PLANS FOR HOUSES

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3175, 28 September 1942, Page 6

PLANS FOR HOUSES

REHABILITATION BOARD COMPETITION ANNOUNCED HANDSOME PRIZES DONOTED An important step forward, in the Rehabilitation Board’s practical plans for housing returned servicemen is announced by the chairman, Mr M. Moohan. A competition in designs is to be held without delay. It will be open to all British subjects in New Zealand who are interested in building construction. Architects, builders and engineers naturally will take the most active interest in this competition, but there is no bar to a layman participating. The prize moneys given by generous donors are on a handsome scale and outstanding results arc expected. Home Section Mr Moohan said that four prizes were offered in the house section. As the primary object was to design a construction system that would enable houses to be built more rapidly and at less cost than had hitherto been possible, it was natural that greatest attention would have to be paid to standardisation, prefabrication and precutting. This did not imply any loss of structural soundness or aesthetic value, for a condition was that every house should be designed to have good proportions, balance and harmony.

Prefabrication It was evident, added Mr Moohan, that further developments of the house-building industry would be along the lines of prefabrication. This was a modern development. Its present advantages lay in increased speed of erection on the field, continuity of output, better working conditions, economy of material and the fact that a large part of the work would be done by semi-skilled labour. Furthermore, prefabrication could be applied to much of the equipment of a house. Interior partitions could be supplied, for instance, with the door complete; bathroom, kitchen and electrical equipment could be standardised to a degree, andi manufactured in special factories; even concrete' steps and chimneys could! be' prefabricated. Points To Consider

These points .would require to be taken into account by competitors, said Mr Moohan. There were five auxiliary competitions for which prizes were also offered. These were for the most economical and efficient plumbing system- for a 4-roomed house; the most economical and efficient system of wiring and disposing light and power points; the' best system of precast concrete units; the best system of joinery;' and the most suitable and economical design for a set of removable furniture. Furniture Design The conditions covering furniture design were of special interest, said Mr Moohan. They provided. l both for living-room and bedroom pieces, and all timber had to be New Zealand, with all other materials of Dominion manufacture as far as possible. The design was required to be of pleasing appearance, sufficiently strong to stand the average wear and tear of a home, and suitable for mass-production. Special prizes wore offered for a child’s cot and a child’s high chair, with which it was proposed to equip these houses.

The assessors would comprise a body unique in New Zealand, adlded Mr Moohan. For the first time both employers and employees would sit Together to adjudicate, thus linking administrative and practical experience. There would be expert architects and engineers, two housewives, and the representatives of the trades involved, so that a thoroughly competent opinion could be obtained. Matter Of Urgency 4 ‘l am hoping for great things from this competition, and I trust that the response will be wide,” said .Mr Moohan. “It is a matter of great urgency that this country should provide its returned servicemen with* the best homes and furnishings possible. We are anxious to start building, but we want to build on the most economical, most efficient, most rapid lines. That is why the Rehabilitation Board is enlisting the co-operation of all in New Zealand having technical knowledge.”

Conditions for the competition have been drawn up and copies can be obtained from any branch of the Housing Department or from the Rehabilitation Board.