Civic Trust
  • Home
  • About Us
    • What we do
    • Meet the Team
    • 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 Telephone Exchange

6/12/2015

0 Comments

 
When Julia Gatley produced her impressive book "Long Live the Modern" in 2008 two Timaru buildings made the cut – the telephone exchange and a house in Park Lane to be discussed in a future column.
 
Both buildings were inspired by the Modernist buildings of Europe, a movement that began a hundred years ago and developed momentum through the 1920's.
 
After centuries of tedious repetition of historical styles, emerging architects claimed that a new age was dawning, demanding a new style.  Modernism was all about simple forms - relying upon proportion, balance and crisp detailing.  The new materials of structural steel, reinforced concrete and glass allowed new technical solutions.  Traditional decoration was discarded.
 
Christchurch architect Stewart Minson designed the telephone exchange in 1957.  It is a bold building, smartly detailed on all sides.  It takes command of its unusual tapered site while providing a special civic space as a sheltered forecourt.
 
With the amount of glazing to the north façade comes the inevitable problem of overheating, leading to the attachment of the brise-soleil or sun screen so popular in early Modernist buildings and still common today.  A sculptured relief on the east wall is by Russell Clark an exceptional talent in the history of New Zealand art and graphic design.  Here Clark's abstract ear remains as a pointer to the science of telecommunications that was about to dramatically change the world.  At all levels this building adds richness to the CBD.

​ 
David McBride


Picture
0 Comments



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
​Timaru Civic Trust

PO Box 125 Timaru 7940, New Zealand

Email [email protected]
Picture
Picture

© Timaru Civic Trust | Imagery supplied by Brian High Productions ©
  • Home
  • About Us
    • What we do
    • Meet the Team
    • 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