CIVIC CENTRE SITE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19349, 9 June 1926, Page 17

CIVIC CENTRE SITE.

SYMONDS STREET PROPOSAL

PORTIONS OF CEMETERIES.

.AN ARCHITECT'S ADVOCACY.

ESTIMATED COST OF £525,000

The proposal to create a civic square for Auckland on the land occupied by ■the cemeteries on both sides of Symonds Street was dealt with by Mr. J. W. Rough, architect, in an address to the Karangahape Road Business Promotion Society yesterday. There was a large at-

tendance. Mr. Rough said he considered there was a real need for a civic centre in Auckland, for at present the public buildings were not at all in keeping with the natural beauties of the city. Two sites had been mooted already. Very little could be said in favour of the Queen Street site. It was very difficult to treat it in an impressive manner, and just because the present Town Hall had been built in ,a wrong position there was no necessity to go on making mistakes. From an architectural point of vi«\v.

few sites in the world could equal the Albert Park one. But with such unlimited scope there would be a tendency on the part of any designer to treat a civic

centre there from a purely aesthetic point of view and to neglect the practical side altogether. Also, Albert Park was at present an asset that no city could afford to lose—a breathing place right in the middle of the city. It should be added to instead of .being made smaller. The residential area outside the park would be needed for university extension in the future and as such could not very well be used as a civic centre. Symonds Street Advantages.

"In Synionds Street, between Grafton V Bridge and East Street, there is an excellent locality for a civic centre," Mr. Rough said. "The area to be used would be that at present occupied by the cemeteries on either side of the road. These arc dead pieces of ground and are neither use nor ornament. There : would be a frontage of 300vds. on Synionds Street and about 130 yds. on East Street and Karangahape Road. The area would be bounded on the other side by Belgium Street.

"I have examined various sites round about the city," said Mr. Rough, "but n-one appeals to me as does the "Synionds Street one. It is ideal. It will allow for future extension without the necessity for closing or altering any of the existing roads or surroundings, provides plenty of open spaces and has all the elements of a really fine monumental civic centre. It 4 allows for progressive treatment, that is, the buildings can be proceeded with as required." Mr. Rough illustrated his remarks by a plan showing the proposed positions of the civic buildings on the site; The Town Hall would be placed at the top end of the property, backing on to East Street, with wide approaches on all four sides and .a circular route for vehicles. The main front would look down to the 'Art Gallery at'the lower end of .Karangahape Road. The existing garden at the lower end would remain but would be enlarged by the addition of a portion of the Jewish - cemetery to the west of it. The municipal offices, which would include the council chamber, would be on the east side of, Symonds Street. • Positions of Buildings.

Mr. Rough ssiid that as he imagined the buildings, the Art Gallerywould be the lower of the group, the office block would be about two storeys ' abovfe. the street while the Town Hall, being on higher ground, would be the dominating feature of the scheme. At present there was an open space which fell away to the centre of the site and terminated in a fully near the western side. This would e graded and* would require a certain amount of filling, but in the main the hollow would remain.

It was proposed to terrace this down to an open circus with sloping paths to the west and a maximum grade of about one in ten. A flight of steps, 40ft. wide, would'lead from the str.eet, The circus would be slightly above the present existing levels and would be 175 ft. in diameter on the level with a bandstand sr. the centre. It was proposed to close the western end of the circus with a pergola over the low level of the path, and beyond this," quick-growing high trees such as poplars would be planted, wi.ih lower trees and shrubs between, forming an ideal background for a pergola designed on classical lines.

The space between the western boundary and Belgium Street should be occupied by a new Government building to match the office block in style. An art school could also be placed on this ground, and entrances to the buildings could be obtained from both sides of the square. Plenty of room would still be available. Relieving Traffic Congestion.

To relieve congestion at the intersection of Grafton Bridge and Symonds Street, he had indicated on the plan a circus, which would be obtained by demolishing the building at present on the corner or cutting it across at an angle. The existing tram shelter would be removed further down Symonds Street. Then when the City Council widened Belgium Street to take the trams, he thought it would be wise to confine only through cars to Symonds Street. All the cars from Mount Albert. Edendale and Dominion Road would run via Belgium Street,, and all turning from Symonds Street to Karangahape Road would be entirely eliminated. In fact all traffic in Karangahape Road between Symonds Street and Queen Street would cease and this would make for the easier handling of traffic. "Coming to the estimated cost of the scheme we score heavily over Albert Park," said Mr. Rough. "Apart from the value of the ground, which is. I believe, vested in the City Council, the costs of the completed scheme would be something like £525,000, made up, as follows: Office block, £140,000; Art' Gallery, £90,000; Town Hall, £260,000; layout of grounds, £10,000; removing of graves, £25,000. Revenue From Leases. "By leasing the Queen Street property the interest and sinking fund on the immediately anticipated outlay, the office block and a portion of the Art Gallery would be more than met and would leave a balance to be set aside for the Town Hall proposition. By selling the property —and as the City Council has no use for it there is no reason why this should not be done-we could' practically finish off our scheme in Symonds Street and there would be no further burden on tae ratepavers. I would estimate the cost of the proposed circus at the bridge at approximately £65,000." Mr. Rough reiterated his statement thatthe Symonds Street site was ideal, is central without being in a ousmess area," he said. "It can never become a commercial site. It allows for the expansion of Auckland far in excess of ouv present estimates; its position is commanding and dignified, and lastly, it is to find more universal favour with the to questions Mr. Rough said there should be no difficulty m removing the graves from the land to be occupied He could not give parallel cases wl)ele cemeteries had been used as c ' v > but in London graveyards had frequent j to be removed to make room for expanM M'r. M. J- Bennet, who presided, inthanking Mr. Rough for lus ac,dress, said he personally war, of opinion that the Symonds Street site was the best. that could be secured. His society Enpoitcd the ;i heme, not because the new c.y.c centie v.-on id be near. Kajanganapc Road but ! ,it . -favoured the pacing of th txrie centra in the centre ot the caj.