LACK OF TASTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23274, 17 February 1939, Page 15

LACK OF TASTE

HOUSES IN DOMINION CRITICISM BY ARCHITECT NATURAL BEAUTIES NEGLECTED [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] DUNEDIN, Thursday The opinion that the majority of the homes of New Zealanders showed lack of artistic appreciation in their design was expressed by Mr. Cecil W. Wood, president of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, during an address at the annual conference. Ho said the natural beauties of the country had not been taken advantage: of and it was the task of the institute as a body to endeavour to improve the standard of taste of the man in the streets This could first be done by the correct education of children while they were still at school, "I wish to refer to what I shall call 'public taste'," said Mr. Wood, "and by this I mean want of artistic appreciation of the large majority of New Zealanders as evidenced by the type of home they build. My interest in this subject was revived during a motor trip last year through part of the Dominion which shall be nameless. Denmark and Sweden

"A few months later I was fortunate enough to take a. journey through Denmark and Sweden —an interesting trip because of the delightfully designed homes of the farming community—and my remembrance was in sharp contrast to the homes I had seen in New Zealand."

Mr. Wood said the question was, could they as a body do anything to improve the standard of taste of the man in the street? Architects were not large in number, but they had definite responsibilities to the community, and it might be possible for them to contribute something of importance toward the development of consciousness of right and wrong in design in the young people of to-day and of the future. Beginning in School

The place to begin that education of bad versus good design wati in school, continued Mr. Wood. Presuming that a good set of lantern slides might be prepared depicting good design, a short lecture pointing out the good to encourage and the bad to avoid would be of value if it could be given once a year to boys and girls on the threshold of their careers. That seemed to be the only way some education in architectural taste might be effected. "Naturally I feel that more attention should be paid to the subject of architectural fundamentals in the principal schools of the Dominion," said Mr. Wood. "I believe that one or two schools for girls do include something of the kind. There are some things better learned during school age, and if only 25 per cent of the class is interested or impressed that is an achievement in the right direction and must eventually lead to advancement."