Patience over Pegasus House recommended

Press, 11 May 1989, Page 6

Patience over Pegasus House recommended

By

ANABRIGHT HAY

People concerned about the present state of Pegasus House in Oxford Terrace should be patient, says the consulting architect for the restoration, Mr Don Donnithorne. He said the original Pegasus House would be retained as it was. The addition to the rear was in sympathy with the original building, but used present-day technology. The restoration was one of the best conservation projects in the country and the standards reached would probably ensure the conservation of other similar historic buildings, Mr Donnithorne said. If developers had not come along at the right

time the building would probably have been demolished, as had been the case with other historic buildings in New Zealand, he said.

Pegasus House will become part of a two-storey commercial office building forming part of the Pegasus Centre, stretching from Oxford Terrace to Tuam Street. Mr Donnithorne said he had received abuse and telephone calls from people who were concerned about the building and under the impression it was being demolished. The Canterbury regional officer of the Historic Places Trust, Mrs Pam Wilson, said one or two people had expressed anxiety about the present state of the 137-year-old building. She admitted to being a little alarmed but said she was delighted it was being restored.