Our 71st Competition.

Progress, Volume XVI, Issue 8, 1 April 1921, Page 181

Our 71st Competition.

Six designs were submitted in this competition, viz.:—“Kauri, ' by earnest H. Hutton (wun Mr. dasn Hooper, A.K. L.8.A.), ol Dunedin; “Amor," by R. Hall (care Lrovernmenc Arcmtect s Pmce), Wellington; • Uak,' by K. W. Hassell (with Mr. Wm. Yielding;, ot Wellington; •‘iviwi,'' by W. A. Yates (with iviessrs. and Royas;, ot invarcargili; “Panikau,' Dy Bernard Kenneii (with Renneil Bros.), Gisborne; "Blignt, oy G. B. Wilson (with Messrs. Prouse and Gummer), Auckland. Mr. Wm. M. Page, of Wellington, who kindly sec this subject, reports as follows: “Bix designs were submitted in this competition. It is disappointing that these competitions are not more largely taken advantage of, as they serve a most usetul purpose and ought to be welcomed by every student in the country. 1 can think of no other reason for the small number of entries in these competitions than that the students as a body are not interested. I suggest that in those towns where there is an Architectural Students’ Association the subject should be studied and worked out in the class. Where there is no Students' Association two or three of the students should work * together to their mutual benefit. "In the present competition there is, I regret to say, no difficulty in placing the designs. 'I he design by T light' is the only one that satisfies me as being appropriate. I therefore place it first. The proportions are good and the detail restrained and refined, and altogether the cablet is very satisfactory. The lettering, too, is excellent and based on a good example. “Of the others that by ‘Kauri’ is the best, and I place it second. Carefully detailed it would be fairly satisfactory in execution, but the drawing hardly does it justice. It is rather unsympathetic and lacking in delicacy. Compare it with ‘blight’s’ drawing; the lettering is not so good either. “ Amor s design I disqualify, as there is no detail of the lettering. The panel, however, is quite good, only the enriched band should not impinge on the circular wreath at top of panel, but should run round on the half circle omitting the wreath altogether. The lettering of title on the drawing ‘design by Amor’ is exactly of the type that we wish to discourage. It is tawdry shopkeepers’ priceticket lettering. “ ‘Panikau’s’ design requires further study. Look up and study designs for monuments by Nicolas Stone in back numbers of the Architectural Review. The lettering and the drawing generally should be improved. ‘Panikau’ must avoid lettering on a curved line. It is never permissible in a rectangular panel, and is one of the signwriters’ bad habits. “ ‘Oak’s’ design is very ordinary, but creditable for a beginner. The details and lettering require further study. “ ‘Kiwi’s’ design is of a type I do not care for, and gives no evidence of the study which it is the object of these competitions to encourage.’’