THE WAR MEMORIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 224, 21 September 1922, Page 8

THE WAR MEMORIAL

MUSEUM PRIZE DESIGN. A MASTERLY CONCEPTION. IMi'iiSlNC AXD UIOXTFIED. Those Who viewed .last night in IN"-. 13 shed at the wharf tbe plans and elevi i ion- of the prize -design for the f*r°-;s-s«l war 'memorial mu_eu_n —and t.bey «ere uia.ny —al>l readily adnaiitted <(hia't tiie aJflarducat'i'cm toad; been performed worthily, nrad that- the first prize liod been -.warded t> the right competitoris, Mch-ts. Griersoii and Aimer and M. K. Draflin, of Auckland. The words of Mr. C. Reginald Ford, president of tiie New Zealand Institute of A.rohiteete. in conKratirratiinig _he successful competiit'ors are iff tihe-is-Ivo3 sufficient to convey a.n aceuraite impressiion of the value of the w> r k. Ho said: "Every meni.ber of tiie profession in Xew Zealand will be proud of the isuccesful ecimipetitoi's. a.nd I ami certain tfita-t mot a di'sswuti-rrt. voice will he heard conecriiirog the awa/rd. The work is "hiiighlly jneTilioWous, and is oV-ervin... of the and -©maurablplace it Jvas canted.'' DETAILS OF THE DESIGN. Based on classical 'limes of rare arohi-fe<-tnra! beaurty, yet chaste witlhal, t'hc building aa depicted by the authors is Jiand'siom. to a sjupe'rilatjivc degree, and Millieinit'ly imposing and dignified to make it iinpo-sible for even -he- ca_ua.l ulstm w 'to fail iv appreciation of tlhe pi"rpci+ iwliioh lit will rcpre-enlt—_he |K'i-|H'lini.t.ion <if tdve mcaiorj- of ibbase men ami women from the Auckland district Who dded in the late war. Tiie main entrainee is. accen'ttialeil in effectiveness by a vow of tall Doric eolmnins. whioh are s-urmotiTtted by a pH.na.pet of some depth, over tlhe top of tli,- frieze. On an attic panel is inscribed in appropriate lettering: MtIMXIV . . MCMXVIII. "The whole earth is the sepulchre of famous men. They are commemorated not only by columns and inscriptions In their own cuuntry, but in foreign land. also, and l-y in. mortals graven not on stone but on tin- hearts of men." (Pericles.) A swor.'l is depicted near tbe mid_!e of t'lie inscription, and on the 'left-_a_id side t":ere i-s ret;iresented St. CJeo-iigp and the Dragon: a (jgure symbolical of Peace is shown at tlhe other end. Approached by a flight of exoep--lor.ally wide steps, the main en'trancc is an outisit.aml'inir feature of the conception. A broad terrace stands at the bead of the steps, fronting tiie north elevation. Here, it is proposed, a cenotaph 'sh-iM be erected on a snaile likely to 'hn.nnon-l.se with the general effect of tlhe building. The .plans provide for future ex'CTiaionis. the side .wailis beins desi.gr.ed in a suitable niawner. although their characteristics aire in keeping witih the han.lisnme front elevation. The vestibules v. ill be easy of access, and a centrail 1.-cture cka-vber, replete witih a platform, will ae--oiv»mod.ite 600. Elevators an.l public ajcuunodation arc provided; neiiT ti'uo e-u'tranee, as _l-o arc tihe oura-t.M-'S roo.ni. board room an 1 storerooms. To the right facilities are provided for _. museum and future development. An easy• -tairwnt- leads up to t'lie first floor, i nn>!' lime o.re situated the "Maori court and the Xew Zealand natural _.is.t'orv lull. SpeeiaHv planned, those spacious r»x>ms will give am.ple fncivities for a fine vieiw of tllie very va.hiable collection which wi.l'l l>e exhibited -herein. Tlio geology, palaeontology and zoology balls are depicted on Wilis floor, 'tihe nieosure-n-ent of afll the halls being 60 feet by 130 feet. THE WAR MEMORIAL HALLS. Above, on the next floor, the central memorial hall will be situated. Recoidts of the late -mar—".maps of tSie far-thing battle line" as -he .plan states —will! 1* ke.pt 'here, and a great ccfllection «>f -memorable objects they will be. The Hall of Memory, to be a more or less sacred place. i_ _lvow_ on tie left, being fo si'tainted' in order to prevent it being Used as a corridor to other sections. In the Hall of Memory the most prominent feature is a sarcophagus, in a strong light, raised on steps in a central space arranged for the reception of wreaths and other memorial emblems. There is an ambulatory round this space in subdued light from stained glass windows. A Roll of Honour .is provided for on the side and end walls. There is space for tables for books containing personal records at the sides. On anniversary occasions, when a continuous procession is passing round tbe central Mmrie. „-,„, catps can v _ d t] south wall of this hall, thus providing if desired, an additional or emergency exit J T r ies ' hal1 ' and the f° rei X" etilinaogy- W.l are on the rig'bt, WW the ,n e,it.u.te , is on ° the j eft _ Altogether. a« everyone agreed, and as. one ot the adjudicators remarked to a Star representative, the buildinff aa planned is indeed' a _iai.ter.ly conception. THE OTHER WIKNI-TG DESIGNS. The design placed second won its placq on planning. It is classical in feeling The entrances are marked by a row of columns surmounted by a pediment. A dome above the main entrance hall and central ball is a conspicuous feature of the design. The interior arrangements are very similar to those in the design which won the premier place. The design which was awarded third prize has a beautiful facade in Italian renaissance style. It is somewhat reminiscent of the Boston Public Library, one of America's finest architectural ac>ievements. But the treatment, although pleasing, is not altogether expressive of the feeling desired in a war memorial. The exhibit is distinguished by beautiful drawing and shows a masterly conception of detail. The interior planning is less satisfactory than that set out in the designs placed first and second but nevertheless possesses decided merit.