The N.Z. Insurance Coy., Ltd.

Progress, Volume XIII, Issue 12, 1 August 1918, Page 271

The N.Z. Insurance Coy., Ltd.

Queen Street, Auckland, Recently Completed. Messrs. Hoggard & Prousc and W. H. Gummcr, A.R.1.8.A., Architects

The appeal made by buildings is a peculiar one, being based primarily on their relationship to man’s mental and physical well-being, in that they provide a proper means for social and business developement, and thus have an effect on National character and National worthiness. So we have the Residence, Shop, Office, Factory, the Church, Railway Station, Law Courts, Houses of Parliament, the School and the University, to mention but a few of the types of structures which are the result of modern civilisation. Each class and each individual structure, according to its purpose and the personality of the designer, makes a different impression. This impression is caused in some cases by dimensions of the structure, in others by “fitness for purpose,” for attractiveness of materials used, or by the artistry and appreciation of architectural principles shown by the designer. The last mentioned is by far the most important, and when united with the aforementioned creates the strongest appeal. Naturally the average thinking man is unable to analyse architectural form, but still he is a sensitive and understanding being, and “feels,” rather than comprehends the appeal of structures. The Office building in plan, construction and design has made perhaps greater strides in the last twenty years than any other class of structure. We are not prepared to enter into an analysis of the N.Z. Insurance Company’s Building, Queen Street, Auckland, but herewith produce for our readers photos and data regarding it which we consider worthy of consideration in a structure which providcsHead and Branch Office accommodation for one of the most progressive Insurance Companies of the world, together with approximately 137 offices for letting purposes. That the building follows the most modern methods of construction and finish is apparent, and it.

is unfortunate that in the short space available only the most important features can be mentioned.

The site occupies a commanding position and is L shaped, with .frontage of 66 feet to Queen Street and an average depth to main block of 105 feet 6 inches through to Mill Lane. The wing of the “L” makes this frontage on to Mill Lane 127 feet 11 inches, and the level of this is about 23 feet above level of Queen Street. The wing has a frontage to Exchange Lane of

38 feet 6 inches, making a total area of .12,256 sq. feet. The great depth of the site and the level of Mill Lane have naturally had a considerable influence on the plan of the building, chiefly because of the difficulty of securing adequate lighting. The best principles of planning for commercial structures and the most modern methods of construction as practised in the more successful buildings in Europe and America (and as worked by the

Designers in offices in these countries) have been adopted, in order to allow of the highest possible development of the site and to meet the Company's requirements in a perfectly complete manner, yet with every effort to ensure a minimum of first cost and maintenance in years to come. As details of the above the following have received careful consideration. (1) Ease of access to all parts of the building. (2) Good natural lighting.

(3) Efficient service (elevators, lavatories, artificial lighting). (4) The maximum of rentable area consistent with true economy. The building is ten stories, including the basement and caretaker’s quarters, and together with the flat promenade roof makes a total floor area of slightly over three acres.

Construction Fully realising the importance of construction, the building has been erected in steel and concrete, and thus is monolithic and built for all time. Strong and fireproof it certainly is, and will bear the inspection of those whose limited opportunity of going abroad and seeing what can be done, are rather pessimistic regarding fireproof buildings.- *- The Queen Street facade which is expressive of the construction is finished in Kairuru marble quarried in the Nelson district, and this is the first building to be completed in this stone. Something should be said of this Kairuru marble, one of the finest of the stones of its kind. Many

attempts have been made to place this stone on the market as a building material, but ten years of effort and many thousands of pounds sterling have been expended in attaining success. There are great quantities of Kairuru marble in the Sandy Bay district, but to get the marble out a £5,000 tramway has had to be constructed to the head of a deep ravine 1,130 feet above sea level. A committee of experts was set up by the Government to deal with the important question of the durability of this stone, and samples of marble from Kairuru were tested for the committee’s information at Canterbury College, by Professor Robert Scott, with the following result:Crushing strength, 760 to

830 tons per cubic foot; weight, 191 pounds per cubic foot. By way of comparison between marble and other building materials it is worth noting that Oamaru stone has a crushing strength of 40 to 90 tons per cubic foot, and Mount Somers limestone 180 tons per cubic foot. New Zealand marble is as strong as most granites. These tests of resistance under crushing strain are regarded as most important in building materials, where the strain is mostly that of dead weight. Kairuru marble is coarse-grained, highly crystalline, and bears a strong resemblance to the marble obtained by the Greeks from the famous quarries of Naxos and Paros Islands, in the Aegean Sea. From this material the glorious buildings of ancient Greece

were constructed. Coarse grain is a quality of value. The finer the grain the more dead the polished surface. Kairuru marble, with its coarse crystals, gives a beautiful lustrous polish of a creamy depth as illustrated in the main corridor and side entrances to the N.Z. Insurance. As to the weathering quality of the marble, the aspect of the stone provides reassuring evidence. It is well known that certain qualities of Italian marble have stood well in a sulphur-laden atmosphere— fact the beautiful national memorial to Queen Victoria, erected in London, contains 1,000 tons of Italian marble. It was, however, selected with the greatest care, only 25 per cent, of the quantity cut being used in the memorial.

