Central library design

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33932, 27 August 1975, Page 20

Central library design

Christchurch architects will probably be asked to apply for the Job of designing the new central library for Christchurch, and one is likely to he appointed by the end of the year. The council’s cultural com-: mittee will recommend that the idea of an architects' competition to design a library—put forward by the' local branch of the Institute of Architects—be dropped. | and that architects wanting' the job should anply to the council, and “demonstrate their capacity and relevant exnerience.” Monday’s meeting of the committee decided that an architectural competition — such as the one used to find a design for the Town Hall — was impractical for several reasons. The committee felt that an architect would be working in a vacuum, without access to the client, and that a functional building was most important, requiring frequent consultations between the architect and the librarian. The cost of organising a competition would be about $20,000. and the design would be chosen bv a panel of assessors, not the council. The site was complex, and if a design through a competition were chosen the city librarian and the,citv architect could not influence the design. The committee recommended that a sub-committee consisting of the Mayor (Mr H. G. Hay), the chairman of the committee (Cr H. L. Garrett), Cr W. J. A. Brittenden, Cr D. F. Caygill, the City Engineer (Mr P. G. Scoular), the city librarian (Mr J. E. D. Stringleman). and the city architect (Mr G. S. R. Fenton), be formed, with power to act to recommend a suitable architect to the council.