BENEFIT OF "ILL WINDS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 114, 15 May 1936, Page 15

BENEFIT OF "ILL WINDS."

ARCHITECTS' OPPORTUNITY. One effect of the "financial blizzard" in the United. States of America was to brighten some of the main streets of many towns by the engagement of architects to improve the appearance and tincrease the usefulness of old unsightly "buildings. There is much scope for that ftcind of service in cities and towns of (New Zealand. ) "During recent years," remarks a con- ' tributor to the "American Architect," "many architects, some possessing well established reputations, have been forced to design small buildings of a type to which they formerly gave little or 110 consideration. The architecture of any main street is sufficient to indicate the need for architects giving small buildings their attention. 11l doing so, they are rendering real service to the community. "One architect, for the first time in his life, lias been remodelling small stores and restaurants. These mußt be executed at small cost. He has learned how to get the most 'architecture' for the least money and how to work eflicicntly so that he may have a little of liis fee left over for himself. He makes sure that liis clients at least obtain good plans and clear drawings. One restaurant was losing patronage. After it was I altered, patronage returned. The owner gives the architect due credit, tells his friends and this architect gets, more work. |

"Another arcliitcct saw in his town an old-time drug store. The store floor was several steps above the street. The second floor was being wastefully used for storage purposes. The architect convinced the druggist that his business could be improved by lowering the store floor to the street level and that the second floor, replanned for the ofiices of a local dentist, could be made to produce an income. The alteration was made. The druggist admits that his business has improved. He now has a tenant 011 the second storey. The appearance of the main street lias been improved. . . . When architects do more of this kind of service the appearance of American towns and cities will be improved, and more buildings will be better planned. And the public will then instinctively turn to the architect when it thinks of building. In small profits lie large opportunities,"