A HANDSOME STRUCTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 156, 4 July 1922, Page 8

A HANDSOME STRUCTURE.

NEW NATIONAL BANK. ITALIAN RENAISSANCE. 'CLASSIC DESIGN OF MR. CLAUDE JONES. Au interesting feature of Uie new buildings of Auckland is the newt National Bank, which -will be completed probably by the end of the year. It will be observed from our illustrations that this structure is well calculated to make an imposing landmark in the city's progress and the general design introduces novel ideas in the world of architecture as far as Xew Zealand is concerned. The architect, Mr. Claude Jones, of Welling-

ton, has made a special study of the ■works of old masters, and this building incorporates some of the artistic Italian principles laid down by Palladio, Vig-

nola, and Perruzzi. Tins worlc, resplend-

ant of lines of the 17th century, has been modernised to meet modern require-

NEW SYSTEM AXD EQUIPMENT, i After careful consideration it was de-j ■cided to adopt the "Tsland"' system for' the banking stall"—cashiers and ledgerkeepers particularly—similar to an arrangement which was adopted by tiie Commonwealth Bank for its new building in Sydney. A hydraulic lift for tlie use of the stall will communicate directly with the strongrooms and vaults, the idea of this lift being that there will be an unobstructed lloor for the staff, with every convenience for the conveying of books of accounts to the strongrooms, without traversing space allotted to the public.

Special devices will be employed in connection with the tellers' fitments,, enabling tlie tellers at the close of the day to confine the whole of their cash and papers in a fireproof compartment with automatic lockers. The device, which stands on wheels beside their desks, can be dispatched quickly away to the lift and lowered to the strongrooms. This locker is really a teller's private locker and dispenses with the old-fashioned and tedious method of carrying all books, banking returns and cash in trays, drawers or hags to and from the strongrooms, which also have installed ev?ry modern device. After the designs of them had been prepared, a prominent safe and strongroom door manufacturer, who was visiting New Zealand from abroad, said he hail not seen finer layouts for strongrooms in any part of tlie world. These ensure the greatest of protection. Tlie whole of the storage vaults are fitted up with the latest known metal-filing equipment and steel shelving. Special care has been given to the filing system for vouchers so that reference can be promptly made to any day's packet for a period of ten years back. Fire and burglar alarms and indicators to register the opening or closing of any strongroom door in the bank's portion of the building are great devices. In connection with the last-mentioned the chief clerk in charge of the staff in the island by this system of lighting indicators has a complete record at his desk of strongrooms being used in the basement. Another unique contrivance is the institution of tele-writers, which will enable the manager and certain of the staff to communicate any messages or requests and receive answers. The user at one end is able to reproduce at the other end of the service a replica of a message in his own handwriting and receives a reply or instructions in writing. This saves the bank clerk the necessity of leaving his desk. In addition to the ordinary telephone system dictaphones will be UEed, and there will be a number of other labour-saving ideas in practice for the facilitating of the bank's business. A vacuum-cleaning plant to carry all dust from the bank floors to the .basement will be another modern convenience.

ments of lighting and other facilities, .' the 'banking hall about 120 ft in length and 40ft in height being divided on each Bide into five bays with an arcade in each, •in tbe Doric order, the feature of which is the treglyphs in the frieze. The _. whole or this Doric order is executed in polished black marble and the main piers at a height of 16ft are in grey marble with a finely rubbed finish, the bases and caps of same being also in polished black marble. The ceiling of the chamber over the central portion is a barrel vault with coffered lights glazed -with specially selected glasses and designed on the lines of Patereas. The mam ribs of the vault are lined with bands of polished black maifole and the ceiling of Keene's cement is brought to a highly polished finish. At one end of the chamber is a mezzanine (raised) floor for the bajik staff, lighted by means of a semi-circular window 20ft in diameter. This has a- bronze grille. The Bide passages in the mezzanine level, ■which are supported by the Doric arcades mentioned, have vaulted ceilings and will serve as additional space for the bank staff. The main doorway to the bank chamber at the north end of the building to be executed in the Corinthian order, has coupled columns on each side with pilasters abutting the •wall. The ■whole of this feature, including the entablature (in which the clock will be inserted) -will be of polished black marble and the caps of the columns and the pilasters, will -be in bronze. I

FEATURES OF DESIGN. The new hank, with frontages upon Shortland and Fort Streets, will be seven storeys high at each end of the building, the approximate total lieiglith being just over 300 ft. The upper storeys fronting the streets will be let in suites of: offices nil equipped and finished in accordance with tlie general efficiency of the building. The main door in Shortland Street will have inset bronze panels cast in designs aud will be studded with bronze, this being an idea of purely Italian origin. The two Doric columns at the main entrance doorway will be of Moeliau (Coromandei) granite, and each side of same will be ornamental iron grilles. Tlie lanterns at either side of the door will be replicas of Italian design. On passing through the main door there will be a semi-circular vestibule having its walls lined with polished panelled marble, while the floor of the vestibule will be laid in Mosaic, with signs of the Zodiac line inset. A screen of double Doric columns will divide the vestibule from the bank chamber and a bronze gate opposite the centre will give access to the foyer of the public safety deI posit vaults. The walls here are to be also polished marble panels and the floor will be laid in marble tiles.

Over the pediment of the main entrance doorway will be sculptured figures representing ''Security*' and "Prudence." The carving in connection with the marble niche inside the banking chamber will also be attractive. Tlie general appearance of the interior of the new bank will be one of monumentality and stability, all meretricious ornament having been avoided. The architect has apparently relied for beauty of effect upon perfect proportion and academic lines. The exterior facade will fully convey the purpose for which the building is intended, the design being restrained and dignified and. well worthy of the well-known and enterprising bank for whom it is being erected.

The architect and supervising designer. Mr. Claude Jones Lie. R. 1.8 \ A.R.A.1.C., F.N.Z.I.A, of Wellington, ha__ carried out the erection of a number of National Bank branch buildings in New Zealand, and undoubtedly the new building nearing completion in Auckland will constitute his crowning achievement to date. Though a young man, Mr. Jones has had a unique experience. He was born and trained in architecture in England, and before being in America, where he met with much success in open competition, he travelled extensively or. the Continent and made a profitable study of the work of old masters. He arrived in New Zealand in 1913. All his life has been devoted to architecture in connection with I large public buildings. His clerk of works jin Auckland is Mr. Renner. to the care |of whom, or to the National Bank, any inquiries may be addressed.