ARCHITECT FOR NEW ART GALLERY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19034, 1 April 1930, Page 9

ARCHITECT FOR NEW ART GALLERY.

MR E. W. ARMSTRONG INSPECTS SITE TO-DAY.

Mr E. W. Armstrong, the architect, for the new Art Gallery, that is being presented to the citj'- by Mr R. E. McDougall, arrived in Christchurch this morning for the purpose of making his arrangements for the preparation of the working drawings for the building. During the morning he made an inspection of the site in the Gardens at the rear of the Museum which has been made available for the Art Gallery. He was accompanied by Mr McDougall, the Mayor (the Rev J. K. Archer), and the Town Clerk (Air J. S. Neville). The details of the site were explained by Mr James Young, curator of the* Botanic Gardens.

Mr Armstrong is a New Zealander by- birth, but since the war he has not resided in the Dominion, although he has been back for two visits to his parents, who reside in the Gisborne district. lie was last in Christchurch two and a half years ago. It is Mr Armstrong’s idea that the Art Gallery should harmonise with the Gardens, and with this object in view he may suggest a number of slight alterations to the plans that have been chosen. Certain alterations to the paths may also be proposed so as to make the buildipg part of the Gardens. This, he considers, will help to make the Gardens more attractive, and improve the setting of the gallery. The site that has been selected is quite a good one, Mr Armstrong states, and he believes he can utilise it to really good advantage. He indicated this morning that it was not his ideal as a site, but, as it had been chosen and there seemed to be no possibility of the question being reopened, he felt sure that he could make good use of it. While at the Gardens, Mr Armstrong viewed the site from many angles, his object being to visualise the building as it would appear from different aspects. He would not commit himself on the question of whether it would be better to use stone or brick for the erection of the building until he had had an opportunity of seeing what materials were available. Mr Armstrong ranged himself on the side of those who consider that an art gallery should be situated amidst gardens rather than in a city block, and he said he was delighted that the new Christchurch Art Gallery is to be a part of the Botanic Gardens. It is his intention to make a start almost immediately with the preparation of the working drawings, but first of all he will make some sketches showing certain improvements which he thinks would prove desirable now that he has seen the actual site. He expects that it will take him about four months to prepare the working drawings. _________