WIDESPREAD UGLINESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 185, 6 August 1936, Page 16

WIDESPREAD UGLINESS.

NEW ZEALAND'S HOMES,

A critic has said that many thousands of New Zealand's, houses must be as uncomfortable, as they are unsightly, because their structure shows obvious defects, and Ae planning has not been adapted to the sites. "We accept as sufficient, comments a Wellington architect, "standards which would not have been considered adequate in the past —standards which, if applied in the case of the motor car, would soon show the tale of inadequacy in decrease of sales of the particular car. It is frequently suggested that to make a building beautiful it is necessary to add adornment, and that it is consequently costly, but it usually costs no more to make a good shape than a bad one —it is sometimes less costly. Much that is added is entirely superfluous, and, if it is not actually displeasing, often tends to restlessness of expression—a lack of repose.

"We encourage people to tour the country and admire it, but we do not sufficiently realise that a very large proportion of our buildings are so unlovely that the impression they convey detracts from the fuller measure of enjoyment which would be given if we gave expression in our buildings to the feeling of appreciation of natural beauty which is evidenced by the vast majority of our people. Many visitors to our shores go away delighted with our scenery, but with a feeling that they would have had a keener appreciation of it if the work of man had not produced so much that was incongruous, for they have looked with pleasure on the beauty which has remained of the works of man in older lands. "For our own sakes we should endeavour to turn toward something better, but «the means of doing so is not so apparent. It is clear that the effort of the individual can be of service, but it is most discouraging when the perpetrations of the majority tend to nullify these efforts. We should realise that building, after all, cannot be allowed to be considered as the affair entirely of the private individual. Posterity is most vitally affccted in economy/ social conditions, health and amenities by the results of individual efforts."