NEW PREMISES

Southland Times, Issue 20887, 24 September 1929, Page 8

NEW PREMISES

ASSET TO ESK STREET.

SIMPLE AND IMPRESSIVE ARCHI

TECTURE.

During the past few months the work of renovating the premises of Messrs Nichol Brothers, merchants, in Esk street, has been steadily going ahead and is now nearing completion. When the last, of the scaffolding has been removed and the necessary final touches have been applied to the building, the remarkable transformation which has been wrought will then be fully apparent. From a small, drab building with its barred windows an interesting reminder of the early days in Invercargill when lawlessness was rife, the wave of an architect’s wand has turned it into a modern and strikingly impressive building which will be a decided asset to Invercargill generally as well as the particular street it graces. Some idea of the alterations which have been made to the premises was given to a Times reporter yesterday by the architect, Mr Allan C. Ford. The building is of a modern type, consisting of three shops, the measurements of which are 35 feet by 17 feet. The entrance to the offices on the second floor is situated on the right of the building, swinging doors leading to '»,? stairway. The second floor comprises lot” suites, while strong-room accommodation has also been provided in the building. The shops, the ceilings of which are treated with fibrous plaster and the walls of which have been plastered, will present a fine appearance. Upstairs the partitions and ceilings of (he offices will be finished with fibrous plaster. A timber dado, four feet in height, will grace the walls. A feature of the architecture is the provision of lighting in front and rear. The elevation to Esk street is being treated with white cement with the facing of the shop windows, piers and stall boards done in terazzo. A verandah of the overhanging type adds the final touch to the exterior of the building, the simple and straightforward lines along which the work has been carried out adding dignity and impressiveness to the structure. ALTERATIONS TO FEDERAL COST FROM £3OOO TO £4OOO. Mr Ford, who is also architect for alterations which are being carried out for the Federal Tea Rooms in Dee street, owned by Messrs A. C. Millar, Ltd., was able to give the reporter some idea of their nature. Costing a sum ranging from £3OOO to £4OOO, the alterations will be carried out in the interior of the building, the front of which will not be altered greatly. The present low portion will be brought up to conform with the height of that portion above the Regent Theatre, and when completed will be three storeys high. The windows will be treated in a leadlight effect. The ground floor of the building, where the shop is situated, will not undergo extensive alterations. The builders will mainly concentrate their energies on the tea rooms where all the brick partitions are being removed to open up the place. The entrance from the shop is to be altered so that the staircase, instead of opening into the tea rooms as was the case in the past, will lead into a hall where conveniences for both sexes will be provided. There will also be a lounge and the staircase will continue from the hall to the banqueting room on the top floor. This room will be extended to twice its present, size and a large banqueting room capable of accommodating between 230 and 250 people will be provided. A separate kitchen apartment will be provided for this floor.

The kitchen department in the tea rooms will be more than doubled in size and adjoining it will be constructed a large staff room and store room. An electric goods lift will connect the three floors. Hot water radiators will provide heating for the building. A dainty note will be struck in the decoration scheme, a feature of which will be lightness and airiness. The ceilings will all be treated in fibrous plaster with the tinted and panelled walls done in the same manner and protected by a soft grey timber dado. Large mirrors, measuring seven feet by three feet, on each of three walls, and fireplaces of modern design, add the finishing touch to the tea rooms.