DESIGNING OF HOMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16096, 9 December 1915, Page 7

DESIGNING OF HOMES.

ARCHITECTS AND BUILDERS. QUESTION OF COMPETITION. SOME AUCKLAND OPINIONS. Interesting views are set forth by leading Auckland architects respecting the complaint of the Southland branch of the Institute of Architects, that domestic architectural work is drifting into the hands of the enterprising builder. At the recent Architects' Dominion Conference, the Southland branch reported that the advent of an American publication and the facilities afforded the builder in copying and: adopting plans which it contained, as well as choice specimens from the work of various architects, by their instruction at the technical colleges in the rudiments of architectural drawing, had wrought havoc with much of the practice that architects once had. "People naturally," the report went on to say, look to save where they can, and it cannot be denied that in many instances these houses --are better planned, with a better understanding of convenience, of comfort, and also often more tasteful in design than many of those by architects, as evidenced by even their own paid-for illustrations in some of our journals. To stem this tide there is only one sound way. Legislation and words are of little use. We must have better work. To get better work we must have better training and education." The principals of a leading Auckland firm of architects, when interviewed yesterday, disagreed entirely with the report. They declared that cheap published plana are only sought by the man, or usually woman, who wants a great deal for a little. Though plans are published at a nominal figure, it requires the experienced man to adapt them to local conditions. They quoted a case where a lady was obliged to call in practised architects to inspect a house built from such a plan and adapted by the builder. As a result, she took the builder to Court for erecting a house which had to be condemned, and she won her case. The attendance of builders at technical classes was to be commended, because it enabled them to follow the instructions of the architect with greater facility. It was absurd to say that the domestic class of work was passing from the architect into the hands of the builder. During the past ! ten or fifteen years there was no branch ; of architecture in which such strides <had '■ been made as in the planning of homes. • Especially was that so in the Auckland Province. People, themselves, had been largely to blame for the inartistic designs of their dwellings. They had insisted upon shovy exteriors, in which cheap fretwork played a great part. Happily that kind of thing was no longer demanded. ' Another prominent city architect, who is a leading member of the Auckland branch of the Institute of Architects, said that the cheap plans which 'were published were not affecting the work of the practised architect to any appreciable extent. It was possible to purchase law books and medical works, but that did not absolve the purchasers from requiring the advice of the lawyer or the doctor. He agreed that there had been a marked advance in iht quality of domestic architecture, but the practised architect had led the way. On the other hand competition was not altogether undesirable, and it depended upon the profession itself as to -whether or no it had anything to fear from outsiders. The nublished plans, which were said to display "a better knowledge on the part of the drawer of convenience, comfort, and taste, than by the practised architect, were drawn by practised architects themselves. In regard to better education and training, steps had been taken already towards the establishment of a Chair of Architecture, possibly at the Auckland University, but, at .the present time, there was the question of funds to be considered. After a certain period it would be necessary for architects to pass an examination before they could be admitted to the institute, and it would be provided for that students passing the University examination in connection with the Chair of Architecture which it was hoped would be established, would be admitted as members. There was an ideal side to architecture, besides the commercial, and it was desired that the former should be fostered as well as the latter. Already a distinct style of colonial architecture was beginning to be evolved, and in the I future it would be perfected. §