McCARTHY | Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2006) vol 3:29-43

Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living Christine McCarthy, School of Design, Victoria University, Wellington

ABSTRACT: In the 1930s New Zealand was yet to invest in inner-city living via large scale apartment buildings. Few examples of flats existed. A. Sinclair O'Connor's Courtville (1914-19) at the corner Waterloo Quadrant and Parliament Street, Auckland, and Francis Petre's Manor Place Flats in Dunedin were exceptions to conventional living. In the 1930s greater interest was shown in the design of inner-city apartments – most famously by the Department of Housing Construction's Berhampore Flats, Adelaide Rd (Wellington, Gordon Wilson, 1938-40), and Symonds Street Flats, Symonds Street (Auckland, Friedrich Neumann, 1939-47), anticipating their 1940s work: the Dixon Street Flats, Dixon Street (Wellington, 1940-44), the Maclean Flats, The Terrace (Wellington, 1943-44), the Hanson Street Flats, Newtown (1943-44), and the Greys Avenue Flats, Greys Avenue (Auckland, 1945-47).

In Wellington, Edmund Anscombe dominated the design of privately funded inner city flats, designing six art-deco/modernistic apartments during this time: Belvedere, Hamilton Flats, Olympus, Linfield, Alberts Flats and Franconia. This paper examines these apartments in the context of Anscombe's comments on house design, and housing, and his 1936 proposal to replan the area of Adelaide Road as a residential area to accommodate superblocks of high rise apartments.

Introduction buildings and flats were seen as part of a new uncontroversial reality, a conservative one In the 1930s apartments and blocks of flats approach to architecture. As VRJ Hean stated (often English) for which blocks of flats are a were both new and old architecture. While a in 1933: "[t]o-day's building programmes were very last and unappealing housing option lineage of apartment building design can be all fresh and demand expression in style ... forced on us for economic reasons, and a traced from the long houses of the Iroquois, society had created new forms of home - modernist one, where blocks of flats are communal dwellings in the Roman empire, namely the apartment house and flats, as well advocated for and twinned to both the sixteenth-century apartment buildings in Paris as the revolutionising of the house plan. ... aesthetic and utopian aspirations of and Edinburgh,1 through to the mid- The architects were now giving as much modernism. Flats in this scenario were said to ninteenth-century emergence of slum attention to the kitchenette and bathroom as make a positive contribution to modern living dwellings such as New York "railroad flats"2 to the major rooms."5 and are considered as part of wider issues of and developments such as the 1864 Peabody site and town planning. A divide between Tenements,3 proponents of modernism Reading architectural literature from the English and American attitudes was also located the flat as "a building type peculiar to decade three dominant lines of thought evident in printed objections observed by our own era; without precedent in the surface: a prosaic one (often American) for architects. In England, Ashworth notes, the architecture of the past."4 Apartment which apartment houses are an "[s]erious psychological objection of all Englishmen towards living in crowds, an 1 "Apartment House" p 104. 5 Hean "Modern Architecture" p 66. c.f. "The flat has objection by no means obsolete."6 His 2 "Apartment House" p 104. produced a building type peculiar to our own era; 3 Yorke and Gibberd The Modern Flat p 10. without precedent in the architecture of the past." Yorke 4 Yorke and Gibberd The Modern Flat p 8. and Gibberd The Modern Flat p 8. 6 Ashworth Flats p 2.

29 McCARTHY | Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2006) vol 3:29-43

assessment of the English "national trait of Arguments for promoting flats included the relieving onerous garden maintenance,19 and obstinate refusal of all innovations,"7 was high cost of (inner city) land and building providing better views, more natural light and clearly challenged by: construction,11 the increasing commuting fresh air, because of their location in taller distance between work and home,12 the buildings.20 Hence ideas of blocks of flats [t]he idea of the flat [which] revolutionizes the sense of "servant problem,"13 the facilitation of slum often assumed a landscape context and the freedom, ownership and privacy, all very personal national traits. It is not easy to eradicate the results of clearance, and the prevention of "ribbon image of a modernist park ideal, rather than centuries of usage and custom as has been proved in development and similar atrocities."14 Other the frequent reality of a closely packed urban other directions. Human nature cannot be hurried, and less universally accepted positives included fabric which gave less idyllic options for any attention is a slow process, always assuming it the assertions that flats were more appropriate siting. possible at all.8 models for modern living (which had made 15 The American reception of the apartment large houses redundant), and that the New Zealand block in the 1930s was also mixed - but it apartment house was able to include features In 1930s New Zealand similar conflicts of 16 seems for often very different, and more unable to be found in private houses; opinion were also evident. Gatley points both explicitly architectural, reasons. An communal facilities such as heating, refuse to Cedric Firth's 1949 assertion that "any anonymous article in Architectural Forum disposal, hot water supply, laundries, excursion into the erection of apartment 17 21 strongly stated that mediocre buildings were nurseries, and the provision of open spaces blocks demands an excuse, even an apology" 18 being constructed because of the lack of for recreation. Flats were also promoted as and to the low numbers of flats (1.5%) built understanding that apartment architecture under the first Labour Government's state required "an entirely new kind of design."9 11 Bancroft "The Modern Apartment House" p 269; Ives housing scheme. She also notes Ferguson's "The Moderate Priced Apartment Hotel" p 309. This writer argued that "the same process of observation that New Zealand's tradition of 12 Yorke and Gibberd The Modern Flat p 9, Greenwood detached suburban houses (along with its intelligent thought [which had corrected the "Foreword" p v, Ashworth Flats p 2; Ives "The Moderate strong association with the nuclear family, "architectural mistakes" of early office Priced Apartment Hotel" p 309. building design] must be used for the 13 Bancroft "The Modern Apartment House" p 269; and the use of suburban sections to "grow development of appropriate apartment house "Cintra" p 19. fruit and vegetables and raise an animal or 14 Ashworth Flats p 1. 10 design." 15 Bancroft "The Modern Apartment House" p 269; Yorke and Gibberd The Modern Flat p 29; also Ives "The Moderate Priced Apartment Hotel" p 309; "Cintra" p 19. 19 Yorke and Gibberd The Modern Flat p 13; Ashworth 7 Ashworth Flats p 2. 16 Bancroft "The Modern Apartment House" p 269. Flats pp vii, 1. 8 Ashworth Flats p 2. 17 Yorke and Gibberd The Modern Flat p 13. 20 Yorke and Gibberd The Modern Flat p 20. 9 Anon. "Criticism of Apartment Architecture" p 271. 18 Yorke and Gibberd The Modern Flat p 16; Ashworth 21 Firth quoted, Gatley "Going Up Rather than Out" p 10 Anon. "Criticism of Apartment Architecture" p 272. Flats p 1. 140.