Anyone who climbs the endless spurs back of Sandy Bay would gain an impression of boundless supplies of marble only waiting to be quarried.' Great care was taken in the selection of this marble and it will be noticed .from the excellence of the carving and clean 'cut mouldings how well this particular material has lent itself to the dignity of the structures. An added richness and contrast has been obtained with the bronze finish to the bases and caps of the columns, the panels and main cornice.

Steel windows (Hopes) are used throughout, and these being extremely wide and the heads kept tight up under the ceiling beams permit of the maximum amount of natural light being obtained.

An attractive feature to the facade is the electric clock, also designed by the architects. This clock which is the first to be installed in N.Z. is controlled by the master in the Board room, and is synchronized with clocks throughout the building.

The main portion of each floor is roughly divided into two by means of an area, such being necessary for the proper lighting and ventilation of the several parts of the structure. Due consideration has been given to the setting of the various units comprising the building, these being arranged with full regard to their function and relative importance, thus the lavatories, strong rooms, stair and elevator vestibules, etc., have been given positions which, while perfectly effective for the particular use to which they are put, are those which are least required by other apartments. It has been realised that the structure is in the first

place the Insurance Company’s building, and that this fact should govern the plan and the facade.

The main corridor 13 feet wide tiled and finished in polished marble leading to the lifts and main stair, leaves no doubt as to where the public offices of the Company are. These offices which occupy four floors show well the value of the construction adopted, being a large space encumbered but little with supports.

The height of the main portion of the offices (Head and Branch) is 24 .feet, but this is divided at the sides into two heights so that a Mezzanine fioor 14 feet off the main floor is formed, and approached by oak stairs. The Mezzanine floor is carried the whole width across the wing, thus forming two full floors in this part. The total area of each floor space of the Company's offices, including area of Mazzanine floor and floors to wing and the strong rooms (four in number) is 0,200 sq. feet.

Provision has also been made for the private offices of the General Manager, Secretary and the heads of the various departments all panelled in oak and the public spaces tiled with “Rublino. ” The Board room with its anti-rooms and conveniences is on the third floor and is a handsome and spacious apartment panelled in oak.

The whole of the furniture and fittings of the Company’s offices are carried out in keeping with the dignity of the office from the design of the architects.

Automatic electric elevators (three in number'' serve the offices of the upper floors anti the building is electrically lighted and electrically heated throughout.

Another feature is the letter chute, by which letters can be posted on any floor and are cleared by the postal authorities at every hour during the day. In conclusion, we would remark that the building is a “War” one, that it has been carried through norwithstanding the many difficulties incident to the obtaining, and the selection of the materials required in such constructions. We are of the opinion that the Architects, Messrs. Boggard & Prouse and W. H. Glimmer, A.R.1.8.A., deserve every credit for such a satisfactory addition to the buildings of the chief street of the Northern City. It would be difficult to find a utilitarian building that shows better than this what it is made of and which so clearly expresses its

functions and purposes. It is the result of careful and conscientious study, to produce the best results with the most serviceable and economical materials available. We trust that the spirit which imbued the Directors of the Company and also the architects will be emulated by owners and architects throughout the cities of the Dominion, to the end that pride in individual building enterprises may result in pride of city and comprehensive architectural development of many streets where at present only architectural chaos and incongruity exist. The following is a list of contractors: —Messrs. Grevatt & Son (General); Messrs. Milliken & McArthur (Steel frame and iron work and mail chute) ; Messrs. Hansford & Mills (Kairuru Marble). The Clerk of Works was Mr, J. W. McKeon.

The Sub-contractors were as follows: Electrical Installation, Messrs. Tolley & Son; Elevators, The Electric Construction Co. (Supervised by Mr. J. Walker). Steel Windows, Messrs. Hopes, Birmingham. Decorative Plaster Work, The Carrara Ceiling Co. Plain Plaster Work, Mr. E. F. Kelley. Oak finishings, Main Doors, Counter Screens and panelling in offices, Messrs. Scott & Gibson. Rimu Joinery, The Kauri Timber Co. Plumbing, Mr. J. Auld. Ironmongery, Messrs. Wingate & Co. Furniture, Messrs. Tonson & Garlick, Messrs. Cousins & Cousins and Messrs. Scott & Gibson.

Oak Staircases. Mr. Geo. Stevenson. Glazing, Messrs. Hill & Plumber, (Pilkington Glass), and The Luxfer Prism Pavement & Lighting Co. Painting & Signwriting, Messrs. Henderson & Co. (Mr. R. Taylor). Bronze, The. Wunderlich Co. and A. & T. Burt. Rubber Tiles “Rublino”, Redpath & Son. Cement, “Star” and “Grown.” Asphalt Roof and Basement Waterproofing, Limmer Asphalt, H. Mainland. Bricks, Gravel, etc., J. J. Craig & Co. and Winstons & Co. Clock, Synchronic Co., London, (A. Kohn). Safe Doors, Milner. The Photographs are by Messrs. J. J. Potter, Bell, W. Smith and Winklemann.