ARCHITECTS’ REPORT ON AVENUE MONUMENT

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28758, 2 December 1958, Page 14

ARCHITECTS’ REPORT ON AVENUE MONUMENT

“The published design for a monument on Memorial avenue was commissioned through the chairman of the Memorial Avenue Committee (Mr W. W. Laing). At its last meeting, the committee examined drawings, photographs, and a model of the design, prepared by the architects and since then it has been the subject of considerable public comment,” says a report by the architects, Messrs Warren and Mahoney, read by the Mayor to the City Council last evening.

“The monument consists of a granite faced platform, and vertical slab. The slab is inscribed with suitable lettering, and basrelief carving. The platform projects from a small base, at about motorists-eye level, four feet above the ground, and extends above the paving on the central strip of the highway. The slab with its inscription rises 40ft above ground level. On either side of the stone-faced platform and slab are two soaring vertical planes, acting as supporters, ir the heraldic sense, to the inscription and platform. These supporters, separated from the central feature, are 120 ft high, 20in thick at the base. Bft deep, and slightly convex on plan. “At night the monument would be flood-lit from recesses under the base, illuminating the inside faces of the verticals, and throwing into sharp relief the inscription and carving on the granite. Considerations “The solution to the problem of a suitable monument for Memorial avenue,” says the report, “was governed by the following considerations“The site is a 99ft wide highway, whose every line and feature stresses the horizontal. The most striking feature in such an environment would be the opposite; a tall, thin, vertical. “It should be at least as tall as the width of the avenue. Anything less would look puny and unrelated to the scale of the highway. The problem, then, arose of how to achieve considerable height with an economy of means. “Pre-stressed concrete is ideally suited to this purpose. It is economic in cost, of a high finish, permanent, and requires no maintenance. It uses the very substance of the plains. It exploits today’s newest structural technique. It enables the designer to use proportions and forms not possible in the immediate past. “A monument in a highway must be designed to be appreciated by the motorist travelling at 30 miles an hour. Its form should be clear and recognisable at a considerable distance, and, if possible, should present a changing appearance as one comes close upon it.

“The ideal is a bold memorable form that can make its impact quickly and decisively. “It is proposed that the monu-

ment be placed near the Greers road intersection, about half way along the avenue, where it widens from 88 feet to 99 feet In this position the feature would be seen from Fendalton road and from the airport Visually ft would dominate the avenue, and give it a feeling of entirety,” says the report. “The central slab and platform would face the Fendalton intersection, and would be seen for its full height down the length of this-part of the road, which is without a central row of trees, but win have trees on either side acting as splendid stage .wings to the, monument. AJareful consideration haB been given to the strength and method of construction. A local leading contractor fias been consulted, and he has suggested that, within the limits of the plant currently available, a scaffold to the full height would be most suitable. Steel form work would be used, to achieve the high finish required. and the concrete would be poured section by section. A very high quality concrete, using the best of local aggregate and cement, would be used. Effect Of Wind "The major consideration to the strength of the monument is the effect of wind. Preliminary designs have shown that the shape proposed is quite satisfactory More detailed designs relating to the exact dimensions and the amount and disposition of the

high tensile reinforcement to be used will be made on the basis of advanced Information at present being sought from overseas. “For the safety of aircraft the monument has been kept 30ft lower than the regulation height for a tower at this distance from the airport. In addition, ft would carry, the usual warning lights. “The great memorials of the past have been simple and dignified. of precise, clear form; dramatic and unusual in their day and memorable thereafter.” savs the report “It was felt that nothing small nor mean would be appropriate for the men and events this avenue commemorates.”