CHORAL HALL ALTERATION

Evening Star, Issue 21318, 24 January 1933, Page 2

CHORAL HALL ALTERATION

MODERN SHOP FRONTS What is undoubtedly ~ one of the most pleasing sets of shop fronts in Dunedin is to be seen iu Moray place, where extensive alterations to the old Choral Hall have been completed. Easity the most outstanding feature- of the frontage is the beautiful terrazzo work the ultra-modern style of which has won the admiration of the city’s most prominent designers. The terrazzo has been erected in the form of huge slabs (10ft Gin x 2ft Gin), the colour of which produces a modern black and gold effect. The colourings have been produced by the use of one of the numerous shades of Italian red marble chips, and a judicious use of first-grade cement colourings. The black border work consists of marble chips, iu this case from Belgium, set in black coloured cement, and the whole polished to a high gloss. Between the separate Colourings narrow black and gold tiles, only half an inch wide, have been neatly inserted, and at the back of these tiles provision has been made for the screws which, fasten the slabs to the face of the building. In this way the face is not marred by marks of any kind. The design and workmanship appear to leave nothing to be desired, and a prominent Dunedin terrazzo firm lias to bo heartily congratulated. Many more much pleasing fronts are likely to appear among the city’s shops before long. Another novel feature in the Choral Hall is the method of joining the large panes of plate glass without the use of any glazing bars whatsoever. Very neat and solid little nickel-plated brackets are spaced several feet apart from the sill to the transome, the joints between the panes of glass being cemented. The appearance leaves nothing to be desired, whilst apparently nothing has been sacrificed from the point of view of strength or service. While this idea is not altogether novel, it having proved ii success in northern centres, this is the first appearance in Dunedin.

Still another new departure from the ordinary type of construction has been introduced” into the ceiling and fascia of the overhanging verandah in the way of galvanised steel which shows an attractive stippled bronze effect. The customary material for this purpose is fibrous plaster, but the general appearance of ibis new Australian product has a lot to commend it.

Amongst some of the other fittings are bevelled plate doors to the shops and vestibule entrance to the upper floors. These are of first-class quality and design, the glass being beaded in and the whole showing careful and skilful workmanship. In all of the doorways the floors are to be covered with coloured inlaid rubber, which should bo in keeping with the pleasing ultra-modern effect achieved by Messrs Miller and White, the architects. Apart from the shops the contract, which was carried out by the Glue Construction Company, called for extensive alterations to the upper floors, which accommodate a modern warehouse and which arc also planned to incorporate a tea rooms.