ATTRACTIVE BUILDING

Evening Star, Issue 22807, 16 November 1937, Page 2

ATTRACTIVE BUILDING

INVERCARGILL MOTORISTS’ HEADQUARTERS On this page is shown an architect’s elevation drawing of the Southland Automobile Association’s new; quarters in Invercargill. The building, which was officially opened on Saturday, is mainly the result of the remarkable growth in the association’s membership.

The following details of the structure are from the Southland ‘ Times ’;—

Situated 1 at the corner of Kelvin and Don streets, in a central part of the town, the new building is a conspicuous and beautiful addition to the city. The exterior is on simple, modern lines finished in deep cream-coloured plaster, with portions relieved in brown, and green steel framed windows. The base is green terrazzo, which has been given a special roughened texture. The main entrance is from Don street, and solid oak plate-glass draught doors lead from the vestibule to the main puMio office —a spacious, well-pro-portioned part of the building. The most striking feature of the interior is the polished timber work. The counters, dadoes, and doors are finished in Southland butt beech plywood, and the effect of this is unusual and striking. The beautiful grain has ■ been french polished, and the natural patterns compared to advantage with any imported timbers used ' for decorative purposes. The timber was prepared in Australia, where it was cut into strips one-twentieth of an inch thick, and every piece is perfectly matched. It was the desire of the association to

uso as far as possible Southland materials, and all this beech timber came from the Tuatapere district. A reception lounge has been provided and -will be cosily furnished, and a supply of current literature will be kept. The secretary’s office is in the angle of the building. The natural lighting arrangements have been made a feature of the building, and large glass areas give adequate access to tbe daylight. . The South Island Motor Union office adjoins the general office, and strongroom and cloakroom accommodation as provided here as in. other parts of the building. A handsome stairway of easy grade leads off. the vestibule from Kelvin street. The main room on the first floor is tbe board room, 29ft by 26ft in dimensions, and is a particularly welllighted room, with cross ventilation.' Acoustical board has been used for the ceilings throughout the building, and this, in conjunction with fibrous plaster, has a soft;* easy appearance and at the same time ensures greater acoustic properties.

A portion of the first floor is at present not in use, and may be sub-let as offices or used by tbe association. Another stroaf.room is in this part of the building. Heat is provided l by hot water radiators. The boiler room in the basement, unlike most such places, will remain clean and whitewashed, as the fuel udfed will be oil, thus eliminating coal dust and ashes. The whole system is automatically controlled. A balcony on the north front of the building, with an adjacent iron ladder, gives adequate means of escape in case of fire. • A special sound-proof room has been provided for the duplicating and other more noisy machines.