GLANCE AT FUTURE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 42, 19 February 1942, Page 4

GLANCE AT FUTURE

ARCHITECTS' WORK

NEW CONSTRUCTION IDEAS

Some points of interest to the general public, as well as to the architectural profession, were raised by Mr. H. L. Massey, of Auckland, in his presidential address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute of Architects last night. He remarked that war conditions required architects to plan economically and skilfully to use the limited material available.

After the war, great quantities of completely new and scientifically designed materials would be brought out, and this would require a revision of architects' preconceived ideas of construction, said Mr, Massey. Standardisation of certain forms would cnake architects turn their thoughts into channels hitherto uncontemplated-

In the years to come architects must offer collectively more to their clients than had seemed sufficient in the past They would need to have a greater knowledge of technical processes of the construction and new methods of building. Architects must be prepared for much increased and wider responsibility, such that no one person alone could hope to cope with. He would venture to say that the institute's sei' vice was built upon an organisation embodying all the technical groups, with its town planning and engineering experts and certain specialist branches embracing all sides of archi tecture, Government and local bodies as well as private individuals would entrust member with most of the work which called for the special endeavours of architects. AFTER THE WAR. One thing was certain, that if, as at the present time, unlimited sums could be spent on munitions of war, there was equally no reason why construction could not be commenced and maintained after the war, and thus insure prosperity and forestall any precipitation of slump when productive facilities and' man-power could be released from the'business of war. If ideals counted for anything, he could foresee a future embracing qualified architects into one organisation, a practising body privately, not departmentally, controlled, with all re--1 sources pooled, continuous employment for all members, and complete service to the public by collective collaboration of experts. Thus the institute might be able to arrange a service so that those of limited means might also gain the advantage of the architect's skill and advice. "In New Zealand," concluded Mr. Massey, ■ "we have the talent; let us [ use it to the utmost; let us so equip ourselves that this heritage will induce our young architects to stay in this country with no desire to leave for other fields feeling we have nothing to offer them in the way of advancement and responsibility."

After Mr. Massey's remarks had been warmly approved by several speakers, he said that he would gladly visit branches of the institute during the year in an effort to promote a reorganisation of the profession along the lines suggested in his address.