Winning ideas from the Building Centre

Press, 15 September 1988, Page 15

Winning ideas from the Building Centre

The Canterbury Building Centre and the Federation of Architectural Draughtsmen have joined forces for the first time ever to hold a promotional open day at the Building Centre on Saturday, September 17. For the New Zealand Federation of Architectural Draughtsmen it is the ideal opportunity to publicise their national design awards and to raise public awareness of who they are and the services they offer. The work will remain on display the following week before moving to other local venues. The association of the Building Centre and the N.Z.F.A.D. is logical because of the huge range of products on display, says the manager, Mr Robert Cooper. The Canterbury Building Centre will celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary on September 25. Almost exactly a year ago it moved to new premies in Mandeville Street, Riccarton after moving from the central city site where it had been located for 15 years previously. The Monier N.Z.F.A.D. design awards are an integral part of their annual conference. In the latest awards South Island scooped the pool, gaining first place and two merit awards. David Brocherie, of Brocherie and Cumberpatch Design, Christchurch, won the premier award for his design for the refurbishment of Symon and Lowther Menswear, Ltd, and City Snippers Hair Salon in the same building. The drama and impact of his innovative design is captured in the photographs featured on the front cover. Because he admired the “Italian style,” for its combination of simplicity and flair, he chose a black, white and grey using a grid design for the floors and ceilings. The use of mirrors creates a play of perspective within space leading from one area to another. The positioning of flexible, stylised mannequins adds an exciting dimension to the store and makes it unique. lan Cumberpatch, who is both the national and the local president of the N.Z.F.A.D., won his merit award for the house he designed for Mr and Mrs Craigie of Geraldine. His brief was to design a comfortable retirement home that reflected the area. It had to be large enough to accommodate their family on visits yet small enough to be easily maintained. The living area was to be on one level. David Brocherie and lan Cumberpatch were each working alone until they decided to combine their strengths and patents 18 moqths ago. They specialise in

all types of domestic work, both new and additions and alterations. They also do light industrial and commercial work. The refurbishment of Mrs Pope’s H.M.V. and Pants for Pants are among their projects. Mr Noel Tapp, of Queenstown, received a merit award for two townhouses he designed. Today building projects more frequently use the services of an interior designer to give a professional finish to the decor. Wendy Campbell, of Campbell Design, works on commercial and domestic projects. She combines several talents — she is both an architectural and an interior designer and a member of the N.Z.F.A.D. She began working in architectural design, moving into interiors where she saw a gap there. A further extension of her work came about when she found she could not buy the furniture she wanted — so she began designing that too. Her furniture designs are manufactured under the name “Izzati,” and are on display, in the Building Centre. Success stories about the exhibitors at the Building Centre abound. One such is Falkingham kitchens, owned by Dutchanee and Ron Falkingham. They design and build kitchens and take pride in a family business that has been established for many years. Jacqueline’s Commercial has grown through an increasing awareness of the need for an attractive environment, especially in offices. They produce authentic looking artificial plants that look amazingly like the real thing, always look their best and need little maintenance. Arrangements from the traditional to the contemporary can be created in colours to complement the decor. Euroform Kitchens design and make kitchens using the best of European technology. Their kitchens are efficient and easily maintained, and the quality of their product is guaranteed. Colour plays a much bigger part in our lives than most of us realise. Colours influence mood and environment, affecting us at work, home or at school, affect motivation, communication and relationships, make us feel warm or cold, rested or aggressive. Realising the importance of choosing the right colours to suit so many different environments, Taubmans have engaged the services of a colour consultant, Sue Malloch. She will give colour advice for the home and commercial environment. .