Carrara Ceiling and Walls

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 240, 11 July 1928, Page 7

Carrara Ceiling and Walls

Gives Artistic Finish

The new Kilbirnie Kinema, which is *to open its doors to the public this week, is a very fine example of the adaptability of Carrara work to this style of building and to its internal decoration, and further demonstrates that jt can be just ns effectively used over an abnormally wide span as for ordin-, ary residential purposes. The Carrara Ceiling Company, of Daniell Street, Newtown, has accomplished something of an achievement in constructing a. ceiling, ornamental in character, over a roof span 85 feet wide, without any columnar support, thus giving an uninterrupted' view of the picture from every portion of the theatre,- The ceiling comprises richly decorated panels, 10 x 12 feet each, with a large circular panel in the centre from which is suspended the main electric light chandelier. ■ ■' < :

The proscenium; 40- feet by 24 feet,, is heavily moulded, with an artistic design iu panel ou either side, while thq entrances to the stage are screened by a balconied palm stand, the coltims of which have been constructed' in the Carrara process, giving a’most effective finish. The balcony in front of the dress circle has been ornamented with a series of circular panels in relief, with head and shoulder statuary at intervals. ■' ’

The walls of the staircase leading to the-dress circle, the vestibule, and dressing rooms are all done in Carrara except for the lower half of. the wall in the vestibule, which is cement finished. The habit of striking matches on the wall, one which prevails in all public buildings, is not one which adds to the appearance of Carrara work, and these disfiguring marks will not show so prominently on the cement finish. The whole of this part of the building was done by the experienced staff of the Carrara Ceiling Company, and the panels were all designed find made at the company’s factory at Newtown.

Two years or more ago the company’s works were situated on the site now covered by the Wellington Hospital Board’s new administrative block, but they became quite inadequate to deal with the tremendous increase in business, which for a while was handled under considerable difficulty. The company then acquired the present large site and buildings in Daniell Street, and here they are able to cope with all

demands. The fibrous plaster boards which they make, and which can be used for all sorts of purposes in building construction, have the great merit that they are .extremely fire resisting, which is substantially confirmed by the fact that the fire insurance companies give the same rates for insurance on buildings where this material is used as they Hre for brick buildings.

For residential purposes. Carrara ; ceilings and ■-walls are incomparably superior to the old-fashioned scrim and p3J>er, which are the bane of the fire brigades when fire fighting: they, are A much neater in finish, draughts cannot , penetrate through them as . they do through boarded and papered walls, the rooms are warmer in fie winter time.,’ and have a nice cool appearance in the heat of summer. Further, the joins of , the walls and ceilings can be_roundcd off so that there are no corners for dust to collect, and ii this -respect and., others Carrara is far more sanitary than the use’of scrim and pa per. r

So far as the cost is concerned, the company is prepared, to quote prices for any j/ork of this kind, and the additional expense in substituting Carrara work for scrim and paper, is so small that it is well worth while going carefully into this matter, if .contemplating building, In commercial buildings and offices the work of the Carrara Company can be introduced with effective and artistic results,’ and where the subdi'd-ion of offices is contemplates no more suitable material could be found.

Any kind of design cau be executed, . including statuary, .bas relief, or panelling, and any model can be faithfully ‘ copied. ' The firm employs a large-staff of expert workmen in this industry, producing a material of durability and lightness—it has practically unlimitedlife, being non-perishable—and is easy’ to cut with chisel or saw as reqjiired;,;. Some idea of the increasing use of--Carrara .wall boards and ceilings, ‘ to- ■ gather with- the ornamental panelling,—’ etc., may be gained from the fact that about a. thousand' tons of plaster of paris alone are used in the course of a year. £

■The work at Kilbirnie Kinema was ? carried out under the direction of tin £ architect, Mr. F. Swan; of Messrs E Swan, Lawrence, and Swan, Welling £ ton. B