NEW AND OLD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 October 1940, Page 6

NEW AND OLD

DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL ARCHITECTURE PROBLEMS IN PRESENT-DAY BUILDING. ADDRESS AT ROTARY CLUB. Speaking on “The Development of Commercial Architecture” at today s luncheon of the Masterton Rotary Club, Mr W. Gray Young, of Wellington, said that compared with the position thirty-five years ago, the whole type of building construction had changed. Today there was a multitudinous variety of finishes and mechanical equipment. Owners and tenants desired a much better finish for their buildings. He drew a comparison between plans for a Wellington bank which he had prepared in 1904 and plans for a similar building today. The complete set of drawings for the 1904 plans comprised eight sheets, whereas today a similar set would total at least sixty and then there would probably be six or seven times more detail drawings as the work proceeded. Instead of three storeys as in 1904, the building today would be of eight storeys and would be designed in earthquake resisting construction. Mr Gray Young proceeded to refer in detail to various aspects of building and to changes that had resulted by recent developments. The use’ of reinforced concrete, he said, had brought fresh problems which did not exist before. Concrete expanded and contracted with changes of temperature; it also shrunk in setting and crept with age. The main difference in the planning of a building today was that the main office was as free of obstructions and partitions as possible. In an old building most of the staff were behind screens or partitions. Today the only office which was private was the manager’s and all the other senior members were behind clear glass screens whilst the staff were exposed to view.' That gave the appearance of a much larger office and there was better efficiency in that every member of the staff was under supervision. As far as the exterior was concerned all the heavy cornices and high parapets had disappeared and the walls were mostly glass. In the last few years there had been considerable development with glass brick windows. Referring to mechanical plants m a modern building, Mr Gray Young said some experts held that the heat of the sun rays came from above and therefore it" was natural that artificial heat should be from the ceiling. Flat panel hot water radiators could now be built into the ceiling. In England electric radiation from the ceiling had been used in many buildings. Electric tubular heating pipes were built into the thickness of the plaster and the whole ceiling was warmed up. This entailed the use of special plaster. A great amount of thought had been given to air conditioning during the past few years. One great advantage of an ail conditioned building was that the windows did not require to be opened and therefore the noise of traffic was very much minimised. Today, all .projections and angles for the collection of dust were eliminated as far as possible. The general public today appreciated far more the value of bright colours. On the motion of Mr E. M. Hodder, a vote of thanks was passed to the speaker by acclamation. The president, Mr P. F. Fagan, announced that there would not be a meeting of the club next Thursday, owing to the meeting being People’s Day of the Carterton Show. Mr J. Y. Douglas was installed as a new member.