Building Notes

Progress, Volume XI, Issue 9, 1 May 1916, Page 626

Building Notes

CHRISTCHURCH The new building for the National Mutual Life Association in Hereford street has just been completed to the designs of Messrs Maddison and Brown, architects of Christchurch. The front elevation is in the Italian style of architecture freely treated, and has a frontage of fifty feet to Hereford street, with a depth of a hundred and twenty feet. It is three storeys high, with a fine lofty basement, well lighted. On the first floor there are three bay windows, surmounted with a moulded entablature with pediments; the second floor has three large three-light windows, and the whole facade is finished with a very elegant entablature of the lonic order, with a balustrading above. The building has a concrete foundation with front walls of bluestone to the basement, and sandstone to the walls above. The other outside walls are of brickwork, and the inside structural walls and strongrooms are of reinforced concrete. The main entrance in Hereford street is approached by a wide flight of stone steps leading into a spacious vestibule, the floor of which is covered with rubber tiles on concrete. The walls are lined with polished marble, divided into panels by pilasters in the lonic style of architecture, with beautifully coloured red marble. On each side of the entrance are polished walnut swung doors with moulded architraves and cornice over one pair being the entrance to the banking chamber of the Commercial Bank of Australia, and the other to the public office of the National Mutual, while right in front is another pair of similar swing doors, through which one passes into the wide main corridor, the walls of which are lined five feet high with polished Sicilian marble, surmounted by a black marble capping, and finished with polished black marble plinth. Half-way along the corridor is a spacious marble staircase, the walls of which are lined with polished _ Sicilian marble, with black marble capping the balustrading is of wrought ironwork, with polished walnut handrails and ornamental newels. There are similar corridors and staircases on each floor, with suites of offices on each side, with strong-rooms to each suite. The building is fitted with an automatic electric elevator. The roof is quite flat, and from it a fine view of the city can be obtained. Every office has very large windows, constructed of steel, so as to allow'- the maximum of light to each. The building has been fitted throughout with electric light. OTAGO. , (Supplied by Mr. Leslie D. Coombs, A.R.1.A.8.) The Dunedin public have yet no idea what the appearance of their proposed new General Post Office will be like, and so we trust the Public Works Department will see fit to have the design published at an early date. There is much discontent among local architects who consider it unreasonable that they

should have no say in the design of what will be one of the most important buildings of their city, and the feeling is that competitive designs should have been obtaired. A walk around the residental areas of Dunedin discloses the fact that there are practically no houses "to let" that have any claim to convenient planning or artistic appearance. Consequently we anticipate quite a boom in the erection of modern residences in the near future, and we take this opportunity of pointing out to intending builders, that, although inferior construction (galvanized iron, etc.) is now expensive, good construction, which has been proved over and again to be the cheaper in the end, costs practically the same as it did before the war. Mr. Basil B. Hooper, A.K.1.8.A., repots that the new Cathedral is making definite progress now, the basement walls being not far short of the nave floor level. As this is about 14

feet above the ground at the “West” end. it will show the large amount of substructure necessary before building proper can be commenced. Much greater progress would have been made but for the difficulty that has been experienced in obtaining a sufficient supply of stone. However it is hoped that very shortly this difficulty will be overcome when more activity will be shown in the building. The nave floor is being constructed of reinforced concrete, on the beam and slab principle, boxing for this being partly completed now. A new Anglican Vicarage at Port Chalmers is being built and is about two thirds finished at the present time. The materials are brick, with Marseilles tile roof, and a simple but solid effect is being aimed at. The style is modified ‘ ‘ Georgian, ’ ’ which is was felt would be suitable to the character and purpose of the building. Tnc accommodation provides seven good rooms, besides offices, with all modern conveniences and labour-saving devices. The house is unorthodox, in that it has its back to the street, but it was felt that the only sensible course was to face all the rooms possible away from the street, and obtain for them the benefit of the northern aspect, and glorious view of the harbour, wharves, etc., and let the kitchen etc. have the honour of viewing the street. The Vicarage is costing about £950, the builders being Messrs. Love Bros. A five-roomed cottage is now in course of construction in Eoyal Crescent, Kew, for Miss Wilson, built of brick, with tiled roof, and costing about £7OO. In this case also the same method is being employed, of facing away from the street, and towards the sun and view. The builders are Messrs. S. Aburn & Sons. Alterations have now been completed at Tramway Car Sheds, these consist in removing a large portion of dead wall on front of building. Making each road independent on to a layout of points in Market Street. Formerly there were only 3 roads and the cars inside the shed required to be removed from each road by means of a traverser which entailed a lot of work and inconvenience, whereas now there are 12 roads provided and the space occupied by the traverser will enable 12 more cars to be housed. The work entailed a deal of careful handling on the part of the Contractor — J. A. McKinnon —especially

