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UGLY BUILDINGS.

PLEA FOR HftaNftOMBIESS.

nir ttofcs-fcs.

A review of (housing in S«w Zealand by tho Instffcirte -of Architects mentions that "there has been a vastyaTribTint of iigly and, indeed, hideous building. "Appreciation of good aTchitectufe, however, fe growing," the statement continues. "s?t fe being reaMeed *hat ft does matter seriously what sort of homes we live in, fha't aft is hot merely to be found in galleries, biit a business of everyday life. Our honjee, our furniture, our gardens, Our tSwirs, should all be beautiful, or at lealt dignified. , "Nothing an art is bo 'd'ffHonlt move or to change a« architecture If we do not like a picture on we can put it away in *ai atftdc. If we ij do not care for musio, we can keep, away from it or turn it 'Off. If we tire, of a book we need not read it. But houses and buildings genera-Hy, ipuMic. or private, are there, large and solid, before our eyes, and can be removed i only at great and nearly always 'pTO-j hibitive expense. We have to endure; them); they etarnat be covered ujp or iptft ■ out of mind. In a sense ibuading -isirrevoca/ble, so it is very important' indeed *hwt -all tbirilfthigH ■β-hould "be 3e- ■ signed •trMne'iS ■'tttWte. "The building, ttie ea'sler % Is to live wflh'.' It is a common' experience that an inferior picture pleases for a time, and then one tires of it. t Pift >a. priftt Setf Mi Old Master in-.its place, and the better ■ picture does not pall; its serenity fit B| in with all one's moods. . So it ehouM| be with a house. Outside and inside it should be a frame suited to the art of living. It is "the architect's business to, supply designs that will achieve this! purpose. j

"But completing the design its only a step, tfhe £ft3&tttc% ihias to cltooee Mβ i materials, and item «ee that they ar* used propeiHy. i>fcjn 5n a'email fotraee this inay involve *he ttpplicatum riST special knowledge '«aS experience. BtgJ! may wish to taee a **>rttwn *Wfl, TKft" the architect may liave to tell you that it is (not suitable for the purpose, perhaps ihecause it is liable to attack by borer. From the foundation blocks to the choice of xooiLng, from the jplKiming of the ff&tft Steps Wthe fittiiags oJE ifiie bathrocftn, jhe ie i*eady With advice. Yoli may imagine how much *hin -is -i»ultiplied by vfaeti ift comes *rto SSrfcdtiiag * great and stresses that haH«te ito the careful arrangements that have to be made for various internal services, the Tpra\ihms,.y\iiit ttrTde Tfif'comblning" strength yyiifc (■ dignity and heauty. good design costs no more. On the contrary, the architect achieves his effect by his trained knowledge of maes, proportion, and light and shade, not with the aid of useless and o-nensive ornaments." ,~■■*>■■ , ',■' •'

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19390405.2.27

Bibliographic details

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 80, 5 April 1939, Page 6

Word Count
471

UGLY BUILDINGS. Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 80, 5 April 1939, Page 6

UGLY BUILDINGS. Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 80, 5 April 1939, Page 6