30 McCARTHY | Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2006) vol 3:29-43

two"22), had become symbolic of New Zealand Bay, c1936),28 and Kenneth W Aimer's Marina is less than a tenth of the initial proposal for aspirations for living.23 Garden Flats (Mt Eden Rd, 1936).29 "[f]ifteen individual blocks ... each containing Contemporary to this, Gray Young's Wellesley from four to eight flats."34 Prior to the 1930s apartments had been built,24 Club in Wellington, which included inner city but these were an exception to the apartments, received the NZIA Gold Medal,30 The international interest in the building of predominence of the detached house. Yet, as did Surrey S Alleman's Hampton Court flats and apartments was available to New while New Zealand was yet to invest Flats (Wellesley Street, Auckland) in 1930,31 Zealand architects via overseas magazine significantly in building blocks of flats, by the and Horace Massey's Cintra (9-13 Whittaker subscriptions, travel and references in the 1930s greater interest was shown in the design Place, Auckland) in 1936.32 These awards pages of the NZIA Journal. Articles by of inner-city apartments - and not only by the indicated an endorsement of good apartment Francastel and Greenish refered to the work of Department of Housing Construction. Private design by the architectural profession but the Sauvage (1912), He'brard, Garnier (1914),35 developments at this time included E Rupert day-to-day reality of the situation might be and Gropius,36 linking collective housing and Morten's Berrisville Apartments (Symonds hinted at by the diminished ambitions of such tenement buildings with modern architecture. Street, 1937),25 Llew S Pipers' 87 Grafton Rd projects. Fletcher Construction's intentions for Simultaneously other NZIA members located (1939)26 and his Mission Bay Flats (1939),27 Cintra (published in both the newspapers and flats and group housing as less than ideal, Surrey S Alleman's Garden Court (Mission the architectural press) were the initially especially because of the "entirely different much larger-scale construction of "probably 70 conditions in New Zealand."37 Hammond, for flats in blocks [on four acres] ... There would example, noted that: 22 Gatley "Going Up Rather than Out" p 140. be four, six and eight flats variously in the 23 Gatley "Going Up Rather than Out" p 140. blocks, according to the size of the sections, It would probably be agreed, however, that for this country the best type of house to be encouraged 24 Early examples include: A. Sinclair O'Connor's and the project would be a comprehensive Courtville (1914-19) at the corner Waterloo Quadrant wherever practicable was the single-family detached scheme on the most modern town-planning and Parliament Street, Auckland, and Francis Petre's house. In certain cases it may be found desirable to 33 Manor Place Flats in Dunedin which were exceptions to lines." As can be seen, the final built project introduce group housing for the sake of economy. It conventional living. Gatley refers to flats built in the may also be found desirable to introduce flats under 1920s including in Auckland: Shortland Flats (Shortland 28 "Flatting Up-To-Date" pp 21-22. certain circumstances, particularly where for certain Street, 1923), Espano Flats, Mayfair Flats, Wellesley 29 "Flatting Up-To-Date" p 20. reasons a section of the population has to be re-housed Street Flats, Brooklyn Apartments; in Wellington: 30 "The Wellesley Club, Wellington [1932 Gold Medal]" p in existing areas on relatively expensive land. ... Inverleith (Oriental Bay, 1922), Braemar, Mayfair Flats, 41. Chevening Flats; in Christchurch: St Elmo Courts. 31 "The N.Z.I.A. Gold Medal, 1930" p 60; Mandeno 34 "Cintra" p 19. 25 "Berrisville: New Auckland Flats" pp 13-15. "Presidential Address" p 3. 35 Francastel "Modern Architecture in France" p 68. 26 "Eighty-Seven" p 32. 32 "Cintra" pp 19-21 36 Greeenish "The Urge of the Modern" p 81. 27 "Seaside Flats at Mission Bay" p 23. 33 "70 Flats in Blocks" p 13. 37 Hammond "Housing and the Architect" p 41.

