AUCKLAND BUILDINGS TOTAL MILLION FOR 1928

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 475, 3 October 1928, Page 6

AUCKLAND BUILDINGS TOTAL MILLION FOR 1928

FIGURES FOR NINE MONTHS INCREASE ON 1927 Activity in the Auckland building trade during the lasts month has resulted in the total value of building permits issued by the City Council for the current year having topped the £1,000,000 mark. The total this year stands at £1,037,332, against £957,960 in the corresponding nine months of 1927—an increase of £79,372. Actually the margin is appreciably wider, as the City Council figures do not include the £326,000 involved in the new railway station contract, commenced this year. While few exceptionally large contracts were included in last month’s permits, there was sound all-round activity, noticeably greater than that in evidence a year ago, as the comparative figures for September. 192-S. and September, 1927, reveal. The respective amounts involved were £106,932 and £72,142.

For the period of nine months, the comparative figures for 1928 and 1927 are as follow:

The principal building for which a permit was taken out last month was a theatre at Surrey Crescent for the Fuller-llayward management, the amount involved being £9»323. While the commercial building permits were of a smaller nature than usual, there are distinct indications of a lively revival in home-building. Forty-eight permits for new houses were issued last month, against 31 in August. Although the corresponding number in September, 1927, was 57, that figure was above last year’s monthly average, and there has been a lull in that form of building activity for some months.

Though not entirely novel, even in Auckland, the chief feature of this eight-roomed house is the incorporation of the gargae under the main roof. More particularly is this interesting as the subject was stressed by Professor Knight, of the Auckland University, in a recent lecture given before the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. The professor said that he would like to see more garages Included in the main block when houses were designed. It annoyed him to see an attractive house and garden with a tumble-down garage erected so near the road that it took one’s attention from the pleasing vista beyond. It is, of course, true, that economy and not taste usually guides us in building a garage, but if necessity demands that the garage be built "on the footpath” this should not be the case. Exactly why garages are usually built facing the street is rather difficult to understand as there are so many reasons why a site at the back of the house would be much better. Prom the point of view of appearance there can be only two sides to the question. If a householder labours mightily in his garden early in the morning and late in the evening and, softly let it be said, on Sunday, it is surely foolish of him to obscure the result by planting a squat, ugly, tin-roofed building in the place of honour. Then think how a wide, sweeping drive, bordered with dwarf

shrubs, improves the appearance of a garden lay-out. Leaving that aspect, let us turn to utility. Supposing that your garage is at the back of the section or incorporated into the house. That sweeping drive is possible and why should it not be brought past the front door under cover? Then your guests can step out of their car without shrinking from the stinging raindrops. Also, if they have come in their own car, they have somewhere to leave it without fear of what the weather may do to it. In my opinion the above drawing is an admirable answer to the question of "where to put the car?” The house is to be built in Glenfield Road and will command a magnificent harbour view. It will have a tiled roof and includes a large sun verandah facing north and an artistic front doorway with arched entrance to a small porch.

1928 1927 January . .. 68,051 53,203 February . . . 211,809 112,195 March . • . . 98,817 169,248 April ... . . 53,785 167,453 May . . . . . 103,437 120,831 June . . . . . 159,540 70,930 July . . . . . 97,035 91,056 August . . . . 137,926 99,902 September . . 106,932 73,142 Totals . 1,037,332 957,960