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Design Review: Volume 1, Issue 3 (September 1948)
First Glimpse of a Stirring Project — Proposals for the Auckland Civic Centre and adjoining Development
First Glimpse of a Stirring Project
Proposals for the Auckland Civic Centre and adjoining Development
This scheme has great merit if for no other reason than that it gives a first glimpse of a proposal for the actual rebuilding of an entire city quarter, using the principles of modern town planning and the opportunities of good architectural design.
Here are the Architect's comments:
The Problem
To provide in Auckland a combined Administrative Centre housing combined local and government authorities. To provide a sheltered square for outdoor public meetings and for assembly halls.
To provide parking for the up-town area.
An east to west route across the City central to link with the proposed harbour bridge, and an alternative main outlet from the main business area is to be planned for. In general the scheme must assist development of the business area towards Hobson Street and give it breadth by pulling the City out of the Queen Street gully.
The Need
The present accommodation of the City Council is grossly inadequate, and has no provisions for expansion. Government offices are scattered far and wide, a distressing state of affairs for those having to deal with the various departments.
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Have we lost the courage to carry out this bold conception?
1 City Administration Building.
2 Reception Hall, capacity 3000 seated or 1000 couples.
3 City Hall—capacity 4000 on sloping floor and galleries—full stage accommodation and equipment.
4 City Theatre—capacity 3500 and as (3).
(5), (6), (7) Government Offices.
8 Future Public Library on Civic Theatre site.
9 St. Matthew's Church.
10 T. & G. Building.
12 Open square, capacity 40,000, parking and servicing under for 600 cars.
13 Existing State Flats.
14 Queen Street.
15 Wellesley Street.
16 Greys Avenue.
17 Vincent Street.
18 Albert Street.
19 Cook Street.
20 Proposed Law Courts and Administration.
21 Proposed Police Station and Flats.
22 Proposed Ellen Melville and Pioneer Women's Hall.
The Solution
It was necessary for Government as well as City Council offices to have good access to the main streets, and to the main business area. This was done by placing the Town Halls along the Greys Avenue Diversion, the Council Administrative Building along Queen Street, the Government
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Buildings along Wellesley Street and the Albert. Vincent Street Division. The office buildings run approximately north and south to obtain maximum sunlight, and are designed as shells inside which partitions can be arranged as needed, giving great flexibility in office lay-out.
The Reception Hall has a flat floor for dancing, and will hold 1000 couples at a ball and 3000 seated at a reception. The City Hall has a complete stage, and will seat 4000 on sloping floors and galleries. There is also a City Theatre to seat 1500.
The Square is partly surrounded by buildings which protect it from street noises and wind. Forty thousand people can assemble here and disperse through the collonades under the future library or down to the underground parking and through subways to the proposed underground railway.
The underground parking area for 500 vehicles has access from Queen Street and Wellesley Street and from the rear of the Reception Hall.
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Reception Hall and City Hall from Upper Queen Street.
The future Library is lifted to first-floor level on columns to open up a view from Queen Street into the Square and to provide shelter for persons using the Square and buildings.
All buildings are designed in accordance with the latest research on design and structure. The asymmetrical layout has not been chosen arbitrarily, but is the logical outcome of complex internal planning problems and the street lay-out. The arrangement of the blocks of buildings is not forced into a preconceived pattern.
General traffic does not pass through the Square. The internal roads serve the Centre itself, and, while the approaches are broad, general traffic would gain nothing from entering the precinct.
The whole scheme should provide an efficient and dignified seat of Public Administration befitting a city of Auckland's importance.
The project is envisaged as forming an integral part of the future City plan, and takes into account future development. It is an overall plan to be built in stages, not involving extensive and immediate demolition.
The site lay-out will be discussed in the next issue.