31 McCARTHY | Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2006) vol 3:29-43

Experience has shown in other parts of the world that of Works, George Lansbury, to convert the press) distinquished between the from the point of view of health, as well as that of disfunctional school buildings "into flats for inadequate timber houses unsatisfactorily amenity, separate houses or groups of houses are 40 preferable to flats and should be built wherever it is middle-class people," to reports of Sir subdivided into flats and specifically- practical to do so. There is much to be said in favour of Harold Bellman's observation that ""the flat, in designed modern apartment buildings. In the group housing from the point of view of economy.38 short, is the price we must pay for our past fact, The Dominon seemed to advance the idea neglect, though it is doubtful whether it is the of flats "designed on modern lines,"45 or Responding to Hammond, even Greenish, an type of accommodation the average worker "modern principles,"46 as a way to address the admirer of Gropius' apartment work, noted really prefers.""41 Letters to the Editor were "intolerable shortage"47 of housing in the city, that: damning of flats, one by "C.C." writing that: which was instead causing houses to be "converted into flats without the knowledge Continental experiments of community dwellings ... On Mount Victoria, Te Aro Flat, Tinakori Road, of the council,"48 and "slumdom."49 were questions where social evolution had to be Thorndon and Upper Willis Street one can discover considered. Life in the Dominion was more whole areas providing less air space for human beings individualistic than communal, and for that reason such than would be allowed in a London slum dosshouse. It is within this context that Edmund methods did not apply and individual dwellings were Really, Wellington needs a Dickens, a Reade, or a Anscombe's foray into apartment building 39 more likely to be acceptable than tenements or flats. Morton to give a word picture of the rottenness of its design, a phenomenon which appears to be housing conditions.42 confined to Wellington and the 1930s, is It was hence concern for the New Zealand situated. character, and what an appropriate building S/he concluded that "very little can be expected from a council where not one for this person was, that meant these Edmund Anscombe architects questioned the viability of member has had contact or experience with 43 Anscombe was born in England in 1874. After apartment living. modern housing development," and advocated for "the erection of dwellings on a career as a builder in New Zealand, he 44 moved to America as a carpenter in San The ambivalence about the appropriateness of the "group-housing" plan." While the contemporary situation and predominant Francisco (1902-3) and St Louis (1904), and as flats in New Zealand in the institute journal a draughtsperson in New York (1905-6),50 was less apparent in Wellington's popular experience of Wellington flats as "slumdom" is press. The Dominon, published both local and clearly conveyed, the public (as reflected in English opinion of flats. English ideas ranged 45 "Housing as an Election Issue" p 8. 40 46 from a proposal by the English Commissioner "Open-Air Schools: Mr. George Lansbury's Ideas" p 11. "The Problem of Flats" p 10. 41 "Housing Plans: Britain's New Standards" p 5. 47 "The Problem of Flats" p 10. 42 C.C. "The Flats of Wellington" p 11. 48 "The Problem of Flats" p 10. 38 Hammond "Housing and the Architect" p 42. 43 C.C. "The Flats of Wellington" p 11. 49 "The Problem of Flats" p 10. 39 Hammond "Housing and the Architect" p 43. 44 C.C. "The Flats of Wellington" p 11. 50 McCarthy "The making of an architect" forthcoming.

32 McCARTHY | Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2006) vol 3:29-43

before returning to Dunedin and establishing hygienic," free from vermin, fire-resistant, respective communities should be upon local an architectural firm in 1907. His early provide privacy, receive "a proper amount of bodies,"58 while residential zoning, and the architectural career was based in Dunedin and light, ventilation, and direct sunlight," and replacement of slum dwellings, would enable included early success in local architectural have "sufficient bedrooms for the sexes to better living conditions for "our less fortunate competitions, an appointment as architect to sleep apart."53 He was very conscious about citizens."59 These texts also reveal Anscombe's the University of Otago, and as architect of the the economic and pragmatic benefits of good interest in intensive use of space, and in group 1925 New Zealand and South Seas site selection for houses,54 and the need for housing. Breakfast alcoves, disappearing International Exhibition. He moved to houses to be "pleasing to the eye,"55 beds, and combination baths ("which Wellington in 1929 following a lengthy trip accommodate technology,56 and be ergonomic comprised a seat, foot bath, shower, and overseas with his two daughters. Anscombe ("to save unnecessary walking on the part of child's bath, all in one") were encouraged to held strong opinions and both wrote articles the housewife"57). save work and enable "an intensive use of for, and was reported about in, the press. space" which Anscombe labelled "the From 1920 to 1925 four articles present In his opinion, the government should "efficiency" idea." He also proposed "the idea Anscombe's views on housing. subsidise housing, but "[t]he onus of of grouping houses in the form of a court" as providing housing accommodation in their appropriate for New Zealand housing, Anscombe's texts on housing illustrating at least one lecture with lantern The texts suggest Anscombe approached the slides "to give an idea of the pleasing results mean better men and women, better men and women subject of housing in a broad sense, mean better citizens, and better citizens mean a better that could be achieved under the group considering it an economic and political issue New Zealand" Anscombe "Dunedin North End [housing] system."60 as much as one about architectural design. Schemes" p 9. For Anscombe, housing had implications for 53 "The Housing Problem: A workable scheme suggested The texts suggest that Anscombe considered by local architects" p 4. industrial productivity,51 and the character of that housing needed to be a large-scale 54 "The selection of a location for a home was almost as 52 61 people. Housing should be "sanitary and important as the choice of a life partner" "Home business, and that control of building Building: Address by Mr E. Anscombe" p 61. 51 "Bad or inadequate housing is a prejudice to labor, and 55 "the design of a house should be pleasing to the eye ... 58 "The Housing Problem: A workable scheme suggested progressive manufacturers the world over are fast [but] An artistic plan was useless if it was not by local architects" p 4. becoming alive to the fact that in order to secure and practicable, and therefore these two points should be 59 Anscombe "Dunedin North End Schemes" p 9. hold the services of the best type of workmen they must considered in conjunction." "Home Building: Address by 60 "Home Building: Address by Mr E. Anscombe" p 61. interest themselves in the living conditions of their Mr E. Anscombe" p 61. 61 "In these days house-building must be looked upon as employees." "The Housing Problem: A workable scheme 56 "every labour-saving device" "Home Building: big business, and should be handled as big business is suggested by local architects" p 4. Address by Mr E. Anscombe" p 61. handled; the position to-day renders large-scale 52 "Better houses mean better children, better children 57 "Home Building: Address by Mr E. Anscombe" p 61. operations imperative." "The Housing Problem: A

