SAVAGE MEMORIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 118, 21 May 1941, Page 8

SAVAGE MEMORIAL

JUDGES' COMMENTS

GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE

Reporting on the designs submitted in the competition for a memorial to the late Prime Minister (Mr. Savage), the Jury of Award comment on. the fact that the majority of competitors disregarded the suggestion in the conditions,- that while there was to be no limitation On the cost of the memorial, the principles of simplicity and modesty which were the keynotes of Mr. Savage's life and character should be embodied in the design. The majority of the competitors made the tomb and monument the dominant feature and subordinated the layout of the garden of remembrance, which was the reverse of what the promoters had in mind..

"All three prize-winning designs, although they have much to commend them," state the judges, "contain serious faults, but the competition secured results which fully justify it and from one or other of the prizewinning designs a satisfactory solution of the problems presented by the site can be achieved." WINNING DESIGN. The first prize design by Messrs. Dormer and Bartlett, Auckland, contains many faults in the opinion of the judges, but they can be eradicted without sacrificing the authors' con-! ception. "The treatment of the Garden of Remembrance," continues the report, "which takes the form of a sunken garden and reflecting pool, is particularly happy with its softly curved lines, clipped hedges and green sward necessitating a minimum of constructional cost and maintenance. The garden would be several feet below the level of the surrounding country, and, screened by judicious planting, would be well protected from prevailing winds. We feel .that this design, above all others which have been submitted, gives an atmosphere of quiet dignity and restfulness in keeping with the essential purpose of the scheme." It is considered by the judges that the second prize-winner, Mr. W. J. Beech (Wellington), has over-empha-sised the part to be played by the Garden of Remembrance, but they particularly commend the proposal to place the monument as close to the face of the cliff as possible. This would give it added value when seen frdm the waterfront road and harbour.

"An original and clever design which shows knowledge and appreciation of traditional landscape architectural forms," is one of the points made by the judges in favour of. the third prize design by Mr. John Blake-Kelly (Auckland).