SMALL HOMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 983, 28 May 1930, Page 6

SMALL HOMES

COMMENT BY ARCHITECT RAISING STANDARD The small home building question was touched upon by the president of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, Mr. E. R. Wilson, in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the institute, which was held recently. “The small home building problem has exercised the minds of members of our executive, and it is intended to sound the Government as early as possible with some definite proposition.” said Mr. Wilson. “It is realised that for people of small means the payment of an architect’s fee over and above the net cost of a dwelling is sometimes a serious proposition. It is no matter fpr surprise that selling agents and many cottage builders make much talk and profit on this score, with the result that architects are practically excluded from the design of cottages and smaller houses with disastrous results in most cases to the appearances of town and country, and the introduction unchecked of much shoddy material and construction, which are passed on to the purchaser. Even professional men are gulled in this manner, due to their desire to economise.” “The suggestion is that good designs be obtained from registered architects by means of competition; that a limited number of buildings be erected in localities wide apart from each accepted design; and that a lower individual fee would then in the aggregate be sufficient remuneration to the producer. The owner would benefit by the direct saving to him, while the community at large would be a gainer.

“It is interesting to note that suggestions of a like nature are now being advocated in England by Mr. E Guy Dauber, past-president, R.1.8.A., and by the leading English architectural journal, the ‘Builder.’ I understand other countries have already had some favourable experience in this direction.”