Building Research Director’s Visit

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32351, 17 July 1970, Page 5

Building Research Director’s Visit

New Zealand offered architects a challenge to produce a basic stock of good buildings, said Dr V. R. Gray, the first director of the recentlyestablished Building Research Association, in Christchurch on Wednesday. He said that, in New Zealand, architects had virtually “a clean slate” compared with their counterparts in Europe, who had to compete with architectural traditions of the past. What he had seen in the five weeks he had been in New Zealand compared fav-! ourably with modern build-} ing trends in Britain—and in some cases was better, Dr! Gray said.

Concrete Technology Dr Gray, an Englishman, said he had been particularly impressed with concrete technology in New Zealand, which had developed a considerable reputation.

A certain streamlining of building in New Zealand was an inevitable process of the building industry, which he described as being in a state of flux. The job of the association was to help such streamlining to take place, he said.

Building research in the Dominion was fragmented and un-co-ordinated. Four urgent priorities towards its co-ordination included a need to extend information and advisory services to builders, contractors and home own- ; ers, and to carry out research [into materials and components, as well as fire research. Office in Christchurch Although he is based in i Wellington, Dr Gray anticipates setting up an office in Christchurch soon to help the industry in the South Island. He also plans to increase the association’s research staff. While he had plans for the association’s future, Dr Gray said his work would be built on the foundation established by the Building Research Bureau. The newly-formed association is supported by a levy of 50c for every $lOOO worth of buildings costing more than $3OOO plus a Government grant. Dr Gray yesterday looked over the sites of the Town, Hall, the new police station, and the University of Canterbury at Ham, as well as home developments. Last evening, he met Christchurch architects and building contractors. After further visits to building developments round Christchurch today, Dr Gray will return to Wellington this evening.