SHEDDING TOP HAMPER

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 180, 28 April 1931, Page 8

SHEDDING TOP HAMPER

Safer Building Campaign Buildings arc now shedding any superfluous top weight which can be spared without impairing their efficiency. The city engineer, Mr. G. A. Hart, who has spent a good deal of time in the Hawke’s Bay district since the earthquake and has seen the effect of a big shake upon buildings, is strongly advising owners of city buildings to take steps to get rid of useless top-weight such as heavy parapets and ornamental elaborations which only make for weight and which in an earthquake increase the danger of damage. Several owners of buildings have been convinced that there is a good deal in the argument against useless top-weight and are taking steps to get rid of if. “I think the earthquake is going to have an effect upon the architecture of the future,” said the Mayor, Mr. G. A. Troup. “There will be no provision for heavy parapets and ornamental balustrades. Anyone who has been to Napier will realise that that must be so. If there is any construction above the roof line it will be light. Another thing I noticed in Napier was the great damage done to eantiliver verandas, and by them. They seemed to have been twisted and bent and torn in every direction, and in some cases the iron bolt (in the hook and eye pattern of suspension) was pulled eJean through the walk*'