COMFORT, CONVENIENCE, AND BEAUTY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 143, 18 June 1937, Page 19

COMFORT, CONVENIENCE, AND BEAUTY

Massively fronting three main traffic arteries, dignified yet workmanlike in its design, and with a main hall called a "ticket lobby," not unlike, in lighting and loftiness, the Maori Hall of the Dominion Museum, tlie new station is a striking building. An, attractive feature of it is the attention which has been bestowed on interior decorations, the scheme of which is pleasingly varied. ,The use of native marbles and tinted plaster, terrazzo, and tile dadoes has lightened up the stairways and more workaday parts of the head office immensely. The station has frontages of 258 ft to Featherston Street, 346 ft to Bunny Street, and 211 ft to Waterloo Quay. It is set well back from the Bunny Street frontage, and the plaza in front of it gives it a dignified setting. Jfho centre portion, giving pedestrian access to the main entrance, is paved to a width of 30ft, and has" paved brick recesses at the sides for seals. A semicircular drive enters from Bunny Street, and after passing the main entrance completes the half-circle, returning motor traffic to Bunny .Street., ,Xh„e. sides of the plaza,are laid out with flower-beds and rockeries surrounded by grass. Subsidiary entrances give access to the upper floors.

the whole, of its length facing, Waterloo Quay, Bunny Street, and Featherston Street, the building rises to a height of 72ft from the pavement level, and is five floors in height. .The back of the building is seven storeys in height. J The design of. the street frontages; is based.upon classic traditions, and vertical emphasis has been obtained by.a bold pilaster treatment with continuous vertical window mullions./, The; facing material is brick? relieved with a Coromandel granite base, tinted plastered cornices, and window, spandrils in glazed terra cotta in colour harmonising with the brickwork.

SCIENTIFICALLY REINFORCED.

JThe depisibn to use brick construction on the facade* necessitated a close examination of the latest methods and , data obtained from other countries liable: to earthquake shocks regarding the methods bf construction, and the* system adopted is based on the best scientific principles of reinforcing with steel rods placed,vertically in the walls and locked to the steel work above ajid below, forming what could be termed a grillage of steel embedded in the brickwork. This system has since been used in several Wellington buildings. * The roofs visible from the streets are covered with tiles of Spanish pattern which are half-round in shape. These are semi-glazed, and have a pleasing variety in colour. The main Bunny Street entrance is emphasised by a portico of huge Roman doric columns over five feet in diameter and extending to slightly above the height of the third floor, a height of 42ft. This feature in itself gives a very monumental and impressive effect to the building. An enriched bronze and glass canopy over the doorways extending out to'the width of the pavement gives shelter in wet weather.

From the portico one enters by doors, under a window 41ft high and 26ft wide, the ticket lobby, a lofty hall measuring 114 ft long by 40ft wide, with a coffered barrel cross-vaulted ceiling rising to a height of 48ft. Large windows at each end giyp additional light to this lobby, the walls of which are lined to a height of 9ft with New Zealand Whangarei marble and above that, to the cornice height, are finished with imitation stone of a pinkish shade. The marble pilasters are finished with richly ornamented bronze caps. The ceiling is heavily coffered and enriched, and is carried out'in fibrous plaster. This is painted and picked out in. shades of old rose and green. Tlie whole effect of the lobby is very warm in tone. All the doors and fittings are in bronze relieved with chromium-plated door furniture and lettering, which gives a very rich effect. The floor is of marble terrazzo laid to special design, the centre of which is a large circle giving the points of the compass. Yellow, red, green, and grey colours have been used in the floor.

PASSENGER FACILITIES.

On .the side of the ticket lobby is the booking office' with, on the opposite side, the checked luggage counter. At the extreme east end is a recess containing the counters for reservations. The fronts of the ticket boxes and reservations are finished .vith bronze and chromium-plated pilasters and ornamental grilles. :

On entering the station tlie passenger will turn to the right, buy his ticket, reserve his seat, check his luggage, and come back into the line of traffic again. To do this he moves round three sides of a ; square. . At the opposite end double doors flanked by fine bronze grilles give access to* the dining-room, measuring 39ft by 61ft^ and finished with a rubber floor, Hanmer marble dado, and piers, with bronze caps and bases. The walls are plastered and panelled and ceiling and cornice are in fibrous plaster. The centre portion of the room is raised, and is provided with a glass ceiling overvwhich are skylights. ; The walls are picked out in a soft shade of green. Access to the dining-room is provided by means of a short corridor from the concourse, in addition to the main entrance from the ticket lobby. This corridor has a barrel-vaulted ceiling, and Whangarei marble walls. -On the left-hand side1 of the ticket lobby before entering the diningroom are the offices of the stationmaster, and opposite these are show windows for the display of travel posters.

