WORK FOR ARCHITECTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21783, 24 April 1934, Page 7

WORK FOR ARCHITECTS

MEASURE OF. IMPROVEMENT FEW LARGE BUILDINGS Comparatively brighter conditions in their profession were reported yesterday by a number of Auckland architects. Although the volume of business was very much below what it was in better times, it was stated that there was more work on hand than there had been for some time past.

The planning of new residences had suffered to a large extent from two causes. One was the cessation of the building subsidy, which, however, had not been very beneficial to architects. The other was the effect of the rate of exchange in raising the price of imported building materials. Few large buildings were being erected, but with additions and renovations to existing structures a fair volume of work was being provided. It was pointed out that each year thero was a markod increase in the population of Auckland, and the time could not bo far away when there would bo a definite shortage of dwellings, This must load to increased building activity. During ordinary times over 500 houses a year wero built in and about Auckland, and, although the flow of population to the city and the normal increase had gone on through the timo of depression, houso building had not kept paco. As far as business buildings were concerned, tho marked activity of a few years ago had provided an adequate number of premises of this naturo. It would be a long timo boforo there was much demand for now blocks of offices and shops, excepting perhaps in the suburbs, to keep pace with increased settlement in those areas.

In tho metropolitan and North Shore districts tho permits granted for the erection of dwelling houses for the first threo months of the present year totalled 4,1, of which nine wore granted in March. Thip number, although almost twice that of tho corresponding period of the previous year, meant little work when spread over the many architects in Auckland, particularly as a number of those houses were being built without the services of members of the Institute of Architects.

One architect pointed out yesterday that, although little actual work was coming in, there had been a marked increase in the number of commissions to submit plans for the consideration of people who were thinking of getting work when conditions improved. Renovations rendered imperative by tho depreciation of buildings were keeping some architects working at full pressure, although this type' of work was not highly remunerative. §