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McCARTHY | "... ponderously pedantic pediments prevail ... good, clean fun in a bad, dirty world": New Zealand architecture in the 1980s AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2009) vol 6:1-11 "... ponderously pedantic pediments prevail ... good, clean fun in a bad, dirty world": New Zealand Architecture in the 1980s Christine McCarthy "A full year has now passed since NZ Architect Post (now an SOE) closed 432 post offices, and the Aotea Centre in Auckland,4 the committed itself ... to a programme of regular and the selling of state assets to private interests destruction of William Pitt's His Majesty's concerted architectural criticism." 5 "A criticism is no more than a personal viewpoint. It is was put in train. In 1989 GST increased to Theatre, and finally the National Museum of not gospel. The critic, too, is open to criticism, and 12.5% and the Serious Fraud Office was New Zealand, known these days as Te Papa.6 therein lies the challenge."1 established. Controversies included protests against the recurring lack of open competitions for major The 1980s in New Zealand started with Robert It was also a decade of drama in New Zealand public buildings, as well as the dominant Muldoon as Prime Minister: "Think Big," the architecture. Significant controversies arose disregard for architectural heritage. Springbok Tour, the price freeze, and the over buildings being built or being establishment of Kōhanga Reo. These demolished, the economies of land value and Competitions which did occur were usually at conflicting messages of expansion, building worth were in constant comparision. a much smaller scale and included those for contraction, and of race and politics were Of note were the discussions around the drawing, in particular the National Measured contextualised by high inflation (15.7% in unrealised National Art Gallery,2 Roger Drawing Competition,7 which Chris Cochran 1981, 17.6% in 1982) and increasing Walker's now demolished Wellington Club,3 defended in terms of demanding skills for "the unemployment (over 70,000 in 1981; c130,000 most thorough investigation of the fabric of in 1983). In 1983 the CER (Closer Economic Relations) agreement with Australia was 2 Melling "Editorial" (1983) 6:5; Bruge & Van Raat "That signed. In 1986 a GST (Goods and Services NAGging question ..." p 2; Robertson, Hunt, Joiner, Toy 4 Ward "The Aotea Alternative" pp 22-27; Hunt "The Tax) was first introduced. In October 1987, and Miskimmin "NAG, nag, nag, nag, nag ..." pp 6-9; Aotea Alternative Explained" pp 28-31; "Aotea Centre" Wild & Gorbey "Yet more NAGging ..." pp 6-7; Melling New Zealand Architect p 13; "Aotea Centre" Architecture the sharemarket crash devastated many and "Editorial" (1985) 3:5; "National Art Gallery" pp 4-9. New Zealand p 18. reduced the number of cranes dominating the 3 "Finial: A matter of conscience ..." p 9; "Apology to 5 Bucknell "Demolition Derby" p 19. skylines of New Zealand's major cities. Morrison Cooper & Partners [re: Wellington Club]" p 11; 6 Niven "Comment: National Museum of New Zealand" Building sites became car parks, and a new Melling "Editorial" (1985) 3:5; Alington, Derek, Taylor& pp 25-27; Bucknell "Editorial" (May/June 1989):18; era of economic rationalisation would occur. Walden "The Wellington Club saga" pp 6-7; Melling "Museum of New Zealand: Te Papa Tongarewa: "Editorial" (1985) 5:9; Walden "The New Dawn (Te Competition for Selection of Architectural Design In 1988 Broadcasting was de-regulated, NZ Atatu)" pp 21-25; Walker "Strategies for Survival" pp 21- Consultants" p 14. 25; Beard "Clubs, Shebangs and Warrens" pp 21-26; 7 "National Measured Drawing Competition" (1982) 1:0; 1 Melling "Editorial" (1984) 4:5. The title for this paper Melling "Editorial" (1985) 6:9; Tyerman & Edney "National Measured Drawing Competition" (1983) 2:34- quotes Melling "Editorial" (1983) 5:5. "Wellington Club Backlash ..." p 10; Bossley "Letters" p 7. 44. 1 McCARTHY | "... ponderously pedantic pediments prevail ... good, clean fun in a bad, dirty world": New Zealand architecture in the 1980s AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2009) vol 6:1-11 the structure ... it leads to - hopefully - a fact the architectural profession "has stood on heritage's sake. Chris Cochran's articles and mastery of the idiosyncracies of the structure, the brink of the computer age for nearly two "Heritage" columns (1983-86) discussed an explanation of the inexplicable clues that decades."17 Contributors to this discussion relevant issues, the impotency of the Historic only have meaning when the whole is studied included Andrew Cotton, David Kernohan, Places Act (1980),23 and highlighted potential in detail."8 Architectural drawings also Gary Mason and Russell Walden,18 and and actual demolitions: the State Fire became the subject of exhibitions: "The prompted the suggestion of a Computer Users Insurance Building, Midland Hotel,24 the Architect Exposed" (1983),9 "W.B. Armson" Group.19 Public Trust Building,25 the Convent of the (1984),10 "Past Tense" (1986),11 "Dreams and Sisters of Mercy in Palmerston,26 