THE STRAND ARCADE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 135, 8 June 1911, Page 8

THE STRAND ARCADE.

A HANDSOME BLOCK. The rebuilding by Mr. Arthur ~_, Myers (the owner) of the Strand Arcade, which was destroyed by fire nearly two years ago, has added to the growing number of modern buildings in Auckland a structure which in several respects is a new and handsome departure from the various styles hitherto followed in our city. Although the Queen-street elevation presents a similar front as did the old arcade, ont-c within the avenue the eye is immediately arrested by evidences of the most approved architectural and structural developments in the design of a big arcade shop and office block. Solidity and elegance, combined with a maximum of lighting space, are the premier ;impressions, while a closer inspection will reveal the skill and care exercised towards the perfection of office disposition, and the elimination of future lire danger to the irredu-c-ible minimum. The outer walls of the new building have been constructed in brick, while the whole of the interior work is ferro-concrete, so built as to make the entire structure a practical monolith, while the only inflamI stable material used is the wood of the doors and window frames and sashes, rendering the spread of a lire from the I room in which it may originate well nigh 'an impossibility, as all the doors open on to a gallery in the light well of the j j arcade. This light well now runs almost the entire depth of the building, and presents a truly noble appearance, with wide galleries running round it on each floor, handsome plaster work and enrichments relieving the interior facades; and whole fine expanse splendidly lit by the great laut'ern light running almost from'end to end of the roof. The graceful ensemble is rather enhanced than' otherwise by -the handsomely balustradebridges that cross the centre of the arcade, floor above floor, and obviating I j what would else be a rather long walk round from the north to the south sections of the building. The excellence I | and finish of the plaster work, floated in cement and completed in what is termed keens, is a particularly striking feature I of the interior decoration, and does more than ordinary credit to the supervision of Mr. E. F. Kelly. The new block has been erected a story higher than the old one. and from basement to roof mea--1 sures the respectable height of 90 feet, the distance from kerb to pediment be-1 ing US feet, the office accommodation being -considerably in excess of that in the former building, while the ventilation, lighting and general appointments of the structure are immeasurably superior, marking a distinct advance in this respect in local building enterprise. The Queen-street wall is of Melbourne brick, j fronted with plastered facings, while a' wrought iron railed balcony extends along the top floor. The ground floor is I devoted to shops, most of which open on to the arcade, the tesselated tiled floor of which makes an attractive fore-1 'ground to the granite bases of the shop I windows. The building, which is lighted throughout with both electricity and gas, I the motive power of the lifts also being l electricity, is a handsome acquisition to the city, a!l d a flattering witness for the ;ari2&^,-*2"r_ ' S___ E - J - w "''» »**£,-