BUILDING RESEARCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22099, 1 November 1933, Page 10

BUILDING RESEARCH

A NEW ZEALAND STUDENT ’ - * (From Odr . Own Correspondent.) LONDON, September 14. Mr A. L. Salmond (Dunedin), the holder, of the first travelling scholarship granted the School of Architecture at Auckland University College, has been on this side for nearly two years, and Will return home by the Rotorua at the end of this month, Mr Salmond has spent most of his time in London,, studying . various phases of architecture with the Architectural Association, the School of Architecture London University, the Polytechnic. (taking a course of acoustics under Mr Glover), and the Buildings Research Station and Forest Products at Watford. At the Watford - centre, a post-war institution staffed by ex-military officers, he had a wonderfully varied; and useful lime. At this station research- is : always in progress in regard to any matter connected with' structure; and materials used for building; information is available on any cognate: technical subject or problem for anyone .in any part of the world. People are instructed ;on'how. to deal.with stcines, brick, concrete, and steel troubles by the expert staff, all of whom are men wtll known. Anyone is welcome to write to the - station. for advice in’ regard to building problems .of. every kind. Dr R. E. Stradlmg,.-.M.C., D.Sc., M.lnst.C.E., A.M.A.Soc.C.E.. is. the director.

It is interesting to. note that coloured bricks are coming into use and that bricks with the roughest-looking surface are going most to be used. During a visit to Holland Mr Salmpnd was very much struck by a building of rough yellow brick, with panels of rich blue tiles. The effect was most striking. He says, _ too,. that it is not so much colour in itself that matters as the way in which colours are used and blended to attain a . pleasing result Ac the moment the rougher the bricks the more they will be in request.; Modern buildings and their, construction in France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, and Belgium provided' Mr Salmond with many interesting ideas. On this travel-round of four months he, was accompanied by Mr G. H. Harkness (Nelson).: Architectural illuminations and lighting of shops and buildings is another phase upon which the New Zealander him been learning everything possible, and he has been interested, too, in the problem of the most effective lighting .of picture galleries. . ■ Mr Salmond obtained his introduction to Dr Stradling through the instrumentality of Mr Neville Wright, of the New Zealand High Commissioner's Office, Mr Wright being the liaison official. Between now and the date of departure from Liverpool on September 30, Mr Salmond will pay. a farewell rotind t» friends in several places, including Cambridge. '