and Schemes" (1988),12 and "Unbuilt Wellington: The first NZ Architect article of the decade was Christchurch's Civic Theatre.27 Graeme 1940-1990" (1989).13 Regular architectural Russell Walden's "The Nature & Value of Robertson, Jeremy Salmond, and Hugh cartoons were penned by Chris Brooke White Architectural Archives."20 The same issue Norwood also contributed to the NZ Architect ("Speerhead") and then Malcolm Walker,14 the profiled the Shamrock Hotel and the Greta "Heritage" columns; Salmond ruefully effectiveness of these suggested by letters Point Tavern as recycled buildings21 - observing that "[t]he exponential rate at which such as that by AJ Neil accusing Brooke architectural history in terms of economic sections of the city are disappearing makes it White's artistry as being damaging to the advantage, anticipated in Gordon Moller's difficult to offer directions to visitors,"28 profession.15 This privileging of drawing co- editoral on reuse.22 More emphasis would be whereas Gerald Melling described Wellington incided with the emerging status of stressed on heritage for architectural city as having "open-heart surgery [being architectural computing and CAD, its performed on it] with a Kango hammer."29 proponents frequently bemoaning the Architecture"" p 41. building industry's slowness "to recognise the 17 Robertson "Across the Computer Threshold" p 32; also This was also the decade during which, in impact of computers,"16 and pointing to the Martin "One Byte* at a Time" pp 33-36; Mason "The Ross Jenner's words, "Architectural History ... Programmable Calculator" pp 38-41. [came] of Age" with the formation of the 18 Walden "Computer Vibrations From America" p 49; 8 Cochran "National Measured Drawing Competition" also Deeth "Letters" pp 6-7; Cotton "CAD Wise" p 107; pp 10-11. Wolff "Architectural Computing" p 91; Thompson 23 Cochran "Heritage" (1984) 5:51-52. 9 McCarthy "The Architect Exposed" p 10. "Thomson on CAD" pp 73-75. 24 Cochran "A Plea for the Twenties and Thirties" pp 22- 10 Cochran "Heritage" (1984) 2:47. 19 Kernohan "Computer Users Group?" p 9. 23. 11 Ansell "Past Tense ... Exhibition" pp 24-27. 20 Walden "The Nature & Value of Architectural 25 Cochran "Heritage" (1983) 4:47-48. 12 "Dreamers" p 103 Archives" pp 3-12. 26 Cochran "Heritage" (1984) 5:51-52. 13 Niven "What a City Could be" pp 94-98. 21 "A Recycled Building: "The Shamrock Hotel" Athfield 27 Cochran "Heritage" (1985) 2:9-10. 14 Melling "Editorial" (1985) 1:5. Architects"" pp 19-20; "A Recycled Building: The "Patent 28 Salmond "Heritage" New Zealand Architect (1986) 2:48- 15 Neil "Letters" p 31. Slip"" pp 21-23. 49. 16 "A Mid-Career Course in "Computer Applications in 22 Moller "Editorial" (1980) 1:0. 29 Melling "Stitching-up the City" p 14. 2 McCARTHY | "... ponderously pedantic pediments prevail ... good, clean fun in a bad, dirty world": New Zealand architecture in the 1980s AHA: Architectural History Aotearoa (2009) vol 6:1-11 Society of Architectural Historians, Australia (Malcolm Walker's "Marquis de Facade"38 Cochran's 1985 "Heritage" column discussed and New Zealand,30 and Ian Bowman and being one memorable example), and the law renovations of Māori wharenui and churches David Reynolds' attempt to establish a New was changed so significant heritage buildings by the NZHPT,44 a Russell Withers' "Life Zealand committee for ICOMOS.31 Equally became exempt land taxes.39 Heritage Styles" column of the same year was subtitled significant was the University of Canterbury's restorations and refurbishments also occurred, "Three maraes (past, present and future),"45 post-graduate course in New Zealand including Government Buildings, and a later Withers' column discussed architecture.32 The constant threat of Wellington,40 the Auckland Supreme/High "Racism and Architecture."46 Three demolition to heritage buildings throughout Court,41 Auckland Custom House, Ivey Hall, contributions to New Zealand Architect in 1987 the decade soon meant impassioned tones Christchurch, Auckland University's Old Arts by John Scott, Margaret Orbell and Rewi pleading demolition-prevention became more Building,42 and the Princes Street Synagogue.43 Thompson were grouped together under the dominant. Articles such as "South Island title "The Language of Maori Architecture."47 Survivors"33 and "Demolition Derby"34 The decade was a productive one in many John Scott was profiled by Mary Shanahan48 conveyed this sentiment running through the ways for Māori. The 1981 Springbok Tour put in the same issue Walden's Voices of Silence decade. The issuing of a demolition permit by race issues firmly on the table. The following was reviewed,49 and Mike Linzey had, by the the Auckland City Council for His Majesty's year Te Kōhanga Reo was established. Keri end of the decade, published an account of Te Theatre on the 31st December 1987,35 the Hulme won the 1985 Booker Prize for The Bone Kooti as an architect.50 building's demolition by Pacer-Kerridge, and People, in 1987 te reo Māori was formally its site's consequent use as a carpark was a recognised as an official language, and, in The 1980s was also the decade when the tipping point.