New material will defy the years

Press, 5 July 1985, Page 9

New material will defy the years

Like most new buildings, Arthur Young House today presents a clean and sparkling face to the world. Unlike most of the others, however, it will retain this band-box appearance for virtually the life of the building. The secret of this ageless quality is in the fascia panels which are the main feature of the exterior. They are made from glass-rein-forced concrete, which is being used for the first time in Christchurch.

The unique glazing process means that the panels will always remain clean and fresh-looking. Moulds for the panels were made in Christchurch and the panels were delivered to the site as pre-cast units. Indeed, low or nil maintenance is a feature of all the building’s exterior surfaces.

By providing balconies for the office floors on all four sides, the architects have not only simplified the window-cleaning process but also have ensured that the bronze aluminium and tinted glass windows will be shielded from weather and dirt. The building has been designed to take full advantage of the maximum floor area allowed for the site. The exterior walls have been kept away from all boundaries, permitting wrap-around windows and superb views in all directions. From two sides, there are delightfully intimate views up and down the Avon River, as well as of the central city area. Cast the eyes a little further, and one has the choice of admiring alps, ocean, hills or the Canterbury Plains.

The building encloses 4000 sq m of floor space. The five intermediate floors are of 650 sq m each, and the top floor 740 sq m.

A circular cobblestoned driveway makes for an impressive entry, which is enhanced by the use of Italian marble for the main entrance walls and Takaka marble for the floor. The main entrance also features a mahogany ceiling while African sapele mahogany has been used around the lifts on each floor.

The feeling of spaciousness inside is strengthened by the suspended ceilings and the use of mirrors to give visual extension in some areas.

Christchurch architects are widely admired for the quality of their work, and Charles R. Thomas and As-

sociates is a firm that has won its share of recognition. It won two Institute of Architects Canterbury awards last year — one for an office and shopping complex in Ashburton, and the other for a group of ware-house-showroom units in Brougham Street, Christchurch. In previous years, it has won awards for a church, a country hotel and a private residence. Among other buildings recently completed to the firm’s design are the Forbes Group office building at the Kilmore and Manchester Streets intersection (with its glass-walled exterior lift), the National Bank building in Fitzgerald Avenue, the Norwich Union building at the corner of Manchester and Hereford Streets, and a supermarket at Parklands.