MANY NEW FLATS IN BIG BUILDING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17837, 4 May 1926, Page 10

MANY NEW FLATS IN BIG BUILDING.

AUCKLAND PLAN TO MEET MODERN NEED.

* (Special to the " Star.") , AUCKLAND, May (5. One hundred residential flats in a building that is to be twelve stories high on one street frontage and nine | storeys on the other, are shortly to be erected on a commanding site in Auckland’s best residential district. /The building will cost £IOO,OOO, , and it is claimed it will be the largest, most } modern, and best fitted _of its class in the Dominion. It is hoped to commence building operations in a few weeks. The site is on a steep slope towards the waterfront, commanding splendid land and sea scapes, and is within a few minutes of the heart of the city On the Waterloo Quadrant frontage it will face the Government House, grounds, and from the Eden Crescent frontage it will overlook the harboiu The construction will be in concrete and brick. The building will have a frontage of approximately ninety feet, with a depth of about 130 feet. Oc» the main frontage there will be a terrace, where flowers will be cultivated On the Eden Crescent frontage the garden at present on the property will be preserved, the idea being to make the surroundings as bright and pictur esque as possible. The promoters of the scheme have been encouraged in their project by the evidence which exists in Auckland of a demand for residential flats at me derate cost. The “Prince’s Court Flats” as the building will be called will bt sub-divided into two main classes. The larger flats will comprise a living room, two bedrooms, a vestibule, bathroom, verandah and back porch. Such conveniences as built-in cupboards, electric stoves and heating points will be installed. The smaller flats will 'be similar to the larger except that there will be one bedroom only. The walls of each flat will be sound proof. Three elevators with liftmen will be provided, and a janitor will have the oversight of the whole building. Building on the flats system has in recent years been accepted in England, America and Australia as a necessity. New Zealand now appears to be developing on similar lines. Various reasons are ascribed to account for this tendency, including the difficulty and expense of employing competent domestic labour, the many demands upon the time of the busy modern woman, and the arduous responsibility of the. household. Again there is the difficulty of securing

houses close to the cities, and those whose business compels such proximity have realised the advantages of the flat svstem. Several fairly large blocks of flats have been erected in Auckland in recent years. Some idea of the nature of the" present enterprise may be gauged from the fact that ths recently erected Shortland block comprises 25 flats, compared with nearly 100 at the "Prince’s Court Flats.”