October_1965 — Page 33

Overseas Project

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View from Bunny Street

Zealand

Beehive Design for New

Parliamentary Building

CIRCULAR tower building, follow- ing a style suggested by British architect, Sir Basil Spence, is to be added to New Zealand's Parliament Buildings in Wellington.

Approval of final sketch plans was given by a special Parliamentary Committee and was ratified by the Cabinet in June.

Sir Basil's "beehive" as his sug- gestion has popularly become known, was proposed by him in April, 1964. when the Government took the op- portunity of his presence in New Zealand to seek his views on a style of building to provide new additional accommodation for Parliament.

The main block of Parliament Buildings, a Renaissance-style build- ing, has reached only about half-com- pletion according to the original plan. Work stopped in 1922. An old wooden structure used for various Parliamentary purposes will be de- molished.

Sir Basil presented an entirely new conception for replacing the old block of buildings. From it the final sketch plans were developed by the Govern- ment Architect. Mr. F.G.F. Sheppard.

Working drawings and estimates for the new structure and for neces- sary alterations to the present build- ing will now be prepared. This may take from 18 months to two years. Another major preliminary to new building is planning and provision of alternative accommodation during the construction period.

Sir Basil spoke of his concept of the building as "following the con- tours of the site and symbolising the

Far East Architect & Builder October, 1965

hub of the country". He also said that Parliament, as the meeting point of opinion, should be a unifying ele- ment. For this reason "roundness" was the basis of his design.

Commanding Site

The rise on which the Parliament Buildings stand, no longer presents the clear sweeping view which ap- plied when they were planned. Tall modern structures are rising around the site and Sir Basil Spence was emphatic that Parliament should do- minate the scene with a new build- ing, arresting in design and symbolis- ing the functions of Parliament in re- lation to the life of the city.

Present plans are for the area around Parliament to be occupied by Government buildings and public buildings such as the Anglican Cathe- dral and the Alexander Turnbull Lib- rary, which houses a world famous collection of books. Some of these buildings are already there.

The reserve set aside for Parlia- mentary purposes in Wellington covers about 84 acres. The site it-

self remains a commanding one, plea- santly rising above the street level. and it is important that a new build- ing on the site should merge aesthe- tically with the Classic-Renaissance and Gothic style architecture already featured.

To harmonise with the main Re- naissance style block the "beehive" structure will have a series of pillars lining up with the pillars of the ad- jacent block. This has been worked out carefully, to retain rhythm and a

sense of continuity in building design. Apart from the aesthetic aspect, the new building will be functionally ef- ficient, with a high percentage of us- able space.

It will be linked with the main Parliament building to ensure convenient movement from one sec- tion to the other, and will also in- clude accommodation for the Law Drafting Office, and substantial park- ing areas.

Lounges, dining-rooms and minis- terial suites will be housed in the new building, extending over several of the upper floors, with the Prime Min- ister's suite. the Prime Minister's Department and the Cabinet room in the top areas of the building. Plans are for ten floors, a basement area and a mezzanine floor.

Present Buildings

At present three distinct buildings are in use by Parliament. The wooden building marked for demolition is part of a two-storey building origin- ally erected as the home of the Governor and completed in 1871. Portions of this building were de- molished in 1944 when new dining rooms and bars for Bellamy's were erected.

Some of the foundations were re- newed in 1952 and the original roofs were also replaced. This building houses four Ministerial suites and several rooms used by private mem- bers, the Law Drafting Office. the social hall and Bellamy's (John Bel- lamy was the first caterer to the Bri- tish House of Commons in 1773).

This old structure adjoins the main

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