DESIGNS FOR CONCRETE HOUSES

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22005, 1 February 1937, Page 3

DESIGNS FOR CONCRETE HOUSES

GOVERNMENT SEEKING SUGGESTIONS

[THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, January 31. If any builder supplies a good design for a concrete house with cavity walls and quotes a firm price for its construction the Government will give the offer serious consideration under its housing scheme. In giving 'his information, Mr J. A. Lee, Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Prime Minister, said there was ample scope for a builder in this direction. At the commencement of the housing scheme, said Mr Lee, builders were invited to submit designs and prices for concrete houses. Many submitted schemes for concrete housing, but there was no time to experiment. What was wanted was a type of concrete house that had a fine appearance and durability, and the price for building it was reasonable. "We are giving a good chance to New Zealand builders to exercise their

experience and originality," said Mr Lee. "We do not want a monolithic type of structure that would be a sort of refrigerator, and in which one might see beads of moisture on interior walls. We want to build pleasant houses, but the builder must offer to build the house at a price, and not merely ask the department to conduct an experiment. In due course experiments may be conducted, but our energies at present must be directed to providing housing."