Central Library’ Competition

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 94, 15 January 1936, Page 11

Central Library’ Competition

Sir. —Now that the designs are on view tlie public has an opportunity of forming its own opinion of the merits and demerits of the schemes submitted; they are certainly interesting. The award undoubtedly establishes a precedent, in that the assessors have flagrantly departed from the conditions governing the competition, as laid down by themselves. Yet it is a specific condition, that' if a competitor departs from the conditions, he will be disqualified. Having perused the conditions, one asks, should not the members of the City Council be requested to set up an inquiry into the validity of the award.

Tlie conditions explicitly state that one design will be awarded first prize, and another second. Surely it is reasonable to contend that if either of the two accepted designs cannot be built in such a manner as to be acceptable to the council (substantially as submitted), then such design should not receive a place. It is wrong (certainly in terms of British justice) for the assessors to give as a reason for violating tlie conditions, that they intend to combine features from different designs. Such a step should not be tolerated. If such can be applied to one. why not apply it to all competitors? Surely there are desirable features in each of the schemes submitted. After this competition, I think before any architect of good standing (and with a full appreciation of professional etiquette) decides to enter another, he will be entitled to ask, “will there be fair play,”—-I am, tc., “F.'N.Z.T.A.”