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This is the first of series of itineraries on the work of . Later itineraries will look at his houses and his collective housing projects.

Roger Walker 1: Civic & Commercial Biography:

In the 1960s, ’s most exciting architecture emerged from Christchurch – , Peter Roger Neville Walker was born Beaven and a host of other talented architects turned the city into the architectural hothouse now referred to as in Hamilton on 21 December The Christchurch School. However, in the early 1970’s a series of shifts – the ebbing of confidence in modernist 1942. Much has been made of principles, and key Christchurch architects moving their focus to large commercial projects – the Christchurch his childhood construction efforts, School seemed to lose its urgency and took over as New Zealand’s architectural laboratory. At the particularly his wooden trucks and center of this scene were the young architects and Roger Walker. the Fort Nyte play hut constructed The best remembered 1970s work of both architects is their extroverted houses, but both were also active from as a 10-year-old. Walker attended their earliest days in the public and commercial realms. Walker had moved to Wellington to work under Calder, Hamilton Boys High School; he Fowler & Styles, his early contributions including the Link Span buildings and a church in Tauramanui, both wanted to design cars but his high indicating what was to come. With a few years he had completed The Wellington Club, a colorful cluster of low- school career advisor suggested rise forms that stood out among the high-rise offices of The Terrace. It created a sensation and became Walker’s designing buildings instead. first claim to fame. Walker studied architecture at the The building demonstrated a radical break with the sensible Christchurch modernism of Warren & Mahoney University of , and during (although not with the romantic direction Beaven was by then pursuing). However, Walker’s career emulated his studies he had holiday jobs W&M’s in several ways, the most startling being the extreme rapidity with which he was able move from houses with Rodney Smith Architects in up to much larger buildings – he completed complex, high-profile projects such as Centrepoint and Whakatane Hamilton, Warren & Mahoney in Airport within a few years of making the transition into independent practice. Christchurch, and the established His career also mirrored that of W&M in that the unique architectural vocabulary that would define his work for Wellington firm of Calder Fowler & years appeared almost fully formed in his earliest projects. At The Wellington Club, a relatively simple palette Styles. On graduating in 1964, he of concrete block, in-situ concrete, and timber (oddly similar to that of W&M’s early work) was formed into, as was recruited to work for CF&S, wrote, “cylindrical towers, tall pyramids, truncated pyramids with mysterious attic rooms nestled where he was handed design behind dormer windows, nooks and crannies and secret corners, spiral staircases, [and] circular windows”. This responsibility for a number of language was a mash-up of numerous influences – elements from local colonial and High Victorian architecture, surprisingly high-profile projects aspects of New Brutalism, and ideas drawn from Japanese maestro Kenzo Tange and the Metabolists who such as The Wellington Club.He developed under his influence. Walker’s visit to Japan in 1970, particularly to the Osaka Expo, was particularly gradually transitioned from CF&S influential, giving him direct experience of robust way Tange expressed a building’s internal functions externally. In into independent practice in the the early 1980s, only a few shifts - the addition of trellis and polycarbonate to the material palette, a re-orientation early 1970s. His practice has had from colonial towards classical references, slightly flatter and more graphic manipulation of façades – would bring as many as six staff, but currently Walker’s work into alignment with the bold Postmodernism then emerging from Europe and the US. has two. Walker’s exuberant architecture has provoked mixed reactions. Controversial buildings often become our most loved, but a number of Walker’s buildings have met premature ends. Some, such as The Wellington Club and Walker has continued his Centrepoint, have succumbed to economic pressure, while others (Park Mews, THC Queenstown) suffered fascination with cars, as evidenced insensitive alterations. Even nature has been unkind to Walker, a fire destroying his Waitomo Caves complex. The by his large collection of cars and future of the Whakatane Airport is also uncertain, with plans for the area requiring a much larger terminal. Rather his sideline as presenter of local than being discouraged in the face of conservatism, controversy, and destruction, Walker maintains, as Russell motoring TV program, the AA Walden put it, “the joy and creative rebellion of the free spirit.” Long may it continue. Andrew Barrie & Kirsten Zink Torque Show.

