NEW ALBION BUILDINGS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3993, 28 July 1915, Page 6

NEW ALBION BUILDINGS.

HANDSOME THREE STOREYED STRUCTURE PLANNED. ALBION HOTEL TO PE REBUILT. Tenders will shortly he, issued for t.lto re-erection of Albion Buildings in Gladstone Road, which were recently destroyed by tiro. The building scheme, which provides for the demolition of the present Albion Hotel and its re-erection, will embrace one of the, most important structural contracts which has yet been undertaken in Gisborne. 'l’lie new building, which will stretch from the Panic of Australasia to the > National Panic, will have a frontage of 104 ft to Gladstone Road. Tbo plans have been entrusted to Messrs Burr and Mirfield, architects, who are to he congratulated on the handsome building they have designed. A ‘‘Times” reporter -yesterday was privily gw 1 to have a peep at the plans, winch are now in course of preparation. The frontal elevation is designed in unique modern style, which will add greatly to the architectural beauty of Gisborne’s principal thoroughfare, and complete the erection in brick of this whole block on the Gladstone Road frontage. The front of the new building will be plastered, and relieved b.y tiled panels, which will give a very pleasing effect. . The hotel jiortion of the building, which will be of three storeys, runs back 148 ft, while the shop portion, on Hie other side of the 10ft covered right of way, will be 110 ft in. depth. A self-supporting balcony will traverse the front of the hotel portion, and should provide a cool retreat for guests during the hot months of the year, while commanding a : full view of Gladstone Road. . A private entrance, 7ft wide, will lead into the hotel next the Bank of Australasia. A handsome and modernly-designed bar will occupy the space between the private 'entrance and the right of way. The liar, which will be fitted in the most approved style, will he Gift by 25ft. The ground floor of the hotel will also contain a spacious office, two commercial rooms, and a selling room. A ,sfairease hall, 18ft by 24it will be provided with a guest lift to the quarters on the higher floors. A haml- - billiard room, 40ft by o.fift, should prove a popular resort for guests. \ private entrance from the rign--of way will lead into a Cft passage. Store * rooms and bedrooms for the staff are also provided on the ground floor. . On the first floor, a luxurious hit lounge, 18ft by 20ft, is provided at the top of the stairs. off this is a bright and spacious diningroom, 45ft by 27ft. Adjacent to the dining-room will he the kitchen, scullery, store room, servery, larders, coo; safes, and chef’s pantry, all designed on the most modern principle. A bathroom for the staff is also provided in this portion of the building.

Off the lounge is also situated a cosy smoking room, 22ft by ] “ft. Facing Gladstone Road will be the guests’ drawing-room and a private sitting room, both designed in exquisite taste. Ample bathrooms and lavatories arcpro vided on tiffs floor, as well as three bedrooms.

'1 he second floor, which will extend the whole width of tiie building, from Bank to Bank, provides for a sitting room for guests, 34 large and airy single and double bedrooms, four bathrooms, lavatories, linen presses, and servants' quarters (including five bedrooms).

A stairway from the second floor will lead to the flat roof of the building. Here will be situated the washhouse, laundry, and drving room, servants' bathroom, storerooms, and other conveniences.

A goods lift will ho situated at the rear ot the hotel, and will carry stores to the kitchen, as well as the linen lor tin- laundry on the flat roof.

, d he hotel portion on the first fii-tor wilL run over the right of way, and I on the second floor will run over the whole building. 1 be portion oi the building from the 1-it right of way to the National Rink will lie taken tip with shops on tin' ground floor fronting Gladstone Road. four shops in all will be prodded lor. An entrance next the National Panic will open on to a stair"a.v which will lead to a suite of offices on the lirst floor. Here will be situated four large offices and strong room. From one of the shops on the ground floor a stairway will lead up to a restaurant and tea rooms upstairs. A large lounge is provided at the head of tin* stairs. Off the lounge opens the restaurant, 44ft by -101 1 . Attached to this is a largo kitvnen, pantry, and all other necessary culinary conveniences. Facing Gladstone Road will be spacious tea rooms. 'I lie fittings throughout the building arc ot the very latest design, and no money will lie spared to make Hie new sti nature thoroughly up to date, in every 'respect. Ine bar in the hotel has been designed with the latest ideas in laborsaving appliances. Ice-chests arc provided. wliiie the store room is situated conveniently near to the bar. I bo proprietors are to be congratulated on their enterprise in going in Ini' such a handsome building, while Messrs Purr and Midi eld, the architects. are to be complimented upon the artistic' manner in which they have designed the new structure.