THE BUILDING CENTRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22832, 17 March 1936, Page 14

THE BUILDING CENTRE

SUCCESSFUL ORGANISATION (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, February 15. Three years ago rooms were taken in Bond street for the establishment of the Building Centre. Here, architects designing a house, builders erecting one, or private people having one built have been able to make their choice of materials. Every branch of the manufacturing world connected with building is represented at the centre, and it is possible to see samples of materials and equipment of every type needed to complete any kind of building. The Building Centre maintains its own stall for the purpose of giving information and assistance in connection with the exhibits, and any information given is completely unbiased, as the Building Centre has no direct financial interest in the sale of exhibits.

Since its inauguration, the usefulness of the centre has increased to such an extent that inquiries are received from architects and builders in all parts of (lie Empire and in many other parts of the world. The premises at first appeared to be fairly commodious, but it was not long before the management found they had not enough room to arrange the materials under distinct groups and so as to make an attractive display. Running at the back of the premises and with an entrance in a street off Bond street were (he Grafton Galleries. The name “Grafton Galleries'' brings back to the memory a long series of art exhibitions and social functions held in this well-known centre ever a period of many years. It was here, for example, that exhibitions of works of flic French Post-impressionists created such a furore a quarter of a century ago, the first of the series coming on from the pioneer show hold in the Brighton Art Galleries early in 1010. Recent owners of the galleries have not been successful, so the Building Centre has taken (hem over on a do years’ lease, which synchronises with the lease of the original Building Centre premises, A covered bridge has been built over a mews to connect up the two buildings, and the centre now has twice as much accommodation as it had previously. The result in the lay-out of the exhibits is very noticeable. Every group of material has a space of its own, and there is plenty of room to display each sample in the most attractive way. The Building Centre has therefore become not only the place of business for architects and builders, hut one of the most interesting permanent exhibitions in Loudon.