PLANS FOR LIBRARY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 71, 17 December 1935, Page 10

PLANS FOR LIBRARY

Modern Trends in Building Design DISPLAY STARTS TO-DAY All the plans submitted in the prize competition for the best design of the new public library for Wellington will be displayed in the Town Hall from 2 p.m. to-day. There is always a very live interest in these competitions. Those who have competed unsuccessfully may be able to see where their ideas have not conformed to those of the adjudicators (Messrs. Cecil Wood and J. Norrie). Even if they have missed gaining a place, no doubt the experience will be of value to them in the future.

What will be found of interest is the extent to which modern ideas in architecture have been given expression. “Modern” ideas Jean to cold, formal, severe lines, with little, if any ornamentation of any kind—horizontal parapets, the lightest of cornices and “blind” doors and windows. The reason for this cold austerity in building, first exploited in Germany and the United States, is based on post-war economic expediency. There was no money for heavy ornamentation and French renaissance fal-de-dals. People could not afford to have elaborate frames for windows and massive recessed doors, so the architects of impoverished Germany drew absolutely plain buildings with clean-cut oblong holes for doors and windows. But at the same time they saw ways and. means of making necessity the mother of invention, and ideas began to sprout from the new architecture—larger windows and more of them, building to catch the sunshine, planning for better ventilation, and inside appointments providing for every lat-ter-day requirement. Even in the two front elevations of those of the winning authors there is the impress of this modernity in architecture. In each case the facade is singularly devoid of ornamentation, and the parapets are low-set to avoid top-weight. Some might even venture to say that in either ease there is nothing very distinctive or effective as giving dignity, strength and authority to an important public building in the heart of the city. In that respect the mere sketch of a'facade (not in perspective) does not convey a great deal, and may, indeed, be quite deceptive. In any case neither of the sketches will be used for the new library, which will be a composite of ■ the best ideas in each design.