Civic Trust
  • Home
  • About Us
    • What we do
    • Save the Date
    • Newsletters
  • Featured Articles
  • Heritage & History
    • Heritage NZ Listed Category 1
    • Awards & Grants
  • Get involved
    • Become a member
    • Make a donation chasing coin
  • Street Art
  • Blue Plaques
  • Contact
    • Links
    • Facebook Page
Featured Articles

Timaru District Council

24/6/2017

1 Comment

 
​The classical architecture of ancient Greece set high standards in formal composition, using simple elements to express power, elegance and confidence.

The Romans added the arch to their vocabulary – and curves in general - to further enrich classical forms, creating an architectural pattern book to last for centuries.

Following the middle ages where the Gothic movement held sway, the Renaissance period saw architects in northern Europe returning to the classical models of Greece and Italy.  Civic buildings of any significance relied upon these sources of inspiration right through to the early 2oth century.

The civic buildings of the Timaru Borough Council began with the Public Library on the corner of King George Place and Latter St (1908), and progressed eastwards shortly after.  The former library and the main body of the Council building have matching façades – clearly harking from Italy with variations common in public buildings in the UK.

The materials chosen are weighty Timaru bluestone for the foundation plinth with lighter, softer limestone above.  One sees the same layers of contrasting stonework in the Auckland Town Hall.

The original sections of the Council building were designed by Timaru architect Walter Panton, crowned by the art deco inspired clock tower designed by his son Victor in 1934.

David McBride
 
1 Comment
westaucklandelectrician.kiwi link
18/2/2022 10:08:23 pm

I hope to visit the library there. The team of civic trust on the said district is full of brilliant people.

- Kris

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Back to Articles

    View by date

    Archives

    February 2021
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

    Categories

    All
    Featured Articles

Picture
CONTACT US
PO Box 674 Timaru 7940

Email info@timarucivictrust.co.nz
Picture

© Timaru Civic Trust | Website by Corporate Print
Imagery supplied by Brian High Productions ©
  • Home
  • About Us
    • What we do
    • Save the Date
    • Newsletters
  • Featured Articles
  • Heritage & History
    • Heritage NZ Listed Category 1
    • Awards & Grants
  • Get involved
    • Become a member
    • Make a donation chasing coin
  • Street Art
  • Blue Plaques
  • Contact
    • Links
    • Facebook Page