MODERN NEED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 8 October 1936, Page 3

MODERN NEED

LOWER HOUSE COSTS PROSPECTS IN NEW ZEALAND “I believe that the time is not far distant when the production of houses for the bulk of the people will be put on a factory basis,” said Mr R. B. Hammond, at a meeting of members of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. He mentioned that under the Swedish housing system the walls of the houses were put together in a factory and delivered in sections, including windows, floors and doors, which reduced the cost of transport, eliminated waste and shortened the time of the erection of the walls and roof.

Housing costs in New Zealand could be reduced by adopting organised contracts, co-operative effort and standarisation. Modern methods of combination, co-operation and standardisation had produced astonishing results in almost every other commercial activity, and there was surely scope in housing., Mr Hammond submitted the following suggestions:— (1) The building of as much of the house as possible in the factory on the principles of shop manufacture. This would eliminate waste of material and labour similar to the savings made in other highly developed manufacturing industries. The results would be achieved, largely, by standardisation, quantity production and machine manufacture. This would also have the effect of making employment and production more continuous throughout the year. (2) The standardisation of structural parts, but maintaining flexibility of design.

(3) The securing of highly skilled talent for the planning and construction of the dwellings which can seldom be obtained in the individual production of the cheap house. It was worthy of note that in connection with the low-cost housing schemes in America, England and the Continent the best architectural talent is employed in the planning of the houses.

(4) The revision of by-laws to permit of economic planning and construction, at the same time adopting good building and housing codes which would be productive of good standards for all types of houses. Research on a comprehensive scale, both technical and economic, would do much in the matter of reducing building costs. Such research should deal with materials and with methods of building, including standardisation and the investigation of new methods.