PROPOSED PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON

Progress, Volume VII, Issue 2, 1 December 1911, Page 902

PROPOSED PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON

Report on Competitive Designs by Colonel Vernon, F.R.1.8.A., Government Architect, New South Wales Wellington, 27th Sept.. 1911. Sirin accordance with instructions I have, as the appointed Assessor, examined the several designs for the proposed new Parliament Buildings sent in in competition, and have the honour to subnet, as the result of my investigations, the followingreport and award thereon: — Thirty-three competitors have responded to the invitation, several sending in alternative designs. In all, three hundred and twenty-seven drawings, including thirteen perspective sketches, have been received. In all cases the conditions as regards time for delivery, anonymity, character of the draughting, and adherence to the standard scale have been faithfuilv observed.

A package containing thirty-three sealed envelopes. presumably containing the names and addresses of the several authors, has been placed for safe keeping in the hands of the Undersecretary for Public Works, to be opened as may be directed by yourself. It is presumed that all competitors tiro either architects residing within the Dominion or members of the Civil Service, and their designs therefore are dealt With in this adjudication.

The designs submitted have received the closest critical scrutiny, and have been dealt with and their value assessed as, in my opinion, they more or less meet the requirements, the principal of which may be stated as — (a) Design of and relative positions of chambers and members’ lobby. (b) Accommodation for and. convenience of Ministers and members.

(c) Accommodation for and convenience of officials.

(d) Accommodation for and convenience of public (0) General design of the library and adjuncts. (f) General design of Bellamy’s and adjuncts. (g) Internal architectural effect of the design. (h) Architectural design of the exterior. (1) Compliance with general conditions as to position on the site, cost, etc. No single design contains all the good points," and several of the better ones are defaced by serious defects. Again, the work of adjudication is not made easier by the apparent some authors to the important question of cost, whose designs for this reason necessarily lose ground.

The. author of design marked No. 26, which would from its merits have forced itself into the

very front rank, has apparently deliberately given away his chance by submitting a design involving the site of the present library arrangement not permitted by the conditions. After the fullest consideration I have selected nine designs as showing, in my opinion, the most merit under all conditions, and have placed them in the following order: —- No. 18 . . . . First No. 6 . . . . Second No. 17 .. .. Third. No. 15 . . . . Fourth. No. 3 . . . . Fifth. No. 24 . . . . Sixth. No. 31 . . . . Seventh. No- 30 . . . . Eighth. No. 26 . . . . Ninth . And, in accordance with the Conditions of Competition and the authority vested in me by my appointment as Assessor, I award the premiums as follows: — To the author of design No. 13, first prize, £IOOO. To the author of design No. 6, second prize. £SOO. To the author of design No. 27, third prize. £3OO. To the author of design No. 15, fourth prize, £2OO. The response by the architects of New Zealand to the invitation of the Government is a spirited one, and the result must be gratifying, inasmuch as the architectural skill necessary for the de-

signing and erecting of this important building is demonstrated as being at hand and availab'e.

1 desire to acknowledge the excellent facilities afforded me by the Under-Secretary for Public Works for scrutinizing this large number of drawings, and also the valuable and willing personal assistance of Mr, W. McNamara, of the Public

Works Department, in the large amount of clerical

work and arrangements involved in the scrutiny, i have, etc.,

W. L. VERNON, F.R.1.8 A.

Government Architect, New South Wales.

The Hon Minister of Public -Works

Wellington Designs and Authors. 1. Alex. D. Spiers, Picton. 2. R. Loweish, Auckland. 3. G. A. Troup and W. Gray Young, Wellington. 4. Blake and Bennie, Wellington. 5. Beoro and Greenish, Wellington. 6. Thomas Turnbull & Son and J. S Seddon, Wellington. 7. G. A. Troup and W. G. Young, Wellington. S. Win. N. Page. Wellington 9 G. A. Troup, Young, and G. Robb, Wellington. 10. Leslie D. Goombes, Dunedin.

11. Frank W. Potre. Dunedin. 32. D. Murray Kean. Wellington

13. F. Mitchell & Co., c/o Mr. (Here. Wellington. 14. Dank B. Patterson, Auckland. 15. John Campbell and C. A. Lawrence, Wellington. 16. Win. Moniker,-, Jun.. Nelson.

17. Charlcsworth & Callender, Wellington. 18. John Campbell and Claude Paton, Wellington. 19. L. G. West & Son. Palmerston North.

20. G. G. Schwartz, Wellington. 21. G. G. A gov, Christchurch. 22. O’Connor and Bartley, Auckland. 23. Salmond and Yanes. Dunedin, .

24, Henry S. Morran arid Owen, Arcade, Auckland. 25. Edmond Anscombe. Dunedin.

26. McDonald & Dunning, Dunedin. 27. Win. 11. Glimmer, Auckland, 28. J. C. Madd'son, Christchurch. 29. J. C. Maddison, Christchurch.

30. S. Hurst Seager and Hart, Christchurch 31. Hugh C. Grierson. Auckland.

32. O. A. Jorgensen, Palmerston North. 33. J. Charles-worth, Wellington