Adviser On Plans For Buildings

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30269, 23 October 1963, Page 12

Adviser On Plans For Buildings

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 22. Sir Basil Spence, professor of architecture at the Royal Academy, London, has been retained by the Government as consultant on the preliminary plans for the completion of Parliament Buildings.

Announcing this today, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said considerable progress had been made by the special committee set up early this year to report to the Cabinet on the requirements of a new building to replace the 92-year-oid wooden building, originally built for the use of the Governor.

Sir Basil Spence, who will visit Wellington next March to deliver the chancellor’s lectures at Victoria University, will extend the period of his visit to allow of full

consultation on the Parliament Buildings plans.

He will work with the Government Architect (Mr F. G. F. Sheppard) and will examine and advise on the preliminary plans for the completion of Parliament Buildings and the relationship of the new building to the proposed government centre. “The Government has been most fortunate in obtaining the advice of Sir Basil Spence, who is one of the most eminent architects in the United Kingdom,” said the Prime Minister.

“He is past president of the Royal Institute cf British Architects and was the architect for the restoration of Coventry Cathedral. “I am sure he will greatly assist the Government in its desire to create a building in character with its purpose and prominent setting," said the Prime Minister.