BUILDING PROSPECTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21297, 26 September 1932, Page 10

BUILDING PROSPECTS

MOVEMENT IN AUCKLAND MUCH-IMPROVED OUTLOOK RENOVATIONS AND RENEWALS IMPORTANT CONTRACTS PENDING A considerable improvement in tho tono of tho building trade in Auckland is already noticeable, according to loading city architects. A number of important building contracts are ready to be proceeded with as soon as the general trado situation shows signs of definite and lasting improvement, and already tho feeling of increased confidence is reflected in the number of structural renovations and improvemenfs at present being carried out.

One Auckland .architect stated that lie had more work than ho could comfortably handlo and that ho was considering tho advisability of ongaging additional staff. "The present building season is going to prove ono of tho best experienced in Auckland for several years," lie said, "and I personally should not bo surprised if the improvement results in an increase of from 5 to 8 per cent in building prices between now and the New Year." Unemployment Subsidy The Unemployment Board's building subsidy had undoubtedly assisted in improving conditions in tho building trade, the architect said. Improvements to house buildings were now freely being carried out in tho Remuera, Epsom and Mount Eden districts. In ono case an Epsom householder had authorised renovations to the extent of about £250 on a house valued at about £BOO. Since tho work had been completed he had received offers of over £1250 for the house. This was merely an instance of tho fact that the present-day demand was for houses with modern conveniences and presenting an up-to-date appearance. It was hardly likely that building costs would go any lower. He had recently designed a country house with garage, the contract price for which, four years ago, would have been about £BSO. Actually the contract was let this season for £4BO. There was also a fair degree of activity in house building in tho outer suburban districts and it was highly probable that the end of the coming summer would see the completion of many fine homes at Orakei.

City architects are hopeful of a comparatively early revival in the more important branches of the building trade. One leading professional man said it only needed an appreciable improvement in general conditions for a renewal of building activity in Queen Street. There were still far too many old buildings in the heart of the city and it was a definite fact that a general architectural survey would result in the condemnation of a number of these buildings as unsafe, according to modern constructional ideas. It was ridiculous to say that Auckland was over-built when many buildings were hopelessly out of date. New Flat Buildings

Many architects hold that a corollary to unproved trade conditions will be tho erection of modern blocks of flats closo to tho city.' It is considered that there is a. considerable modern tendency toward flat-dwelling in large cities and that Auckland so far lias lagged behind other largo centres. One architect is definitely of the opinion that during tho next, few years a number of modern flat buildings will bo erected in tho Grafton and SynionJs Street areas, providing self-contained accommodation for city peoplo at a considerable saving of transport charges. Tho Devonport waterfront is another area marked out for future development along these lines. Several city architects report having received inquiries during the past few weeks concerning factory buildings near tho city. It is quite definite, they say, that a number of important building contracts will be finalised as soon as tho promises of all-round improvement take definite shape.