33 McCARTHY | Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2006) vol 3:29-43

materials (through standardisation and set Anscombe's Flat Design These concrete apartment buildings draw on a prices)62 was critical to achieve in housing During the 1930s Anscombe was involved in moderne design, which often demonstrates a what the market had not. He was also a keen designing numerous buildings in the Hawke's clarity of line stressing the rectilinear, as well advocate of concrete construction arguing that Bay (particularly following the 1931 as a curvilinear streamline. Vertical and timber should be discouraged as a building earthquake), the 1940 Centennial Exhibition, horizontal geometries are explored as well as material because of the need for fire-resistant as well as continuing his regular Wellington relationships between the circular and the houses, for economic reasons, and "the practice. This decade also appears to be the rectangular. As Bowman notes of Anscombe absolute necessity of conserving timber."63 In only time that he designed multi-storey flats, Flats: 1920 he patented the "O.K." concrete block namely Belvedere,65 Hamilton Flats,66 system and began using this to construct Olympus,67 Anscombe Flats,68 Alberts Flats,69 [t]he horizontal is emphasised on the facade, in the spandrels and window hoods, and the window joinery. 70 houses, including "Cintra" his own house in and Franconia. While most of the flats were This is a building of clean lines, with generous Dunedin. His later writing on houses focus built in the late 1930s (from 1936-1938), many, fenestration underlying the building's response to light more narrowly on the benefits of building such as Albert Flats and Anscombe Flats, were and views.72 concrete block over timber and brick veneer.64 initially designed much earlier.71 Anscombe employed a range of vertical workable scheme suggested by local architects" p 4. and more permanent houses at practically the same cost strategies in his planning which no doubt 62 Anscombe argued for standardisation of "interior as timber, but walls and partitions built of it would fool reflect his clients' briefs. These included: the finish, joinery and other fittings" ("Infinite variety is the borer, be fire-resisting, and reduce maintenance repetition of floor plans, the use of shops on possible by tastefully combining harmonious charges to a minimum."" "Walls for Houses: the Timber the ground floor, undercutting the building standardised designs of fittings and finishes"), and a Famine" p 11. see also "Experiments in Building" p 8; change to the current conditions of building contracts, to "Housing Methods: described as "tragic"" p 9. on the ground floor to allow vehicle access to provide set prices for building materials and labour, as 65 cnr Austin and Majoribanks Streets, 82 Marjoribanks the rear yard, and a vertical progression of part of an economic strategy to address the then housing St, 1937, see also McGill Landmarks p 249. apartments differentiated by size, view, and 66 problem. ("Under this contract ... it would be necessary 9 Hawker St, 1937 generosity of planning. Franconia, described for the Board of Trade to prepare a schedule of rates, at 67 280 Oriental Pde, 1936-37 73 ruling prices, for all building materials and labor, to 68 also initially known as Lynfield, 212 Oriental Pde, by Bowman as "a mixture of parts," form a basis from which contractors could compile their 1936/1937, see also McGill Landmarks pp 143, 249. exemplifies this stratified planning. Increases estimates"). "Housing Problems: the practical side" p 7. 69 now Invincible House, 161 Willis St, 1938 63 "The Housing Problem: A workable scheme suggested 70 now Lintas House, 136 The Terrace, 1938 see also by local architects" p 4. McGill Landmarks p 249. also Hart "Erection of Shops: Willis Street" (3 April 1930). 64 ""Shortage of timber must very soon force us to 71 In the case of Albert Flats an initial building approval 72 Bowman Wellington City Council Heritage Building substitute concrete for building walls of houses ... to was given on 12 April 1930, with alterations requiring Inventory n.p. continue using timber for walls and partitions ... is just approvals at the end of 1934. Town Clerk Letter to 73 Bowman Wellington City Council Heritage Building sheer folly ... Concrete would not only provide better Messrs Anscombe and Associates (12 April 1930); see Inventory n.p.

34 McCARTHY | Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2006) vol 3:29-43

in height bring increases in the quality and Bowman suggests Anscombe's treatment of mind. These aimed to distort conventional expense of each apartment, a result of the Franconia is similar when he notes that "[t]he domestic space - compacting space (dining invention and use of the elevator or lift, which "turn" of the building gently emphasises the alcove, bedsit, combined bath and shower had removed the long walk up many flights of street corner of the facade."74 units) and expanding it (sunroom, den, steps to the upper apartments and hence study). Domestic drudgery (laundry, kitchen, inverted the nineteenth-century economics of Inside Franconia, false curves in the upper bathroom) is diminished, and at times flat tenancy - an elevator and a view now floors' living areas continue to reinforce an displaced. As an example, Anscombe's flats surpassing the close proximity of the ground association of curve with wealth. The boxier have linen cupboards but no laundries, and floor to the street in its appeal. lower middle class consistency of Albert Flats, Franconia is the only apartment block with a Belvedere and Hamilton Flats contrasts with communal laundry; reflecting the advance of Socioeconomic variation in tenancy can also this more sculpted form of both Franconia and domestic appliance technology which enabled be read through the three dimensional form of Anscombe Flats. This consistency also crosses an architectural expansion of leisure the building's exterior. In Franconia, their closely related plan forms, familiar to simultaneous with a lack of servants. rectilinear form softens with height, moving both Olympus and the middle floors of the up from a tightly planned bedsit to the two highly stratifed Franconia, though the use of A seemingly favourite motif, present in four storey penthouse apartment. Like Anscombe an internal corridor or external gallery access, of the apartment buildings (Olympus, Flats, it is the semi-circular, rather than simply seen in the less expensive Hamilton Flats and Franconia, Anscombe Flats and Belvedere), is curvilinear streamlining, which indicates Belvedere, contrasts Anscombe's more the v-shaped oriel window. These tall significant increase in status. Olympus predominant use of the more desirable group windows stretch up, emphasising the likewise bulges to the west to both direct access planning, advocated by building's multi-storey character as the oriel acknowledge the street corner and to reflect Ashworth in his 1936 book Flats: Design and runs through the horizontal streamlining the larger flats on the north-west side. The Equipment.75 stripes of the moderne. These verticals harbour views, access to more sunlight, larger construct the buildings as contemporary bedrooms, and dining areas contrast sharply Room functions include those specifically urban structures conscious of the high value with the adjacent flats on the same floor with developed with an apartment domesticity in of their site and the compulsion to maximise their snug dining alcove, limited outlook and their worth through height. Strong vertical darker corners. Olympus' curve relaxes and 74 Bowman Wellington City Council Heritage Building lines also occur in the façade of Franconia. avoids the tight pinch of the intersection of Inventory n.p. Bowman describes these as deliberately Grass and Oriental Parade as it mediates the 75 Ashworth describes direct access planning as the most playful and conceptually detachable: relationship between architecture and traffic. desirable. Ashworth Flats p 14; see also Yorke and Gibberd The Modern Flat pp 22-26.