WAITING- AND REST-ROOMS.

At approximately the centre of the concourse are located the general and the ladies' waitingrooms. The former is finished with a rubber floor, Hanmer marble dado and pilasters, and plaster walls with fibrous plaster cornice and ceiling. The walls are painted a pinkish shade to harmonise with the marble. Over the marble mantelpiece is a large tinted mirror illuminated by a concealed light above. The ladies' waitingroom is finished with rubber floor, marble skirt-

ing, walls panelled with Southland beech to a height of Bft 6in and finished with a fibrous plaster cornice and ceiling. A large circular mirror is worked into the panelling on the end wall, and another one is provided above tlie marble mantelpiece. The entrance to the ladies' waiting-room contains a staircase which leads to a large rest-room, hospital, dressing-rooms, and lavatories. The dressing-rooms are provided with baths. The rest-room has a wooden dado with plastered panelled walls above. A fine wooden mantelpiece is set off by two decorated mirrors at each side. The lavatories and bathrooms are tiled in a very effective manner. The walls are of reseda green relieved with black and Chinese red, tlie whole setting off the white baths and basins.

DAINTY, HYGIENIC KITCHEN.

The remaining portion of the ground floor is occupied by the kitchen and kitchen staff rooms, and by accommodation for porters, guards, and other members of the railway staff. Between the general waiting-room and kitchen is the cafeteria, with, cream.tiled,.dado .relieved with coloured tile border. The tables and chairs .arc finished in Venetian'red,'which gives'a bright atmosphere. The kitchen is-fitted with the latest devices for the cooking and preparation of food, ahd special attention has been given to the hygienic aspect, all surfaces being finished, in tile or enamel, and precautions are taken to, ensure adequate ventilation. The portion over the ranges is top-lighted. The floor is covered with English red floor tiles especially made for large kitchens: The cooking is done by gas,

steam, and electricity. All the fittings are tinder a canopy which has mechanical means of ventilation to remove the cooking odours. Two refrigerators are provided in the kitchen for the storage of perishable foods. A stair leading from the kitchen communicates with a basement occupying the south-western corner of the building and containing various kitchen and general stores, workshop, and boiler-room. To the north of the suburban exit from the concourse are placed the barber's shop and dressing-rooms, men's lavatories, and various storehouses devoted to different branches of the service. The barber's shop has green vitrolite walls and cream-tinted plaster above, with the woodwork painted in cream enamel. At the extreme northern end of this wing the offices of the bus department have been placed, wilh access from Featherston Street.

THE UPPER FLOORS.

The upper floors of the main block, as mentioned before, are reached by the public from two subsidiary .entrances from the Bunny Street front, leading to.elevator, s .halls and staircases well finished and excellently lighted.' The main office entrance at the corner of Bunny Street and Waterloo Quay is lined with Whangarei marble to the ceiling. This marble extends up to the first floor, and above this to the top floor i tlie staircase dado is terrazzo or the same shade as the marble. Four passenger elevators are provided, with a goods lift at the end of the Featherston Street wing.

. The wills of the general manager's department are panelled in plaster and wood veneers, while

the offices of the heads of the departments have panelled dadoes. The walls of the corridors aiid staircases have: tile dadoes. The offices generally have hard' plaster dadoes finished with paint with the walls above tinted in primrose distemper. Variation has been given to the offices by painting- some with soft green dadoes finished , with a • black line, whilst others are painted a leather-coloured brown finished with a bright green border.

SOCIAL HALLS.

