ARCHITECTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 273, 17 November 1936, Page 16

ARCHITECTURE.

ANNUAL EXHIBITION.

SCHOOL AT UNIVERSITY.

SOME FINE WORK SHOWN.

An excellent idea of the work done by the students of the School of Architecture at the Auckland University College is given in the seventh annual exhibition of work which was opened in the college hall to-day, and continues for two days. The exhibition, however, shows more than merely the work of the students. It is a demonstration of how the school keeps in touch with developments abroad, and gives its students training in the work that they as architects of the future, will some day have to undertake in the Dominion. A good example of this is the emphasis laid right from the first year in town and regional planning. The exhibition is comprehensive. It shows all stages of work, from the elementary to the elaborate fifth and final year thesis. In the first year the work hung in the exhibition shows how the student is taught the elements of architecure from construction and design, and how in the various periods methods of construction have design. Thus, the students have drawn examples of Roman and Creek architecture, and also Gothic. They learn early how the aesthetic and the material aspects of architecture are complementary to each other. I lie particulai example of Roman and Greek architecture was only a wall, but the point was the comparison with the function of the wall in those periods with its function to-day. The wall in modern times has lost its age-old significance as a loadcarrying element. Importance of Colour. Then, too, in the first year, the ! students do the rudiments of colour j harmony, both because of the importI since of colour as a decoration, and because of colour as an aid to the presentation of the architectural subject. In the second and third years, csquisse work is done. An escjuisse is simply a sketch. All manner of subjects are set, the object being to train the student to set down a problem quickly, much in the way that an architect would pres>nt a quick drawing to a client. These sketches have to lie done in the one day. For instance, there are examples of a petrol station, the entrance to a show, the lodge at the entrance to park gates, or the planning of a small town in the country. the same time, students are set more complex problems which take perhaps three or four weeks to solve. Thus two lines of training are carried on together. More complex problems arc done in the third and fourth years. One interesting piece of work hung in the exhibition for this period is a conscrvatorium of music for Auckland. A specific site was chosen for the students. Two other problems or projects were an air terminal and a municipal assembly hall. The students too, are encouraged to do work from nature, calculated to give greater freedom of expression. A small prize is offered for this holiday work, this year the winner being X. .7. Jenkins, with A. Bartlctt second. There are also examples of posters of all kinds, which also give freedom in the use of different mediums. Work for Annual Prize. Some good work is shown for the annual prize of the Amalgamated Brick and Pipe Company. r l his year tiie scheme was the layout of a. group of semi-detached houses in a suburb. It one phase of the solution of the planning of residential areas. It is important to notice that the schemes set as a problem have a definitely practical value. X. .1. Jenkins also won this prize, with T. Houghey second. Most interest, however, will naturallv centre round the theses done in the tinal year. In fact, they comprise the work of flic last year. Three wore accepted this year. * All arc excellent pieces of work, demonstrating the tremendous amount of detail which has to be covered and included in a set of architectural drawings. The one which, to the layman, illustrates this detail best, is that by W. R. Simpson, of ,a block of flats for a housing scheme. This building is one of six storeys, and includes flats for single persons and for a family of six. Every conceivable detail is shown; and the "flats as illustrated. are something far more modern and advanced than New Zealand lias seen. Some of the drawings are done j in colour, as for example some of the interior scenes. Mr. Simpson lias gven chosen the furniture. This thesis will attract much attention. Another fine piece of work is that by R. H. Toy, a design for a university of Auckland, in which particular attention has been given to the library. In fact the library, the centre of the University, has been worked out to the last detail. Mr. Toy has even built a model of his thesis, which stands about two feet high. | H. D. S. McGowan has prepared a Town Hall which would be suitable for Auckland. In fact ho has even chosen the site, and worked out all details with i meticulous care. It is, in fact, this attention to detail which impresses most. There is 110 information which | a supposed client might ask which could not be answered from the drawings presented.