Art Gallery

Press, 6 October 1988, Page 14

Art Gallery

Sir,—The director of the McDougall Art Gallery, John Coley, I see wants a monument, but the alternative of the splendid classical palazzo of the Government Building in Cathedral Square as the new gallery makes intelligent use of the city’s inheritance and brings exactly the right cultural activity to the city centre. The cost of a full renovation as the city gallery would be S6M, and it is the right size. The building has a preservation covenant, and a B classification from the Historic Places Trust. It is probably worth S3M. To pull the building down, leaving the facade in front of a tower like the Clarendon, would be appalling; such insincerity behind the Cathedral! Do we want a tall four-storey, modern building opposite the elegant Victorian buildings along Rolleston Avenue? The area is already overcrowded. The gallery must be at the eastern end of the Square. — Yours, etc., P. BEAVEN. October 2, 1988. Sir,—lt is proposed that a tall Art Gallery, four storeys above ground and two below, be built on the council’s Worcester Street car park. But for the concept to proceed two fine houses along Rolleston Avenue must be demolished or, alternatively, three along Worcester Street. This would destroy the residential

scale of this whole area, which has become the most peopled part of urban Christchurch each week-end, summer and winter, day and night. Opposite is the Arts Centre whose north elevation with cafe would be entirely shadowed. The council intends making Worcester Street a boulevard from the restored Canterbury Museum to Cathedral Square. Why make it one way? Why not make a further positive link to the centre of the city? For half the cost of a new building it is possible to restore the Government Building in Cathedral Square, creating a stunning art gallery and a lively Square. — Yours, etc., JOCELYN ALLISON. October 2, 1988.