35 McCARTHY | Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2006) vol 3:29-43

... the three dominant "pilasters" [on the street façade] penthouse in particular reflects his personality "[T]he wash basin ... [had] a novel chromium are purely (and ironically) stylistic ... stylised guttae and as the man who reputedly lived to the motto plug which lifts when a knob on the tap is taenia above the pilasters [are] ... one suspects in an ironic reference to the decline of the classical (and that work was his hobby, as the space can be raised," and electric dish-washers were therefore historicist) ideal.76 seen to simultaneously over-emphasis both imported, causing a slight concern with the work and leisure. Unlike the more pragmatic realisation that their plumbing mismatched Anscombe Flats (also initially known as and traditionally organised apartments below the dimensions of Wellington's city sewers.83 Lynfield) it, the penthouse succinctly defines living as In 1933, shortly after Anscombe arrived in work (den, studio) and its proximate pleasure Unlike Anscombe's other apartment designs, Wellington in 1929, he bought his property on (the sun room, the roof, and its views) A 1939 each flat provided maids' quarters at the rear Oriental Parade which was to became the site issue of the New Zealand Women's Weekly of the building with a separate entrance into for Anscombe Flats. A preliminary proposal described the penthouse as the flat, and separate ablution facilities. These had been submitted by 193377 and a miniaturised versions of the main flat were preliminary application lodged three years an essentially masculine atmosphere. It contains an seemingly self-contained, partitioned from the office-cum-library, a den, and a bedroom with dressing- later in 193678 with permit approval granted room and shower-room off it. Opening off this suite is a apartments' living spaces by the dining room on 18 December 1936. Designed, built, and most delightful sunroom built out in a half circle and which bridged and mediated living from owned by the 62 year-old Anscombe, who glassed almost to the floor. Barred doors lead from this service. occupied the penthouse apartment and the sun-trap to a railed balcony, from which the view is superb.80 flat on the floor below it with his daughter,79 Access into the building was via the garage or the building can be considered to represent The Anscombe Flats follow true to a very discrete entrance at the western side of Anscombe's ideals in apartment living. The Anscombe's self-expressed interest in progress the building, or the rear. The meek side and modernity via, in particular, the domestic entrance strongly suggests it was Anscombe's intention that he would always arrive home 76 Bowman Wellington City Council Heritage Building technology deployed in the house. The Inventory n.p. Women's Weekly noted that "[e]verything has by car. Like Franconia, garages line the street. 77 Anscombe. Letter to The City Engineer (13 December been planned for labour-saving and This contrasts with the Albert Flats which 1933) see also Luke "Erection of Flats: Oriental Parade" (7 comfort."81 The apartments were centrally provided a ground floor vehicle tunnel December 1936); Anscombe Letter to City Engineer (30 through to rear yard parking. Garages are November 1936). steam-heated, and included foreign fittings.82 78 Luke "Erection of Flats: Oriental Parade" (7 December 1936); Anscombe Letter to City Engineer (30 November 83 "Luxury Living" p 7; "I have had imported 4 Electric 1936) 80 "Luxury Living" p 7. Dish Washers, for my Flats, Oriental Parade: and find 79 Luke Memorandum to Town Clerk "Erection of 81 "Luxury Living" p 6. that the wastes are 11/2"." Anscombe & Associates to The Detached Room" 82 "Luxury Living" p 7. City Engineer (23 February 1938)