BlockReference Architecture Guidesas: Andrew are published Barrie with and the BroadsheetKirsten Zink, of the “RogerAuckland WalkerBranch of 1: the Civic NZIA - &Contact Commercial”, [email protected] Itinerary No. for44, more Block: information The of the Reference as: Andrew Barrie and KirstenAuckland Zink, Branch “Roger Walkerof the New1: Civic Zealand & Commercial”, Institute Itinerary of Architects, No. 44, Block:No. 6, The 2012. Broadsheet of the Auckland Branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, No. 6, 2012. 1 1968-69 2 1968-72 3 1971 4 1971

Link Span The Wellington Club Whakatane Airport Centrepoint Taranaki Street Wharf 88 The Terrace Aerodrome Rd 161 Queen Street Wellington Wellington Whakatane Masterton

With this small town shopping Walker’s first commercial building development, property magnate Completed under the auspices of completed in his own office, this Robert Jones gave Walker CF&S, this mix of historical and project answered a request from complete design freedom contemporary elements provided the Whakatane Airport Authority (requiring only the inclusion of Designed by Walker during his time visual relief among the filing- for a building that would benefit a courtyard), the result being a at CF&S, this building was originally cabinets that line The Terrace. local tourism and ‘put Whakatane marketplace marked by a 20m a customs post for the port - the The club had two buildings on on the map’. Set on a flat, open tower. The tower acted as both elevated viewpoint allows for either side of a central courtyard plain, the expressive cluster of a landmark and a viewpoint from easy surveillance of the area. The with a large pohutukawa tree forms was designed to be viewed which to overlook the town. Just a building has since been adapted marking the street entry. The from all sides and to reflect the few fragments of Walker’s design for the Wellington Free Ambulance, low-rise design was controversial mounded form of Whale Island now remain. After closing off and the amenities block that was from the start, with many seeing that is visible in the distance. This the tower to prevent vandalism built alongside it has been since it as a waste of valuable land. relatively small-scale terminal the building became, as Walker been removed. Both buildings Despite being deliberately over- remains a refreshing change from himself puts it, Centerpointless pioneered Walker’s use of concrete structured in hope that demolition the sterility typical of airports, and was it largely demolished. block and steep profiled steel would be too costly to justify but the future of the building Jones would later describe the roofs, which contrasted with the re-development, the building was is uncertain as predictions for project as “as heap of trouble all low gables of existing port sheds. demolished in the mid-1980s to increased usage are sparking the way and a lesson against Walker established popular usage make way for a high-rise Warren plans for further development on pioneering.” See Home & Building of these elements throughout & Mahoney scheme. the site. The project received an June 1973 and Bob Jones, Jones the 70’s. The ground floor toilet is See Transition Sept./Dec. 1981, NZIA Enduring Architecture Award on Property: The Property Game apparently Walker’s first use of his Arch. Review Feb. 1981 and NZ in 2003. for Fun & Profit (Wellington: signature porthole window. Architect 4/1984 and 5/1985. See Home & Building April 1975. Fourth Estate Books, 1977).

5 1972 6 1975-1981 7 1979 8 1980

The Sandcastle Motel Rainbow Springs Willis Street Village Waitomo Caves Reception Ctr 20 Paetawa Road 192 Fairy Springs Rd 142-148 Willis Street 39 Waitomo Caves Road PekaPeka Wellington Waitomo