the underpinning necessary to carry the superstructure. The work was carried out under the supervision of Mr. G. W. Gough, F.N.Z.1.A., City Building Surveyor. 1 Mr. George Henry’s tender has been accepted for the erection of a large dairy factory at Invercargill for the Waitaki Dairy Company Ltd. The building will be constructed with concrete foundations and floors, brick walls, and Marseilles tiled roofs. Mr. John Elaus of Invercargill has been appointed Inspector-of-works. Architect, Leslie I). Coombs, A.R.1.8.A., Dunedin. Out of thirteen tenders received, that of Mr. George Gibbs has been accepted for the erection of a seven roomed residence, Upper York Place, Dunedin. Architect, Leslie D. Coombs, A.R.1.8.A. Mr. C. W. George’s tender has been accepted for alterations to a residence at Musselburgh Rise, Dunedin. Architect, Leslie D. Coombs, A.R.1.8.A. Tenders have just closed for the erection of a two storied residence for Mr. W. G. Grave. It will be constructed of rough cast on metal lath and will have Marseilles tile roof and will be Old English style with gables and dormer. It is interesting to note that the price for this house is slightly less than one of the same size and quality built in October, 1913. The successful tenderer was Mr. J. Allan, of Oamaru. Mr. Stanley C. Roberts, A.N.Z.1.A., has just completed plans for the erection of a large bungalow in rough cast with tile roof and gables fitted in with shingles the roof being carried on heavy brackets. The building is for Mr. J. Rodman and prices are now being obtained. A new r store for Mr. H. Bowie at Cromwell, Otago, is now completed, and is a most up-to-date and substantially built building. It is of stone with a Marseilles tile roof, and the accommodation provided is adequate. The double show windows are protected from the weather and sun by a wide verandah, and the entrance doors are recessed. Inside there are three counters, and several large show tables and stands. Around the walls shelving and fittings are erected, and attention may be drawn to the zinc-lined bins which are of special design having the tops of quadrant shape to pivot back out of sight when the bins are opened. This is a great improvement on the old fashioned type of bin with flap top. Opening off the main store in a boot room, and also an office, and at the rear is a large packing room. Adjoining the store and forming part of the same building is a suite of offices for Mr. A. M. Brodrick, solicitor. The buildings are erected from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. Leslie D. Coombs, A.R.1.8.A., registered architect. Mr. E. Levido is the contractor. Of the sub-contractors and suppliers of building materials may be mentioned:Briscoe and Co. (Marseilles tiles and Beaver Board), J. McCrae (masonry), G. E. Wright (plumbing), W. and P. Wilson (painting), Milburn Lime and Cement Co. (cement), J. and A. Wilkinson (tiles), Parker Bros, (joinery), Frapwell and Holgate (mantelpieces), New Zealand Hardware Co. (hardware, grates, etc) New Zealand Acetylene Co. (lighting plant), Thomson, Bridger and Co. (granite plaster), C. and W. Hayward (counter show cases, etc.) Building permits issued in March amounted to 29, valued at £15,680, as follows;Central Area 3 permits, vahfe £7,500; Linwood 9 permits, value £2,450; St. Albans 12 permits, value £5.000; Sydenham 5 permits value, £730. Building permits issued for the year ending 31st. March, 1916, numbered 304, amounting in value to £169,665, viz:— brick buildings; 63 wooden buildings, and 99 business premises. For year ending 31st March. 1915, value of buildings was £151,771, and for 1914 £136,379, showing a considerable increase in the amount of building carried out each year.

WELLINGTON. The foundation stone was laid last month for a new freezing works at Feilding for the Oroua and West Coast Meat Co., Ltd. The land cost £3,908 and the buildings are to cost £24,272. Mr. McMillan has the contract in hand. Messrs. Swan and Swan, F.N.Z.1.A., architects, have accepted the tender of Mr. J. L. McMillan for the erection of a fourfloor brick building in Dixon street. The building, which will be used as a factory, is to be constructed of brick and reinforced concrete, and will be fireproof. ' The accommodation provides for store, offices, men and women’s luncheon rooms, and a large flat roof. The contract price is £4530, and the time for completion four months.