36 McCARTHY | Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2006) vol 3:29-43

also on the ground floor of Belvedere, beneath to address ""the broader aspect of the city's The housing scheme was presented in a the apartment block. Nevertheless, it is fair to town-planning problems, and its future perspective drawing dated April 1936. 18 say that cars were accommodated with development"."86 His chosen site was the blocks of five storey apartment blocks variation. The designs for Hamilton Flats and Basin Reserve end of Adelaide Road, up to symmetrically line Adelaide Road below the Olympus, for example, assume the availability John Street.87 It was "a considerable area grounds of Government House. The of street-parking or pedestrianised [that] could be secured without interfering foreground of low-rise buildings fade into inhabitants. Franconia and Albert Flats each with a single modern building, as it would be insignificance and the whiteness of the page. provide four car parks for their seven and 16 found that a large percentage of the existing Eight U-shaped apartment blocks turn their flats respectively, while Anscombe's Flats, buildings have a very short life ahead of back on the road and envelop culder-sac with four apartments, provided three single them."88 Anscombe acknowledged that: access ways. Each block is framed by small car garages. Anscombe's car park reflects a gardens and neat criss-crossing footpaths, and certain indulgence in cars. Its plan discloses "there are areas which need replanning, perhaps more the footprints of the buildings thicken at the than this one, but none of them would meet the the simple garage supplemented by a requirements of an exhibition at anything like the same perimeter of the site suggesting the workshop, a mechanics pit, and another cost. Since Government House, the Public Hospital, accommodation of circulation stairways. The double garage. Wellington Boys' College, Museum and Art Gallery, are scheme to rehouse current slum dwellers is permanently located in close proximity to each other ... intensely rectilinear and seemingly without the intervening section through which Adelaide Road The Anscombe Plan the pleasure the interplay of lines and runs should not be permitted to become a Contemporary with the building of his manufacturing area but should be "zoned" for strictly curvilinearity brought to his other projects. Wellington apartments, Anscombe published residential purposes. It lends itself to such, and if This Adelaide Road proposal is of a a housing scheme for Adelaide Road.84 This reconstructed upon the lines I am suggesting, would deceptively grand scale, similar to large undoubtedly become a most attractive section of was initially prepared in April 1936 and housing schemes which had been proposed Wellington."89 presented to the Mayor (Mr TCA Hislop), the for St Andrews Garden, Liverpool, Leipzig Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. WE Parry), Tenements, Quarry Hill Estate, Leeds and the Minister of Finance (Hon. W Nash).85 Corporation Housing, and the Flats at Drancy, The argument behind the Anscombe scheme 86 Anscombe quoted, "N.Z. Centennial: Betterment Paris. It echoed the sentiment and intention of Scheme for Wellington City" p 8. was to exploit the forthcoming opportunity of Anscombe's earlier 1924 scheme, published in 87 "Exhibition Site: Mayor Replies to Slum Clearance the 1940 New Zealand Centennial Exhibition Proposals" p 6. anticipation of the 1925 New Zealand and 88 "N.Z. Centennial: Betterment Scheme for Wellington South Seas Exhibition where he also proposed 84 McCarthy "Traffic and the City" pp 417-433. City" p 8. a housing scheme. This time though, it was 85 "N.Z. Centennial: Betterment Scheme for Wellington 89 Anscombe quoted, "N.Z. Centennial: Betterment modelled on a garden suburb model, to City" p 8. Scheme for Wellington City" p 8.

37 McCARTHY | Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2006) vol 3:29-43

achieve slum clearance and civic betterment.90 "ambitious" nature, but also the disadvantage and Councillor Duncan supported Wellington of the proposed Rongotai site due to wind, doing "what the Prince of Wales did at The Adelaide Road scheme became public in and traffic congestion.92 The advantages of Kensington a few years ago - clear out a lot of August 1936 with its publication in The the Anscombe plan were seen to be its vision shabby 50-year-old places and build decent, Dominion. It was not however the first for Wellington,93 slum clearance,94 up-to-date hygienic flats - approximate to the city."100 suggestion of this type. On the 25 August flats,95 its central location,96 the lasting civic There was no published opposition to, or 1936 a suggestion from Captain S Holm was benefit of improving the city,97 and its ability outrage about, the huge scale of Anscombe's published in The Dominion two days prior. to combine government aims of leaving a super-block apartment scheme by the general The Holm scheme proposed that the blocks lasting monument of the exhibition, public. Rather overall praise was garnished, north of the Dominion Museum up to Vivian addressing housing shortages, and to provide Plan Wellington First, for example, asserted Street ("the worst slum area in Wellington"), city betterment.98 The explicit reference to that: "[t]he people would be fixed with be cleared, the "few good buildings on the site flats was limited. The Chamber of Commerce enthusiasm over the possibilities of such a ... be worked in with the requirements of the expressed interest in the proposal to use the proposal, and the question of finance would exhibition" with the exhibition buildings built exhibition site "for garden flats ... [to] make melt away."101 Anscombe himself explicitly in permanent materials so the buildings could Wellington a garden city in New Zealand,"99 contributed to the conversation in only one be re-used following the exhibition.91 letter saying that "it matters little which section of Wellington is used for the 92 Centennial 1940 "Centennial Plans" p 13; Interested Following the publication in The Dominion of "Exhibition Site" p 11. exhibition, if it will be the means of improving the Holm and Anscombe plans, over a month 93 Plan Wellington First "Centennial Plans" p 11. the city."102 of debate, mainly through the "Letters to the 94 Interested "Exhibition Site" p 11; "New Site Urged" p Editor," but also by published comments from 10; "Exhibition Site: Councillor's Doubts About By 14 September, two and a half weeks after Rongotai" p 11; "Plans for Centenary Exhibition" p 8; the Chamber of Commerce, W Duncan, a city the initial publication of Anscombe's scheme, "Slum Clearance: "The Crying Need of Wellington"" p councillor, and Sir James Elliott, a Wellington 10. public opinion was such that the Mayor (Mr doctor. Public support was given for both the 95 "Exhibition Site: Councillor's Doubts About Rongotai" TCA Hislop) published a response addressing Holm plan and the Anscombe scheme, though p 11. the public interest in Anscombe's and Holm's 96 Anscombe's plan was pre-eminent, with Plan Wellington First "Centennial Plans" p 11, "New schemes. The Mayor stated that "The cost of Site Urged" p 10; "Exhibition Site: Councillor's Doubts comments referring to its preferred About Rongotai" p 11. 97 Centennial 1940 "Centennial Plans" p 13; "New Site 100 "Exhibition Site: Councillor's Doubts About Rongotai" Urged" p 10; Clean-Up "Civic Betterment For 1940" p 11. p 11. 90 Anscombe "Dunedin North End Schemes" p 9. 98 Plan Wellington First "Centennial Plans" p 11. 101 Plan Wellington First "Centennial Plans" p 11. 91 "Proposed City Site for Exhibition" p 3. 99 "New Site Urged" p 10. 102 Anscombe "Centennial Plans" p 13.