On tlie fifth floor are the staff social rooms. The women's tearoom faces out over the harbour, and a lovely view of the Hutt Valley is obtained. At the western, end is a loggia which faces the Tinakori Hills, ahd opens on to a flat roof where the staff can take full advantage of the sunlight. The men's social hall faces Featherston Street, and is approached by a separate staircase. Each room is finished with wooden dadoes with long horizontal panels and cream-tinted wall above. Provision has been made for tea and hot food for the staff in both these places.

CHILDREN'S NURSERY.

On the sixth floor there is a very complete nursery, reached by a lift from the ticket lobby. There is a large playroom overlooking the tracks, and opening out into the flat roof where sunlight can be obtained all day. There are two sleeping-rooms with brightly-painted cots, and there is also a kitchenette with fittings for cooking, and sterilising all the utensils and crockery, a cloak-room, attendant's room, and a children's lavatory. The play-rooms and sleepingrooms are finished with painted wooden dadoes with brightly-coloured nursery friezes above. The play-room will be well supplied with toys, and the suburban mothers may be quite satisfied that their children will be happy there, and will be in good hands, as this department of travelling comfort is to be in the hands of a trained nurse, i I >

■-■ • VARIOUS SERVICES,

Lavatories throughout the building have tiled walls and floors and enamelled woodwork,^ and all the exposed pipes ar§ chromium plated. A dust shoot takes'the refuse from each floor down to the boiler-room, where it is burnt. The various floors are provided with j a files lift from the record room.

The building is heated by a system of hot-water radiators from large, boilers in the basement. Owing to the size of the building the v/atef?is pumped round by electric pumps. /In alb the main public rooms and! offices the radiators are concealed behind the dadoes, the warm .air coming out through ornamental bronze grilles. All the drainage pipes, the main supply pipes for the hot and cold water installation, and the mains to the hot water heating system are provided for ih a tunnel under the building, making them easy of access in case of blockage. The lighting and ventilation bf all upper floors is almost ideal, as in addition to having windows

on the north, south, east, and west sides, addi* tional light and air are obtained from two large internal light wells, which commence at the first-floor level.

The building has been designed by Messrs. Gray Young, Morton, and Young, registered architects, of Wellington. Mr. Peter Holgate was tho consulting engineer. The contractors Were the Fletcher Construction Company. Mr. Gardiner was the senior clerk of works from the commencement of the contract until some months ago, when he was unfortunately killed in lhe Featherston Street wing. Mr. Hedley was .appointed to complete the contract Mr. Russell, the second clerk of works, has carried out duties from the driving of the first piles. ■„■ /;

ENTRIES AND EXITS.

All motor traffic enters the grounds from Bunny Street on the .western side of the central island lawn? makes a quarter circle, which brings it opposite the entrance to the main lobby, and after depositing passengers and luggage, makes another quarter circle, bringing it out to Bunny Street again. All traffic will be one-way. Alongside the main arrival and departure platforms in Waterloo Quay tliere is a traffic road on the railway property with designated parking places for all forms of motor traffic, handily placed to the express trains. Nobody will appreciate the wonderfully comprehensive facilities offered by the new station more than Wellington's large suburban population in the Hutt Valley and up the hills to Johnsonville. It is anticipated .that 16,000 passengers from these suburbs will use the station daily. Tho roomier, weatherproof platforms and the very full weatherproof accommodation and minor facilities will delight those who patronise the race trains, both suburban and afield. Then those'vfhb' use the northern expresses and the Wairarapa trains will find a surprising completeness in the access and luggage arrangements. Jhe main suburban entrance and exit is on the west, in Featherston Street, where all trams will eventually stop,- The main passenger entrance from Bunny Street in the front of the building can .be used by all,vbut it will apply {particularly to those who are making for tlie expresses and long-distance trains. On tlie cast < side of: the building lie all luggage and parcel department* and on the east side also will be the main longdistance travel exit, alongside the taxi and other motor .ranks. .

Six slot telephones are provided in the hall. , , Immediately, inside the front entrance are two small rooms, pne for red-cap porters and j the other for taxi officials. Turning to the left along the south wall of the magnificent booking hall, one comes 'to. the stationmaster and hie. staff. Immediately on; the-right inside the booking hall, is the booking office, the first three counters for the nearby traffic dnd^the next'two for the long-distance traffic. There is a counter for payin purposes where-guards pay in money and thero is another counter for payments to these

Continued •__ next pact.