“KING’S BUILDING”

Taranaki Daily News, 4 November 1927, Page 10

“KING’S BUILDING”

HANDSOME NEW EDIFICE BLOCK OOSTING OVER £50,000. A NEW NOTE IN ARCHITECTURE WORK NOW NEARLY COMPLETED. • Erected at a cost of over £50,000, 'King’s Building,” a worthy memorial to the late Mr. Newton King, is now practically completed inside and out. Architecturally it strikes a new note in building construction, not only in New Plymouth, but in New Zealand; in size, it is quite the largest building of its kind in New Plymouth, and both collectively and in detail it is an example which future, builders of business premises in Hie town might well strive to emulate.

Standing right on the hub. of the business portion of the town,: the building is a notable exception to the hackneyed style of architecture. In city buildings, fitness for purpose.'suggests, and even to the devotee Of tradition helps to excuse, a break away from the constraining influences of the classical orders. A glance at King’s Building is sufficient to show that in the main it is of a good, modern, inventive, untraditional

type, but not even markedly advanced iu character, and certainly not extremist. The architectural design of the building is in the Spanish style, with Northern Italian detail treatment. This style is quite a new one for commercial buildings in New Zealand, and is usually to be seen only in countries which enjoy a big proportion of sunshine. However,; the arelytects decided that such a style with its attendant colour treatments would be suited to the New Plymouth climatic conditions. The result is ; a building which pleases tho eye by its' colourful harmony and refinement of detail.

The two street facades are rendered in Caen stone cement, affording a background of a- deep buff colour, with the architectural embellishments picked out in Atlas cement iu -dull white. More striking effects have been introduced by green shutters and sashes and black ornamental balcony grilles, all of .which form a conservative colour scheme, and a happy composition of mass and detail.

The structure of the building is of reinforced concrete, with floors and roof of concrete and all walls of brickwork. It is designed to resist both fire and earthquake destruction. The internal arrangement is designed for numerous shops upon the ground, floor, and office suites upon the first and second floors. Access to the building is gained by an imposing and spacious entrance leading from Devon Street into an inner vestibule. from which the main staircase of Terrazzo marble, the passenger elevator, and a public corridor lead off to other parts of the premises. Access is also provided from Brougham Street by means of a wide corridor which leads through the rear portion of the building to the freight elevator and to the back entrances to the various shops. In this corridor, a narrow gauge trolleywav is provided for the convenience of tenants who handle heavy goods. The shop fronts are of artistic de sign. The stall-boards, architraves and entrances are paved with Turaaao marble, and the joinery work is of French polished, Tasmanian blackwood of a very rich colour.

A basement extending nearly over the whole site provides ample accommodation for storage purposes. It is well ventilated, and is made accessible by both stairways and elevates.

The general finish of the interior of the building is of a superior nature. All materials are of the best quality; and the practical execution of the ,®irious trades has been carried out aerording to the best known methods. Special attention with extremely satisfactory results has been given to natural illu mination and ventilation throughout the entire building. Adequate provision for al! modern facilities has been well planned. Each suite of offices is complete with telephone, heating, lighting, water and gas points, and with good strong room accommodation. The office joinery is in selected heart of Rimu, which is finished in its natural colours. AU hardware and sanitary fittings are of best English manufacture, and the elevators of Scotch- manufacture.

Upon the flat concrete roof is situated the pent houses in which the elevator machinery is housed, and also the building caretaker’s residence, which is a modern self contained place equal in convenience and comfort to any suburban villa. The only thing lacking is a garden, but that is compensated for by a magnificent view of both mountain and sea.

Both elevators .are dual controlled, but during the course of the business day will be operated by a special attendant.

Altogether, King’s Building is a great tribute to the thought, ability and originality of the architects, Messrs. Glimmer and Ford, ox Auckland, and

to the executive power pf the builders, Messrs. Jones and (Sandford, of New Plymouth. - Both architects and builders were called upon to solve many difficult and rather unusual problems. The site itself presented great difficulties in the sinking of the foundations, not the least of which was tho discovery of a mass of large logs buried in the locality. Reference to these is made in another article on this page. A further trouble was the presence of the Huatoki stream and water from various sources which continually flooded the foundations. It speaks well for the contracting parties, especially for the large staff'of the builders, that no friction of any kind occurred between builders ami architects during the course of .the long work. This in itself is a notable feature of the contract.