38 McCARTHY | Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2006) vol 3:29-43

either scheme would be prohibitive ... [and] This was anticipated in a Dominion report that The meeting that followed had few surprises - the time factor would preclude the carrying the Chamber of Commerce had decided that yet discussion explicitly referenced the out of such schemes, unless Wellington were "Either [the Anscombe or Holm] scheme proposal to build flats. While Semple to break new ground by holding the would entail too heavy a financial burden for supported slum clearance "in conjunction with celebrations long after the centennial had the city to undertake and the committee the Exhibition," he prefered the area to "be passed."103 He acknowledged the desire for considered Government assistance used for business purposes" rather than slum clearance, but stressed the negotiations necessary."106 The Chamber of Commerce flats.108 Both he and Fraser did not appreciate required would be too lengthy. While both group met R Semple (Minister of Public the proposal for flat buildings. Semple schemes would cost more than the £225,000 Works), WE Parry (Minister of Internal argued that while Wellington had open spaces allocated for the exhibition (he estimated over Affairs) and P Fraser (Wellington MP and "we do not want to think about flats."109 one million pounds), he acknowledged that Minister of Education) on Thursday 24 Fraser was more direct saying: the cost of land acquisition in Anscombe's September. The eight representatives of the scheme would be less than for Holm's.104 Four Chamber of Commerce included both Holm Frankly I do not like flats. I think they are alien and foreign to the country. The more I saw of them in days later a report of city council meeting and Anscombe suggesting the possibility that England the more I dislike them. The best scheme in recorded the Mayor declaring that "it was the publication of the two schemes, the England is the Manchester housing scheme where the inadvisable to link the exhibition with any consequent letters to the editor in their houses are semi-detached with gardens. Flats for richer scheme for slum clearance on Te Aro flat" on support, and the articles reporting on the people are a different matter; but people with limited incomes should not live in flats.110 the grounds that "[i]t seemed to him to be Chamber of Commerce opinion, may not have confusing ideas to tie up an exhibition with been entirely coincidental. Holm and Interest in Anscombe's proposal remained 105 the clearing of slums." Anscombe had also run a parallel letter alive however and beyond the limits of writing campaign to the ministers since July of Wellington. In October The Wanganui Support for the proposal was raised again that year, almost three months prior to the Chronicle published an editorial in its support, 107 when the Chamber of Commerce approached meeting. describing the plan as: several government Ministers lobbying for either the Anscombe or the Holm scheme.

106 "Either Scheme is Suitable" p 13. 108 Semple paraprased, Minutes, Wellington Chamber of 103 "Exhibition Site: Mayor Replies to Slum Clearance 107 Semple and Parry had received letters from written Commerce Meeting p 12. Proposals" p 6. from Anscombe (7 September 1936, 9 September 1936) 109 Semple paraprased, Minutes, Wellington Chamber of 104 "Exhibition Site: Mayor Replies to Slum Clearance and Holm (4 July 1936, 12 June 1936), and Anscombe Commerce Meeting p 12. Proposals" p 6. had also written to Walter Nash (Minister of Finance) on 110 Fraser paraprased, Minutes, Wellington Chamber of 105 "Plans for Centenary Exhibition" p 8 16 July 1936. Commerce Meeting p 11.

39 McCARTHY | Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2006) vol 3:29-43

A bold, yet businesslike scheme has been advanced for Linfield (Anscombe Flats), Anscombe's design the holding of the Exhibition on Te Aro Flat. This would of accommodation for himself, he used Art involve a preliminary scheme of slum clearance, and can be objected to on the ground of expense, which, of Deco moderne design. I suspect this wasn't a course, ignores the fact that slums are in themselves co-incidence. expensive. The scheme which has become known as the Anscombe Plan, combines with the holding of the Exhibition just below Mount Cook, the levelling of a great portion of Te Aro Flat and the building of a series of up-to-date blocks of flats on the land between the Exhibition site and the centre of the city.111

While the "Anscombe Plan" did not proceed, it certainly contributed to the 1930s debate about building flats in Wellington. Material from The Dominion suggests a divide between public and politican opinion, though discussion reported in the other Wellington newspaper (The Evening Post) may reveal a different story.

Conclusion Anscombe's super-block housing scheme was clearly ambitious, and as such it must be seen in the context of his later proposal for a Combined Factory on Wellington's Aotea Quay.112 Both of these projects were large- scale and found their origins in socialist thinking informed by a modernist, rather than a moderne, architecture. In contrast, for

111 "The Anscombe Plan" p 8. 112 McCarthy "East meets West" pp 2-9.

