Training College and Normal School (Wellington) Competition

Progress, Volume VIII, Issue 11, 1 July 1913, Page 548

Training College and Normal School (Wellington) Competition

Won by Mr. Gray Young oi Wellington

The response to the Wellington Education’s Board’s advertised competition for designs for a Training College and Normal School resulted in 20 designs being sent in by 18 competitors, thirteen of which were from Wellington. The assessors, Messrs. J. Campbell, F.R.1.8.A., and G. A. Troup, F.R.1.8.A., of Wellington, report as follows:

headings, viz.: (1) Treatment of site, disposition of playgrounds, buildings, etc.; (2) arrangement of plan; (3) lighting; (4) ventilation; (5) sanitation: (b) heating; (7) architectural design; and (8) construction. Great importance was attached to the provision of sunny aspects for as may class rooms as possible.

“The designs were placed according to the number of marks each obtained. The question of cost was then gone into, and any competitor exceeding the cost by a sum substantially over the 10 per cent, excess margin was put aside as infringing an

“We, the undersigned judges, appointed to adjudicate the merits of the designs submitted in competition for the institution above mentioned, have the honour to report the result of our deliberations as follows:We award the first place to the author of the designs marked “R.l and R.2,” the second place to the author of the designs marked “P,” and the third place to the author of the designs marked “B.” Several designs of considerable merit—notably those marked “K,” “0,” “D” and “A” were set aside on account of exceeding the cost. The design marked “K” we considered of special merit. “We gave _ consideration to all of the designs, but to the leading six we devoted a careful scrutiny. The system by which we arrived at our judgment was that of awarding marks under the following

important condition of the competition. We recommend that the premiums be awarded to the competitors whose designs are marked as above mentioned, and in the order given, viz.: ‘R,’ T,’ and B We wish further to express the opinion that more than half of the twenty designs sent in by eighteen competitors are good, and at least eight of them are of very considerable merit.” J. CAMPBELL.

G. A. TROUP. The authors of the designs referred to above are: “Bl” and “82,” Mr. Gray Young, first place; “P,” Messrs. Atkins and Bacon, of Wellington, second place; “B,” Messrs. Hart and McLeod, of Christchurch, third place. The “several designs of considerable merit” were: “K,” by Messrs. Salmond

and Vanes, of Dunedin; “0” and “D,” by Mr, Geo. Robb, of Wellington; “A,” by Mr. J. S. : Swan, of Wellington. The site of the buildings is on each side oi Kowhai Road, off Upland Road, Kelburne. The Training College is to be on the east, and the Normal School and Infant School on the west. The Infant School is to be proceeded with almost immediately. The winning design.provides for buildings with pressed brick base and piers, and rough cast above, roofed in Marseilles tiles.

The school buildings provide for a self contained hall, with provision for hot water heating throughout.

There is also a kindergarten room, which, by fhe way, is not asked for in the conditions. The estimated cost of the completed buildings is £IB,OOO.

man who has little money available will be gladl to get this book. Mr. Samson goes lucidly through each phase of building, from the laying of, the foundation to the building of the chimney. He states emphatically that “the man who has once built unaided only one roomlet us say one tiny outhouse only 8 or 9 feet square, for example, if he has formed a fireplace in it, put a floor and a ceiling and a door in it and roofed it —that man will never afterwards feel the slightest fear that he will not be able to build a good-sized house. He will know that he can do it.” These words, from a practical architect, and a man who has written a good deal on 'building matters for the amateur, should act as an incentive to those who have a small piece of land but are doubtful of their ability to erect their own building, however small, on it. In the “foreword” Mr. Samson gives a striking case of a carpenter whom he knew in Africa who, in his spare time, built a house for himself. He says: “The Swede stopped with me for eighteen months. During that time be added the following rooms to the house: a large dining-room, about twenty-one feet six inches long by about fifteen feet broad; a bedroom, fifteen feet by.ten feet; a kitchen fifteen feet by nine feet; a workshop, twenty