An increasingly popular tourist Conceived as a Wellington’s attraction, the Waitomo Caves This small motel, tucked in answer to Auckland’s Parnell required a reception area to just behind the dunes on the The Rainbow Springs Kiwi House Village, this complex brought welcome and hold tourists while Pekapeka Beach waterfront, (1976) was the first enclosure colonial charm to central Willis they waited for guided tours has just eight units. A low- to display kiwis out of the wild. Street. Walker’s whimsical of the caves. Walker situated cost construction project, the Walker paid close attention to architecture accommodates a public toilets, staff facilities composition is vintage Walker achieving ‘nocturnal’ light, even mix of boutique shops, cafes and a souvenir shop along a - the cellular rooms are each designing an adjustable skylight and housing over two levels. meandering path that gently topped by a steeply pitched roof that could replicate moon phases. The combination of commercial guided people to the reception with exposed internal structure, He was later advised that the with theatrical elements resulted building beyond. The strong, while concrete-walled circular kiwis would never have noticed it in glazed shop frontages expressive forms of the various bathrooms each have a skylight due to extremely weak eyesight. topped by pitched roofs, dormer buildings were clad in timber tube sprouting from the roof. See: Walker went on to design the windows, entrance arches, and shingle for walls and roofs, www.sandcastlemotel.co.nz and souvenir shop and admin facilities elevated turrets. Surrounded by respecting the forest surrounds Architecture NZ, Jan./Feb. 2004. (1977) and tearooms (1981). The a humpbacked bridge, rounded without needing to be invisible. This is an interesting buildings display Walker’s typical tower and a collection of colorful The project won a Tourist & neighborhood architecturally. eccentricities – porthole windows, stores, the central courtyard Publicity Department Award in Walking south along the beach primary colors, cylindrical towers provides a delightful haven from 1982 and an NZIA Branch Award from the Motel you might and steep gables – but overall the the busy street. The intimate in 1983, but was destroyed by fire spot Architecture Workshop’s design is more restrained. The scale of the complex still creates in 2005 – Architecture Workshop’s Pekapeka House (2006) and project received an NZIA Waikato- a specifically pedestrian-friendly elegant replacement was Fritz Eisenhofer’s own under-the- BOP Branch Award in 1977. zone in an increasingly high-rise completed in 2010. dunes dome house (1970s). See Home & Building June 1977. area. See NZ Architect no.3 1984. 9 1982 10 1982 11 1992 12 1978/ 1995

THC Chateau Tongariro Housing Gas House Chesterman Building Margrain Vinyard State Highway 48 426 Palmerston Road 21 Rostrevor Street Cnr Ponatahi & Huangarua Rds Mt. Ruapehu Gisborne Hamilton Martinborough all

One of only a few Walker The Gas House was constructed buildings in his hometown, the when gas first arrived in Gisborne. Chesterman Building sits on The THC wanted to improve A local plumber saw the potential the banks of the Waikato River

the standard of staff facilities to of the energy source and asked and has multiple balconies and Architecture & Deisgn Photo: Walker encourage skilled workers from Walker to design a signature a tower to allow appreciation of The Margrain Vineyard was European and North American ski building that would appeal to a new the view. The building received planted in 1992. Recognising the resorts to shift to this side of the market. Walker’s futuristic design a NZIA Waikato & Bay of Plenty success of wine-based tourism world. Walker managed to work proved that even industrial buildings Branch Award in 1993, with in the Martinborough region, the within the tight budget to provide could be attractive. The roof of the the jury stating: “Demands owners commissioned Walker five self-contained units clustered showroom and workshop cascades attention through form and to design various buildings for around a central courtyard. The down in large rounded steps. colour, expressing the vitality the vineyard. Fourteen villas stark contrast to the grandiose The corrugated iron cladding was of the occupant’s [advertising were designed in 1995 to Georgian architecture of the chosen for its industrial image and agency] business. Sited in accommodate guests right by the nearby Chateau (1929) makes structural strength. The building an area of transition between vines with stunning views over the design even more delightful. won the 1984 Steel Awards, but is commercial and residential, the the Tararua Ranges. Walker’s The staff housing at Chateau now a Guthrie Bowron paint store building portrays the appropriate edgy and colorful style makes the Tongariro was one of three and (perhaps appropriately) has residential scale with commercial villas stand out in the landscape. developments Roger worked on had its silver metalwork painted flair.” The building was also a He later designed the conference for the Tourist Hotel Corporation over in beige. finalist for an NZIA National Award center (2001) and winery building – he also designed buildings for See Construction July 84 and New in 1994. (2005). Also in Martinborough is THC in Wairakei and Queenstown Zealand Architect no.4 1983 and See Architecture NZ March/April the Booth House (25 Ferry Rd), (see Other Addresses). no.4 1984. 1994. one of Walker’s Vintage Homes.

