Broadcast Notice: RA Lawson, architect

RNZ National
Sunday Morning with Chris Laidlaw
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday
22 September 2013

9.40 Norman Ledgerwood – Dunedin’s Victorian Architect
Norman Ledgerwood has just published a book about RA Lawson, the architect behind some of the country’s most important historical buildings. Scottish-born Lawson designed the First Presbyterian Church of Otago, Knox Presbyterian Church, Larnach Castle and the Dunedin Municipal Building. In his 28 years working in Dunedin from 1862 onwards, Lawson designed over 250 buildings, and his work also survives in many towns in Otago and Southland.
R.A. Lawson: Victorian Architect of Dunedin, by Norman Ledgerwood, with photography by Graham Warman, is published by the Historic Cemeteries Conservation Trust of New Zealand.
http://www.cemeteries.org.nz/

● Norman Ledgerwood ( 17′ 56″ )
Writer who chronicles the career of architect Robert Lawson, the man responsible for much of the historic skyline of Dunedin.
Audio | Downloads: Ogg MP3

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Publication: 25 September 2013.
From the publicity material . . .

Following the discovery of gold in Otago, Dunedin quickly grew to become the largest and richest city in New Zealand. Among the architects who influenced the young city was the Scottish architect, Robert Arthur Lawson.

Lawson became more than a leading architect of the day, he was deeply involved in the management and affairs of his beloved Presbyterian Church. Over a short period Lawson played a major role in the growth of Dunedin — taking it from a small township to a city of remarkable and enduring Victorian architecture.

Lawson’s most significant works — First Presbyterian Church of Otago, Knox Presbyterian Church, Larnach Castle, Otago Boys’ High School, Dunedin Municipal Building — take their place amongst the country’s most important historical buildings and grace Dunedin to this day, giving the city its distinctive
character, unique among New Zealand’s towns and cities.

In R.A.Lawson Norman Ledgerwood celebrates the life and career of Lawson, and Graham Warman’s photographs offer an elegant tour of the living legacy of Lawson’s most prominent buildings.

This handsome volume is printed on fine art paper and is richly illustrated throughout with historical and contemporary photographs, as well as many of Lawson’s architectural drawings.

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

Dunedin’s existing building stock

Standard Building Before

Standard Building March 2013 (Images: Glen Hazelton)

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Email received.

—– Original Message —–
From: Glen Hazelton
To: City Planning ; EMT (Executive Management Team) ; Council 2010-2013 (Elected Members)
Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2013 6:59 AM
Subject: Standard Building Update

Hi there everyone

For those of you who have not noticed this already – the scaffolding is down on the former Canton/Standard Building in Princes St. Externally, only the ground floor work to go now – inside is also starting to look just as amazing. See the before and after to see just how much you can transform a building perceived a few years back as having little value by many.

This work is a testament to the tenacity and passion of the owner (Ted Daniels) and also the skill and craftsmanship of Daniel Pollard, who unfortunately passed away without seeing the finished project. The project has also been proudly supported by the Dunedin Heritage Fund and DCC Heritage Rates Relief. A great example of just what can be achieved in our city when people put their minds to it.

Regards

Glen Hazelton
Policy Planner (Heritage), City Planning
Dunedin City Council

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### ODT Online Tue, 2 Apr 2013
Buildings may be abandoned
By Simon Hartley
Spiralling earthquake-proofing costs could leave some Dunedin commercial property owners owing more on investments than the properties are worth. This raises the possibility buildings could be abandoned, that being the way to lose the least amount of money, a commercial property consultant says.

Dunedin has the third-largest concentration of pre-1976 buildings, about 3900, behind Auckland’s 19,050 and Christchurch’s 5000, according to Quotable Value and local body data collated in a consultation paper by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Dunedin last year had about 160,000sq m of office space, of which ”at least 10%” will be deemed earthquake-prone, Colliers International national director of research and consulting Alan McMahon said when contacted.

Dunedin City Council policy planner for heritage, Glen Hazelton, said 138 building owners had provided assessments. About 58 were less than 33% compliant and required upgrading. More assessments are expected when owners change use. Upgrades are expected at that time.

One [Dunedin] building owner, who did not want to be identified, said while the council had written to many building owners, many had not yet responded, as the deadline is July next year. Another source said far more assessments had been carried out than reported to the council and it was ”likely they don’t want the assessment put on public record just yet”.
Read more

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr

University Lodge

The University of Otago Vice-Chancellor’s residence is University Lodge at 50 St Leonards Drive, Dunedin. The house is recognised as a Category II Historic Place (see links to The List below). Designed by architects McDowell Smith; the original construction dates to 1930.

Image: Bensill. 18 August 2009.

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Don’t ask Vice-Chancellor Harlene Hayne for colour advice, not for heritage buildings.

Recently, the main wall colour has been changed to a grey (battleship or lighter). The window sills are cream, and a dark slate colour has been selected for the window joinery. The jury’s out… one educated source says the new paint scheme “clashes violently” with the terracotta roof tiles.

Why wasn’t a section of paint on the building scraped back to reveal the original colours? Why was there no research? Why wasn’t professional advice heeded? It may only be paint but the VC should be leading by example, and that means promoting best practice in heritage conservation and care (responsible stewardship).

http://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details?id=2223 [Lodge] http://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details?id=2224 [Glasshouse]

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Read more about University Lodge in a book written by Ian Church (Friends of the Hocken Collections): Haven at St Leonards: Story of University Lodge, Its Background and Occupants (2011). ISBN: 9780473186814.
52 pages. Illustrated.

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A light google search for ‘University Lodge’ brought up the following company information:

MCMILLAN NOMINEES LIMITED
Company number: 464348
Incorporation Date: 07 Mar 1990
Company Status: Registered
Entity type: Limited Liability Company

Directors:
John Burman ADAMS (since 15 Jul 2004) – 9 Pioneer Crescent, Dunedin
Andrew John ANDERSON (since 16 Jul 2008) – 55 Cannington Road, Dunedin
David Charles CULL (since 03 Dec 2010) – Portobello, Rd 2, Dunedin
Vada Harlene HAYNE (since 23 Aug 2011) – University Lodge, St Leonards, Dunedin

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Posted by Elizabeth Kerr