SHAVINGS

Evening Star, Issue 20958, 24 November 1931, Page 2

SHAVINGS

There are signs that the depression is lifting. No section of tiro community is more sensitive to bad and good times than that which is covered by the interlocked trio, architecture--1 building-real estate. The past two years have meant a very thin time, and literally thousands of men connected with tho trio have been living on their resources, and keeping stout hearts and steadfast faith in the future. And there are encouraging signs in the air of returning prosperity, Architects are talking of jobs secured and prospects to be explored; builders are coming to light again, and the figures for the next monthly period will be better than those of the past. *• * « In the October number of the ‘Journal of the New Zealand Institute of Architects' there appears an extremely interesting article on ‘ Earthquake Action.’ with special reference to Hawke’s liay, by Mr P. Marshall, n.nd among its other informative contents there are articles on ‘ Effect of Season of Cutting on Properties of Timber,’ ‘ The Case For and Against Concrete Architecture,’ ‘ Tradition and Modernism,’ ‘The Law Relating to to Works under Contract,’ and 'The New Interest in Architecture." During a series of history of art lectures at the Central School of Arts , J and Crafts, Sir Rannister Fletcher, 1 P.R.1.8.A., compared Mediaeval witli Renaissance architecture. He pointed one that Gothic buildings were the result of tiie combined effort of master mason and craftsmen, whereas Renaissance buildings were the result of individual effort. Mediaeval work, he said, was small in the scale of its units, proportioned generally to the human figure, and, consequently, of many parts in the larger structures, as against Renaissanco work which was largo in scale and few in its parts. A discussion on a paper dealing with eugenics at a recent meeting of the British Association of Architects brought to light the existence of Strassbourg’s eugenic city. This model garden suburb lias been built by M. Alfred Dachert on land leased free by the municipality, certain factory owners contributing £IOO,OOO to the cost. The bouses, of labour-saving type, _ set in gardens, are let only to married couples of the middle and artisan classes who have passed a strict test of physical fitness. The rents are very low—returning about 4 per cent, on the cost of building. The results of this selective tenanting are said to be remarkable. The births exceeded deaths Jay 35,(! per 1,000, compared with '2.7 per 1,000 for the adjoining city. There was no disease, and the children were stronger, taller, heavier, healthier, and more beautiful than anywhere else in France. To us this deliberate encouragement of the fit sounds rather odd, since philanthropic effort in this country is now practically confined to fostering the unfit. ♦ * • « It is satisfactory to bo able to record that the careful readings of the levels which are periodically takc.n at St. Paul’s Cathedral (England) have not shown any deviation from those taken at the completion of tho reparation work last year. The waterproofing of the two cornices on tho south side of the building is now in hand. Tho dripping of rainwater since tho cathedral was built has worn a groove in the surface of the stonework, and the water tends to work its way into the walls. Tho surface is to bo protected by a layer of asphalt sloped to deliver any water that collects into channels leading to the rainwater down pipes. Plans have been submitted to the Christchurch City Council by Messrs j S. and A. Luttrell of a proposed fivestory building to be erected for Beath j and Co. Ltd., at the corner of Cashel and Colombo streets. Reporting to j the council, the Town-planning. HousJ ing, and Health Committee said: —The * plans provide for a building 88ft in height, whereas section GO of Christchurch By-law No. 15 provides that without the special permission of the council no building erected shall have a greater height than the width of the street upon which it faces. Cashel and Colombo streets are both C6ft wide. Preliminary proposals in connection with the building were, however, submitted to the committee about two years ago, and were approved, there being no by-law at that time limiting the height of buildings, and the final plans now before the committee were prepared as a result of the committee's approval, In the circumstances the committee considers' that hardship would bo imposed by refusal to sanction the erection of the building in accordance with the plans, and it recommends'that the special permission referred to in the by-law be given. Tho recommendation was approved.