for the square, a children 's play area, decorative planting, and (although the point has not yet been determined) the ultimate building of the library in the square. The plan is at present under consideration by the Mayor and council.

Till about 1919 Russell street (then Station stijeet) ended at Westerman's corner, and Eastbourne street ended at .Railway road and was not a throngli street. Eventually the borough was able to extend Station street through to Southampton street and renamed dt Russell street in honour of Sir Andrew Russell. Eastbourne street was ma'de a through street, and the area was acquired for the Women 's Rest and for the erection of the Cenotaph. In subsequent years other sections of the Civic Square bloek have been secured progressively. The last was acquired from tlie George estate in February of this year. The seheme for th? lay-out of the square and of the area surrounding -it is best understood from Mu explanation recently submitted to ' the council by Mr R. B. Hammond, who is planning it.. "The lay-out," Mr Hammond wrote, "has been considered ip telation to the building group. The central feature of the seheme is the fountain, and the various paths lisive been designed to focus on this point of interest. ' ' An alternative seheme has been drawn up showing a suggested treatment for the library site" (it has not yct been deelded whether the library will or will not be ereeted in the square) "should it be decided not to proceed with the orec.tion . of this building ;n the near future. It is jicoposcd that the forecourt to the l'brnry should be formed with stone fltigs. A low concrete curbing will siirrooml thf v,1,r>lo of tho square. It is j mt ended that this should be in coloured

plaster finish. "The pools would be construcfced in concrete and coloured plaster ia n manner similar to that of the fountain. It is suggested that water-lilies ahould he j)lanted and that the surrounding paths should be planted with artificial stone flags. "Garden furnishings, such as statuary, skn-dial and seats, are provided for, but it is considered that such ilems will be donated by local citizens from time to time, and accordingly no altempt has been raade at this stage to settle details other than t.. indicate suitable sites. "A pergola has been designed in front of the rest-rooms, largely with a view t-o squaring up this building with Russell street and securing a better balance with the library-. It is intended that the pergola should be constructed ■with brick or concrete piers plastered. to harmomise wiith. the resf of tho. erections. with wrood cross-pieces and beams f • "A children 's playground has been indicated at tho rear of the rest-rooms and screened off frorh the rest of the square by a low hedge. This area could be provided with swings, sandpits. etc., for Ihe use of small children only. "It is intended," Mr Hammond con- 1 tmues, "that the fountain should be constructed in concrete and finished in coloured plaster to iniitate stone. Tlie fountain would be colour-lighted bv eleetric signs in such a way as to illrminate tho whole of the water display, An eleetrically lit Hng w^-M aho

run around the fountain pond. The iighting system will eonsist of four rings, each being of'a different colour. The cost of the fountain, not including the Iighting system, is estimated at £750. ' ' A considerable amount of time .and thought has been given to the planning of the library building in an endeavour to arrive at a plan which will meet the needs, of the community. The most modern ideas in library planning have been adopted, and the design .follows the modern trend in architecture. It is estimated that this building would cos* approximately £11.500 to erect at the present time, including the necessary fittings. "It wiil be reklised," Mr 'Hammontl emphasise^, "that the surrounding buildings will realiy form the framework of the square, and the style and character of the buildings ' will contribute to or reduce its interest - and importance. In order that the square will have a proper architectural setting, it is suggested that some eontrol should be exercised of the surrounding buildings. ■ Such Eontrol should not only be in relation to the design of the buildings, but it should also set a heighf limitation. In the plan a height limit of three storeys is Indicated. If tho buildings were permitted to be built beyond this height the tendeney would be to dwarf the square and Its erections! There is power in the TownPlanning Act of 1926 for fixing the heights of buildings and for the eontrol of the design of faeades of buildings." Mr Hammond prefaces his description of the lay-out of the square with the following 'commenls upon tho library site: "One of t.hT first questions that came up for consideration was the question of a library site. It was necessary to determine first of all whether the library should be placed in the Civic Square or on a seetion whicfi had been reserved for the purpose. After carofully considering all the facts, I recommended that it should be placed in the Civie Square for the following reasons: "I. The existence of the rest-rooms in the square, while perhaps' unfortunate, callcd for the placing of another building on tfce ogposite corner'in ordor to secure a satisfactorv treatment. 2, As the square will dventually become the focal point of the social life of the community the library would veeeive more prominence and be more aeeessible in this position than if placed on an isolated seetion. "3. It is most desirable that public buildings nhould have a spucious setting in Ord'U' flint the arclntecture may be v i"- 1- 'i»> groal c. h antage."