NEW LOOK FOR SHOPS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31588, 27 January 1968, Page 1

NEW LOOK FOR SHOPS

The corner of Cathedral Square from the Post Office to the Avon Theatre will soon have a new look.

Ten new shop frontages, with much better lighting and special decoration, and each with a striking individualistic appearance, will be built for the KerridgeOdeon Corporation, Ltd. They have been designed to complement the City Council’s plan for improving the Square. The architects are the Auckland firm of Messrs Rigby and Mullan, one of the principals of which (Mr A. J. Mullan) yesterday said that the renovations would also include improvement of the entrances to the Regent Theatre and the Avon Theatre. The interiors of both theatres had recently been renovated. The veranda of the Regent

Theatre would be linked to the Avon Theatre’s veranda, and new veranda lighting would be installed.

The design of the shop fronts would include the lighting of their windows. This would not be left to the tenants.

The high-quality lighting of the shop fronts would make the corner the brightest in the Square and give visitors a better impression of the city. Christchurch tended to have too little lighting in shop display. Mr Mullan said that tenders for the renovation would be called, and the new shops would be open before the middle of this year. The work would entail the replacement of all shop

fronts, and the cost would exceed $20,000. The new frontage would be nearly 300 ft long. Flanking materials for the shops would vary. They would include moulded copper, river pebbles, and polished timber. “The Square is too valuable to be allowed to run down, and we are doing something about it,” Mr Mjillan said. The Post Office is believed to be interested in securing the premises occupied by the Regent Cafe. The cafe adjoinsthe Chief Post Office and is thought to be wanted to facilitate the reconstruction of the Chief Post Office. Questioned yesterday, the Chief Postmaster (Mr M. E. Wilson) said he could make no comment.