40 McCARTHY | Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2006) vol 3:29-43

REFERENCES "70 Flats in Blocks: Comprehensive Auckland Building Scheme: £100,000 "Cintra" Building Today [Home and Building] (October-December 1936):19- Expenditure" Dominion (Friday 24 May 1935):13. 21. Anonymous "Criticism of Apartment Architecture" Architectural Forum "Eighty-Seven" Home and Building (November 1939) IV(1):32. (September 1930) LIII(3):271-272. ""Either Scheme is Suitable": City Sites For Exhibition: Chamber of Anscombe, E. "Dunedin North End Schemes: Proposed Highway, Logan Commerce to Meet Minister" Dominion (23 September 1936):13. Park Reserve, A Park System, City Housing and Zoning" Evening "Exhibition Site: Councillor's Doubts About Rongotai: Proposal to Utilise Star (Saturday 28 June 1924):9. Government Money" The Dominion (Saturday 12 September Anscombe, Edmund Letter to The City Engineer (13 December 1933) 1936):11. Wellington City Archives ref: 00009:122:6/908 "Exhibition Site: Mayor Replies to Slum Clearance Proposals: "Cost Anscombe, Edmund Letter to The City Engineer, 30 November 1936 Prohibitive"" The Dominion (Monday 14 September 1936):6. Wellington City Archives ref: 000001:188:6/610 "Experiments in Building: Architect's Views on System and Costs: "The Anscombe Plan" The Wanganui Chronicle (Saturday 3 October Housing Retarded" Dominion (Wednesday 22 August 1945):8. 1936):8. "Flatting Up-To-Date " Building Today (January-March 1937) 1(2):20-22. "Apartment House" Encyclopaedia Britannica Chicago; London; Toronto; Francastel, M. "Modern Architecture in France" Journal of the New Zealand Geneva; Sydney: William Benton, Publisher, 1963. 2:104. Institute of Architects (December 1934) XIII(5):68-69. Ashworth, H. Ingham Flats: Design & Equipment London: Sir Isaac Pitman Gatley, Julia "Going Up Rather than Out" At Home in New Zealand: House & Sons Ltd, 1936. History People ed Barbara Brookes. Wellington: Bridget Williams Bancroft, Francis S. "The Modern Apartment House" Architectural Forum Books, 2000:140-154. (September 1930) LIII(3):269-270. Greenish, F.E. "The Urge of the Modern: To-day and a Century ago" "Berrisville: New Auckland Flats" Home and Building (May 1938) II(3):13- NZIA Journal (February 1936) XIV(6):77-81. 15. Greenwood, Arthur "Foreword" Ashworth, H. Ingham Flats: Design & Bowman, Ian Wellington City Council Heritage Building Inventory Equipment London: Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons Ltd, 1936:v-vi. (Wellington: Wellington City Council, 1995) v. 3. unpaginated. Hammond, R.B. "Housing and the Architect" NZIA Journal (August 1936) C.C. "The Flats of Wellington" Letters to the Editor" Dominion (Thursday XV (3):37-43. 30 May 1935):11. Hean, V.R.J. "Modern Architecture" NZIA Journal (December 1933) XII Centennial 1940 "Centennial Plans [Letters to the Editor]" The Dominion (5):65-67. (Monday 31 August 1936):13. "Home Building: Address by Mr E. Anscombe" Otago Witness (21 July Clean-Up "Civic Betterment For 1940" The Dominion (Wednesday 9 1925):61. September 1936):11. "Housing as an Election Issue" Dominion (Wednesday 1 May 1935):8.

41 McCARTHY | Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2006) vol 3:29-43

"Housing Methods: described as "tragic": an architect's view" Evening Rose. Auckland: School of Architecture and Department of Post (Tuesday 15 October 1946):9. Planning, University of Auckland, 2002:417-433. "Housing Plans: Britain's New Standards: Courage and Vision: Proposals McGill, David Landmarks: Notable Historic Buildings of New Zealand Warmly Approved" Dominion (Wednesday 20 March 1935):5. Auckland: Godwit, 1997. "The Housing Problem: A workable scheme, suggested by local Minutes, Wellington Chamber of Commerce Meeting, 29-9-36, Archives architects" The Evening Star (Thursday 29 July 1920):4. New Zealand IA/1/62/4 "Housing Problems: the practical side" Evening Star (Tuesday 3 August "N.Z. Centennial: Betterment Scheme for Wellington City: An architect's 1920):7. proposals" The Dominion (Thursday 27 August 1936):8-9. Interested "Exhibition Site" "Letters to the Editor" The Dominion "The N.Z.I.A. Gold Medal, 1930[to Mr. Surrey S. Alleman for Hampton (Wednesday 9 September 1936):11. Court Flats in Wellesley Street, Auckland]" NZIA Journal (August Ives, H. Douglas "The Moderate Priced Apartment Hotel" Architectural 1931) X(3):60-61. Forum (September 1930) LIII (53):309-312. "New Site Urged: Wellington Centennial Exhibition: Central Location: Luke, K.E. (City Engineer) "Erection of Flats: Oriental Parade: Mr. Chamber of Commerce Proposal" The Dominion (Friday 11 Edmund Anscombe" Memo for Town Clerk, 7 December 1936 September 1936):10. Wellington City Archives ref: 000001:188:6/610 "Open-Air Schools: Mr. George Lansbury's Ideas" Dominion (Wednesday Luke, K.E. (City Engineer) Memorandum to Town Clerk "erection of 9 April 1930):11. Detached Room: 212 Oriental Parade: Mr. Edmund Anscombe" (8 "Plans for Centenary Exhibition: Registration of Company Next Monday: May 1940) Question of Site raised Again" Dominion (18 Friday September "Luxury Living" The New Zealand Woman's Weekly (23 March 1939) 1936):8. 7(18):6-7. Plan Wellington First "Centennial Plans" The Dominion (Wednesday 2 Mandeno, H "Presidential Address" NZIA Journal (April 1932) XI(1):1-5. September 1936):11. McCarthy, Christine "East meets West: Edmund Anscombe's Combined "The Problem of Flats" Dominion (Friday 7 June 1935):10. Factories Building for Aotea Quay, Wellington, New Zealand" "Proposed City Site for Exhibition: Replacing Existing Slums: Citizen's Design Journal (2002) 5(3):2-9. Suggestion" The Dominion (Tuesday 25 August 1936):3. McCarthy, Christine "The making of an architect: Anscombe in America "Seaside Flats at Mission Bay" Home and Building (November 1939) 1902-1906" Fabrications 16(2) forthcoming. IV(1):23. McCarthy, Christine "Traffic and the City: Town Planning Interests of "Slum Clearance: "The Crying Need of Wellington": Comment on Edmund Anscombe" Southern Crosings: Whaka whitiwhiti au Tonga: Exhibition Proposals" Dominion (Friday 25 September 1936):10. Proceedings for the Sixth Australasian Urban History/Planning History "Walls for Houses: the Timber Famine: A Concrete Solution" The Evening Conference ed Errol Haarhoff, Diane Brand and Elizabeth Aitken- Post (Wednesday 27 March 1946):11.

42 McCARTHY | Anscombe's plans for Highrise Living | AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2006) vol 3:29-43

"The Wellesley Club, Wellington [1932 Gold Medal]" Journal of the New Zealand Institute of Architects (August 1933) XII(3):41. Yorke, F.R.S. and Frederick Gibberd The Modern Flat London: The Architectural Press, 1937.

43