NEW CATHEDRAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23863, 14 January 1941, Page 4

NEW CATHEDRAL

THE WINNING DESIGN OLD TRADITION ADOPTED LOFTY CENTRAL TOWER Tim Auckland diocesan authorities are now in possession of photostatic copies of the drawings embodying;; the winning design by Mr. Charles 'lowle. A.lCr.n.A.. A .N.Z.I. A. ? of Sydney, for i he proposed new Auckland Anglican Cathedral. The design was placed first hy the adjudicator. Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, in the competition recently held in terms of the bequest made to the cathedral building fund by the late Miss Minn, Tait Morton. There were between -10 and 50 entries, and the winnine; design carries a premium of CI 000. The conditions issued to competitors suggested a design "in the spirit, but not slavishly imitative, of ihe great cathedrals of England and Europe, related to our own time, but definitely not ultra-modern, relying for its effect rather on mass and simplicity of line than on elaboration and ornament." Earthquake-resisting construction was required, and the correct orientation of the building was not made mandatory. It was laid down that the total estimated cost was not to exceed £200,000 and that of the first portion erected £75,000. Principal Dimensions Mr. Towle has designed a, church of reinforced concrete faced externally with hand-made brick of specified colour and texture, and roofed with copper. The square central tower is 12.1 ft. high, and the other principal dimensions of the building are as follows: Length of church proper, 212 ft.. or with lady clmpel, WOrt.; height to ridge of roof, 61 ft.; height of aisles, 40ft.; length of nave, 128 ft..; width of nave, 5.1 ft.; width across transepts, 88l't.; _ lengf h of choir, 07ft.; width of choir, 1211.; length of lady chapel. 581't.; width. 26ft. The normal seating capacity is 1200, not including the chapels. Eor purposes ol comparison, Ihe nave of the present St. Mary's Cathedral measures 701b. by 4 lit., and is <S9ft. high. In a memorandum, Mr. Towle states that the problem of designing the cathedra] has been approached along lines of planning which preserve the main traditional features, but which modify them in accordance with modern requirements. While the nave is relatively short and broad, giving good preaching facility, the main lines of the building are definitely set out as leading up to the altar as a predominating climax. Use of Tradition It appears to 'the architect that the expression of a liturgical plan calls for some connection with the traditional Gothic style under which that plan was developed. At the same time the building has been designed as an organism and is rather a descendant of the tra-

ditional cathedrals than a copy of thorn, cither in mass or in detail. The cathedral is to be erected on the site in Parnell set. 'apart by Bishop Selwyn tor that purpose, on the opposite side of Rarnell Road to St. Mary s Cathedral. -Mr. Towle's site plan places ihe church parallel with the main road, lis longitudinal axis runs north and south. instead of east and west,, the choir being at the end nearest Newmarket. The "west" door at the extremity of the nave is approached from Si. Stephen's Avenue, and another doorway, likely to he mow generally used, is provided in the transept nearest, I'arnell Road. Interior Features Reinforced concrete vaulting covers the nave, transepts and choir. The nave is in five hays, and its ten large side windows are each 21ft. high. Above the altar is a rose window lift, in diameter. The choir is surrounded on three sides by an ambulatory giving access to the lady ehapel, which continues the centre line of the church in a southerly direction. Parallel with the choir and on either side of it are chapels, one dedicated to the early New Zealand missionaries and the other to youth. A gallery is pro\ided over the "west/" _ door. The organ is placed in a gallery in the "south" transept, with the console in the choir. Provision is made for a sacristy, and vestries for the bishop, clergy and choir, with a chapter room, are contained in a wing designed in a. rather domestic style, on the side furthest from the street. The baptistery is octagonal and is attached to the nave near its "western" end. The tower contains a hell chamber capable of accommodating a full peal of eight hells, with a, ringing chamber below. It is braced against earthquake stresses, and four great L-shaped masses carry it down to a single raft foundation at a greater depth than the foundation work generally. First Stage of Construction It is proposed to cover the internal walls and vaulting generally with lime plaster and to face columns and other features with reconstructed stone. The choir and sanctuaries are to he floored with marble and the nave willi wood blocks. Decorative features of the exterior, including sonic statuary on the tower, are intended to be carried out in stone. Two of the architect's drawings show the portions of the cathedral to he erected in the first stage of the project. These consist of the transepts, choir and ambulatory, 'without the central lower, lady chapel, youth chapel and most of the vestry wing. The space intended for the missionaries' chapel is temporarily divided into vestries. The wooden nave of St. Mary's Cathedral, removed to the new site, is attached to seat the larger part of the congregation, and the wooden choir is re-erected near the "western" end nj, a temporary lad.v chapel. Two of the architect's drawings arc reproduced in this issue.