New Warehouse, Christchurch.

Progress, Volume II, Issue 3, 2 January 1907, Page 88

New Warehouse, Christchurch.

A new warehouse for Mr. H. F. Stevens, wholesale druggist, Worcester street, Chnstchurch, has recently been completed. This handsome building has a frontage of 66 ft. and a depth of the same dimensions. The front is of pressed bricks from Crum's brick yard, Ashburton, pointed in cement ; the lower bands and window-sills are of Mount Somers stone The upper bands, columns, sills, window-heads, moulded strings, cornice, parapet, also rose window and mortar and pestle in pediment, are of Oamaru stone. The rest of the walls are of wire-cut bricks. The basement is 61 ft. by 48 ft., divided into two cellars, the front poition being used as a bonded store. There is a spacious gateway on the eastern side running from front to back, and giving access to the yard, and also to packing-room. The entrance lobby has bluestone steps and a pair of handsome swing doors giving access to the ground floor, on

which there is a roomy passage leading to a general office in front, 25 ft. by 15 ft , which has a very handsome screen of figured rimu with sashes glazed with Muranese glass. This passage leads also to the accountant's office and Mr. Stevens' private room at tlie western side, warehouse at rear, 38 x 31 ft., and to the packing-room, 17 x 32 ft., which contains an office for warehousemen. Two doors open from packing-room to yard, two open to warehouse, and two open to gateway. A bold stair-case opposite the entrance doors leads from this floor to the floor above, which has two large sample rooms m front, each 32 x 24 ft., and a warehouse at rear, 64 x3B ft. From this floor another stair-case on the eastern side leads to the top floor, which occupies the whole area of the building. Each floor is amply lighted from front and back. Another room, 25 x 25 ft., behind pediment, is approached by a movable step ladder and lighted by the rose window in front. Massive iron columns in basement support the ground floor ; while similar iron columns on ground floor support the floor above, which has 8" x 8" wooden story posts for supporting the top floor, where similar posts support the roof, which consists of three spans. The internal walls on each story are match-lined, as also are the ceilings. There is an up-to-date electric lift to convey goods from basement to each floor, and a small hand-lift running from ground floor to each floor above. There is a spacious store in the yard, 74 ft. by 23 ft., with concrete floor, and provided with copper, for heating water, and also with wash tubs, etc. Convenient W.C s are also erected in yard, with all sanitary arrangements. The windows on ground floor m front have plate glass, while the upper floor windows in front have opening casements with fan lights over , all the back windows are fitted with opening transom lights. The main building is most substantially constructed, and forms a striking feature among the up-to-date establishments of Christchurch. The cost amounted to close upon Architect. A. H. Hart ; contractors, W. Greig & Sons ; clerk of works, W. Gee.

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