SOUTHERN ARCHITECTURE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2401, 16 January 1909, Page 5

SOUTHERN ARCHITECTURE

SOFVsE CHRISTCHURCH SAMPLES.

A VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS

During a Christmas holiday visit t-o Christchurch, Mr .H. J. Brownlee Aajl a look at the latest buildings chat have been erected there, and •.vao much impressed with what he saw. *

Speaking to a ‘’Times” represents-' jjvo yesterday, Mr. Brownlee said chat the new premises which had been ri tried for the D.I.C. on a block of ,und running through , from Cashel ..street to Lichfield Street, is one of film finest business premises he has wen in tlie Dominion. “The-eleva-tion from Cashel Street,” said Mr. A rwnlee, Ms handsomely worked out n Oarnaru anti Sumner stone, and is

.-cry massive and imposing-looking, with its color of white contrasted with deep brown. The facade is a ..rnsible,. solid-looking business front, •ieh in style, but not unnecessarily ornamented in detail. The building

Is three stories in height, and the ■•outage to Lichfield Street is of brick unshed in cement and Oarnaru stone. On tho Cashed Street frontage, the same of the company is cut out of the .tone in hold relief.”

•‘A special feature that is of importance,” said Mr. Brownlee, “was ;!fe unique style of verandah that has icon constructed for tlie building. Christchurch has a by-law that only allows glass-covered verandahs to bo •rented over the footpaths, and when hail fed I these verandahs suffered lamage, with a result that these large panes of glass were smashed, and the /rramiabs leaked in wet weather, rb-ii difficulty has been got over in diis instance, and the D.I.C. verandah built of -iron, while enough glass has been Jet in to comply with the by-law. At the rear of the verandah, ihere is special glass to reflect the fight into the shop, and in the front the signs are worked in iron-, while the ceiling of the verandah i.s made of designed metal. The shop windows -sre also on the very latest plan, and -ire arranged so as To allow as much.

-i the frontage as possible to be cover'd in glass. The building is supported on fine .steed pillars, and these, ■when painted white, are hardly noticeable. Another clever part of tho architecture of tlie building is the ■skilful lighting, lor there is not a dark corner to be found on any floor. The interior i.s all painted white, and the walls arc so supported by joists hat in ease of fire they cannot collapse. Then there are adequate meaDs r;> stop the progress of a fire. Asbestos sheeting has been used liberally, md tlie windows are glazed with •'wired plate.” and are fitted with a contrivance that, at a certain heat closes them automatically so as to stop any draught. Then the whole building is lined with water sprinklers. which work automatically when ihc temperature reaches' a certain point. The general fittings have also been given special attention. The offices are beautifully appointed, the strong-rooms are of the latest heatresisting pattern, the staircases are very handsomely carved, and are easy to climb, .while hydraulic lifts have nho been installed. The roof of the

building is fiat, and is laid down in N."-iic-hatel asphalt. Messrs England Bros., of Christchurch, were the arc-hi-Uets, and the building certainly does them credit.”

“The Kainpoi Woollen Company, whose premises were also destroyed by fire twelve months ago, are erectbig a fine building in Manchester Street, between the Clock dower and the railway station.” said Mr. BrownIce. "but nothing i? being done to their old premises in Cashel Street. Messrs England Bros, are also the architects for this structure, and the building is one to be proud of. The frontage to Manchester Street is of Oarnaru stone with great plate glass windows so as to to give the maximum of light. The building is three stories high, and has a very noble appearance. There is plenty of floor space, big strong rooms, and well-ap-i minted offices. At right angles to ihe main building, and facing oil a tide street, is the clothing factory. This is plainer in design, but is very strongly constructed, well lighted, and containing every convenience. Downstairs there is a large dining room, where the girls have their lunch, and there are cycle stalls, in which tho hands can keep their cycles, every Mail being numbered. The building is well provided with lire escapes, and is; up-to-date in every way.” “I was also very much interested in the style of residences that have been built in Christchurch during tho past few years. Christchurch was always an' EnglLsli-iooking city, and tho pretty and artistically conceived houses there greatly add to its charm. Jn the St. Albans and Fondalton districts 1 was pleased to find such quaint, artistic gabled houses with rough -cost walls. The architecture : ; varied, but the general effect, dr rather the tout ensemble, as one drives around is so charming that one cannot keep from admiring the pretty villas with their pretty gardens. At the seaside resort. Sunnier. 1 also saw many pretty houses built upon Die hillside with terraced gardens and winding pathways. The style of architecture here is also well varied, there is an absence of sameness, and each design seems to vie with tho other in beauty. On the Cashmere Hills a great number of handsome residences have been built, and I spent much pleasurable time in studying the various architectural designs.”