An inspiration for the future

Press, 24 July 1986, Page 32

An inspiration for the future

By Fairlie standards, the new Mackenzie County Council administration building looks years ahead of its time, yet by its very presence will be an inspiration for the future.

Leading into the 850 sq metre building is a covered cobblestone footway flanked by landscaped alpine gardens, admirably blending with riverbed stone walls. With warm coloured paint on the perpendicular timber woodwork, the impression is of a prosperous, progressive, well-to-do Mackenzie County. According to the archi-.

tect, Mr John Wilson, this building was designed to represent the sturdy character of this highland region of which this administration office is the hub. The old and the new commemorative plaques feature at the doorway entrance. On the right of the foyer is a large, openplan office room where county clerks will work at new furniture dressed in county coloured smocks. On the left, is the county and his deputies’ offices, resplendent with carpets, touches of velvet wall lining and modem furniture.

The entrance foyer is dominated by a sweeping royal blue carpeted stairway which features mas-

ter-craftmanship in the stained wooden balustrade. The stair leads to a small reception foyer flanked by the chairman’s office, committee room and cloaks and kitchen for teas.

The royal blue carpet leads through into the spacious council chamber which features walls lined with cream-flecked, coloured wool wall lining symbolic of Mackenzie’s main industry. The ceiling is supported with two pyramids of exposed stained Oregon beams which meet at a welded axis.

A raised dais is provided for the chairman’s table which is flanked by the county clerk’s and

engineer’s desks. There are offices and garages, underfloor heating, staff facilities and plenty of provision for storage of county records and even a computer, if needed in the future.

The Architectural design and the impressive nature of this administration building will be the best advertisement Mackenzie County will ever have.

Henceforth, the status of Mackenzie County, which embraces some of the world’s most beautiful and inspiring scenery, will rank along with any in New Zealand. Now, Fairlie can have a postcard of its own.