AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 168, 16 July 1921, Page 17

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY.

THE NEW ARTS BUILDING, Tn designing the Arts Building for tinAuckland University College, the arcliiv Ct r' SSrS - u R - A - Lippincott and Jv. 1-. Billson, have endeavoured to "ive logical expression to tlie plan and to'tlie materials employed. By grouping the lecture rooms about thj nia i n entrance they have beon ably to eliminate the lon.--and costly corridors ordinarily found in academic buildings. This is not only an initial saving, but tends to a lasting economy of administration and upkeep. An expression of truth never becomes out of date, whether the medium be literature, art, or architecture. Tl.e architect of to-day is, more than at any time in history, confronted by questions of costs. Hence he is compelled to make economy j his watchword, and in the present instance economy has been the ruling condition in plan, section, and elevation. This condition has, however, tended t<< produce a finer, rather than a poorer •building. The eliminating of non-esseii-itials and the stressing of the essi'njtial points always produces the better design. In the present building the demands were so great in comparison with the appropriation that there «-a» no other choice. It is neither possible nor necessary tn compare the design of the Auckland University with that of Oxford or Cambridge, for while the functions nf tin , buildings may have n>ueh in common, the architectural to l>o solved arc entirely different. We arc living in times when not only Jiavn systems of construction advanced to limits previously junthought of, hut different method* and materials are employed. So far as (In , Auckland College was concerned, it wa* necessary to provide efficient buildings that allow of economic administration and upkeep. Perfect natural lighting and ventilation are essential requirements, and so, while the traditional forms of academic buildings have inspired the design to some extent, the purposes of the buildings and the materials to be used have largely governed the. form. The- architects have not allowed the copy book reproduction of any particular period to interfere with the efficiency and straightforwardness of' the structure. A strictly modern building, fireproof, economical, convenient, livfth advantage taken of every modern art and device to obtain those ends bae been their aim. But there enters into the problem more than the strictly utilitarian aspect. A university is more than a mere collection of students, professors, lecture rooms and lectures. It has a concrete entity, an individuality, with all the attributes of the human soul and its aspirations. Tc fails in its purpose if it simply mains the mind of its students with facts. It must inspire each of them with its own spiritual aspirations for t'.ie betterment of humanity and the advancement of the human race. In fact that is the ultmultipurpose of the institution and that finds fitting expr{V=ion in the new building. The long, restful, wings load up to th>> group of lecture rooms clustered about the entrance with its bays and tourelles growing ever more delicate and culminating in the rich and graceful tracery if the tower. This forms the central feature of the group and will be the focal point for the complete development oi the entire university area. It is as. wrli an invitation to some public spirited eitizflh to donate a master clock nn.| chime of bells to the institution, which the tower requires for the completion of its function.