13 1997/2004 Other Addresses: Sources:

Thorndon Primary School St. Patricks Church (1968) Solitaire Lodge (1982) Except where noted, the photos are 20 Turnbull Street, Thorndon, 14 High Street, Taumaranui 16 Ronald Rd, Lake Tarawera by Kirsten Zink or Andrew Barrie. Wellington This was one of Walker’s See www.solitairelodge.com. Many thanks to Roger Walker for projects at CF&S. The diagonal his generous help in preparing this plan and exposed timber Centre City Shopping Center guide. interior acknowledge John 11 Gill St, New Plymouth (‘86) Scott’s famed churches. This 50,000m2 includes The best source on Walker is Gerald Walker’s fondness for “Noddy” department stores, a Melling’s exuberant monograph, towers, crisp geometry and supermarket, 50 shops, a large Positively Architecture: New verticality are already apparent. food court and 750 car parks. Zealand’s Roger Walker (: While in Taumaranui, check out See Architecture NZ May/June Square One Press, 1985). Key Walker’s 1967 Wiles & Hayes 1989 and Jan./Feb. 1990. articles on Walker include Alastair Chemists (now Unichem) at 93 Best’s “The Architecture of Hakiaha Street, apparently NZ‘s THC Queenstown Hotel (‘89) Ebullience”, Architects Journal 8 Walker’s work on this compressed first glass verandah. Earl Street, Queenstown Nov. 1978 and Russell Walden’s inner city site involved two This complex won an NZIA response to Best, “Walker’s Double classrooms and an admin block Cream Can Outlets (1974-76) National Award in 1988. It Code”, Architects Journal Feb. (1997), with a further classroom These bold ice cream stores is now a Novotel - its recent 1979 ; Walden’s “NZ Audacity: The added later (2004). The efficient were completed in Tauranga top floor addition was not Work of Roger Walker” Architectural layout makes the most of the (1974, demolished), at 57 appreciated by Walker. See Review, Feb. 1981; Walden’s site – the buildings fold around Ranolf St, Rotorua (1975), and Architecture NZ, Nov/Dec 87, “The Romantic Rebellion of New a sunny central courtyard, in Hamilton (1976, demolished). and Jul/Aug 1988. Zealand’s Roger Walker” Transition defining a safe and sheltered v2 n3/4 Sep/Dec 1981; and “Profile: play area within a built-up urban James Cook Arcade (1979) Thorndon New World (1997) Roger Walker”, Home & Building environment. School-aged 294-296 Lambton Quay, 41 Murphy St., Thorndon, Dec./Jan. 1986/87. children are among the the most Wellington Wellington See also Chris Brooke-White’s appreciative clients of Walker’s Designed with Gus Watt. See Included surrounding interview, “A survival kit for small expressive and imaginative NZ Architect no.3 1980. developments. See Architecture offices” NZIA Journal Oct. 1977, architecture, enjoying his free- NZ, Mar/Apr 1999. Walker Roger Walker’s “Voluntary Article flowing curves and splashes of THC Wairakei Hotel (1980-81) also completed New World for NZ Architect”, NZ Architect n2, color as much as the playground State Highway One, Taupo supermarkets at 1978, “New Zealand in America: itself. The school received a NZIA Now Bayview Wairakei Resort, (1999) and Wainuimata (2000). Lectures ‘Up from Down Under’”, Wellington Branch Award and Walker’s projects on the site NZ Architect 1/1987, and Keith Color Award in 2005. include a laundry, spa, toilets, Il Cavallino Restaurant (1997) Stewart’s “Bending the Rules” See Architecture NZ May/June villas and a playground. See 13 Pirie St., Wellington Architecture New Zealand, Nov. 2001. www.wairakei.co.nz. Now the Hop Garden. Dec. 1988.