ITINERARY n.21 NOT ON MAP 11 1 3 4 6 12 14 15 16 2 587 9 13 Sources: When Architecture NZ commissioned a series 10 of articles to mark the NZIA centenary in 2005, the first cab off the rank was New Zealand’s architecture “journals, magazines, bulletins and squibs” (January, pp. 69-85). Douglas Lloyd Jenkins provided the historical overview and others, including past editors, reflected on specific journals. 1905-1979 Out-of-Print 3: Journals 1 In World Architects in their Twenties, a book of interviews with international big-shots such as Renzo Progress Building & Allied Trades Piano, Jean Nouvel and Frank Gehry, each architect spoke about their education and early years in the Auckland profession. Asked if they had any advice for young architects, they all commented that youngsters should be wary of the architectural media; Renzo Piano went so far as to say “I think too much information’s like a drug … a very bad drug … So I have a suggestion: don’t buy any more … architecture magazines.” Such an attitude is surprising – and perhaps ingenuous – from those whose rise in the profession has relied on the support of such journals. Magazines, it seems, are paradoxically necessary but unhelpful. The internet is altering the way we receive information, but we in NZ have been heavily reliant on international journals to keep up with overseas developments. What, then, is the place of local journals in our smaller architectural culture? Our nation’s production of architectural books has been intermittent and uneven, and as a result local magazines have formed our primary historical record. Although the advent of the digital age may alter the balance, magazines continue to serve as a key source for most people. The development of our magazines mirrors closely the development and changing priorities of the profession. The following chronological presentation emphasizes themes and developments over time. It shows, for example, that one or two magazines have been founded in most decades since 1900. The chances of a new journal lasting beyond five years, however, are quite slim. There’s a second danger point around the 15 year mark; make it over that hurdle, and it seems you’re part of the publishing establishment. Our short-lived magazines have been the initiative of one or two or three people, all with something to say. The longer running magazines have also been pushed in different directions by strong- Started in the same year that the NZIA was founded, minded editors – Gerald Melling’s truncated editorship of NZ Architect is a case in point; it’s not always this journal is the best- true that local architects and commentators are too shy to express opinions. illustrated record of our early Our magazines also demonstrate changing ideas and values. For example, the latter 60s and the 70s architecture. A highlight was are associated not only with free love but also free thinking and free speech, and in Kiwi architectural its publication in 1912 of the competition drawings publishing three new titles – the AAA Bulletin, Designscape and Offcentre – provided new opportunities for Parliament House. The for expression in that period. The new journals of the 80s were a different breed, reflecting the expansion magazine changed its name of the history and heritage movements at a time when much of our built heritage was tumbling to the to NZ Building Progress in ground. In the 90s, there are other shifts – to theory, to modernism and, in turn, slick neo-modernism. 1914 and ceased publishing In 2005, Architecture NZ stopped publishing architects’ statements alongside building reviews. While this in 1924. When it returned as Building Progress in 1935, policy rescued readers from some dreary prose, it also placed them at some remove from the thinking it was oriented more to the behind the designs. As a consequence we now know far more about what Bill McKay and Douglas Lloyd construction industry than Jenkins think about contemporary architectural issues than about the thoughts of our leading architects. designers, before eventually This policy was well intentioned, but has left architects silent. We’re fortunate to have the services of able succumbing in 1979. Helpfully for scholars, this and informed critics, but many of our leading architects are also articulate writers. We’d like to see our journal has been indexed journals encourage rigorous thinking and vigorous debate by more regularly publishing texts by these by the Alexander Turnbull practitioners. Otherwise, Renzo’s journal detox may be the healthier option. Andrew Barrie & Julia Gatley Library. ReferenceReference as: as: Andrew Andrew BarrieBarrie andand JuliaJulia Gatley,Gatley, “Out-of-Print“Out-of-Print 3:3: Journals”,Journals”, ItineraryItinerary No.No. 21,21, Block:Block: TheThe BroadsheetBroadsheet ofof thethe Auckland Auckland BranchBranch ofof thethe NewNew ZealandZealand InstituteInstitute ofof Architects, Architects, No.No. 3,3, 2009.2009. 2 1913- 3451937- 1946 1948-1953 NZIA Journal of Proceedings Building Today Planning NZ Design Review NZIA Grimpthorpe Press Architectural Group Architectural Centre Wellington Auckland Auckland Wellington Much hyped, this magazine is limited to one issue, written and published by Auckland University College’s disgruntled This is a magazine second year students, who characterized by constant went on to become the Group While Auckland had the In its early days, this pocket- transformations of name and Construction Company in 1949 Group, Wellington had the sized journal was primarily format. Begun in 1936, the and Group Architects in 1951. Centre, and Design Review a record of the Institute and first few issues were published The magazine’s famed content was the first of its various of developments within the as Building Today, before includes a harsh critique of journals and publications. profession. The journal’s name becoming Home & Building Cecil Wood’s design for St Design Review is believed to and format meandered over the Today in 1937 and then Home Paul’s Cathedral in Wellington, have taken its name from the years, becoming Proceedings/ & Building later that year. H&B and a letter of support from Architectural Review, the shift NZIA in 1918, the Journal of the provides the best photographic Richard Neutra. A copy was from ‘architectural’ to ‘design’ NZIA in 1922, the NZIA Journal record of our mid-century also sent to Mies van der Rohe, reflecting its, and the Centre’s, in 1963, Journal (NZIA) in 1973, architecture. The journal was who is reported to have read multi-disciplinary interests. NZ Architect in 1977, and finally re-titled NZ Home & Building in the cover as “I, Planning”. Its graphic design is also a Architecture NZ in 1987. It 1976; had sections on food and It is surprising that a group highlight. Creating a fabulous wasn’t published from 1938-49 wine added when it became so vehement in proclaiming resource for mid-century fans, due to WWII, with the NZIA Year NZ Home and Entertaining in their interest in indigenous scans of every page of every Book appearing in its stead 1999; and renewed its focus on modernism so actively sought issue are now available online and then continuing in parallel houses when it became Home international recognition and at NZ Electronic Text Centre: until 1963. Bit by bit it became NZ in 2007. The magazine acceptance. www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei- bigger and more colourful, and cemented its place in our Surviving copies are few and corpus-DesignReview.html. See continues to be our first port of architectural culture when it far between, so if you are also Paul Walker’s analysis of call for info on contemporary established the Home of the offered one or see one for sale, it in Architecture NZ, Sep-Oct NZ practice. Year award in 1995. grab it! 1996, pp. 46-48. 671966-1979 1969-1983 8 1969-1984 9 1974-1990 AAA Bulletin Designscape Offcentre NZIA News Auckland Architectural NZ Industrial Design Council Architectural Centre NZIA Association Wellington Wellington Wellington Primarily intended to promote A photocopied news bulletin The AAA was founded by industrial design, this journal rather than a journal, NZIA acknowledged Group leader, also covered disciplines such Particularly under the editorship News was replaced in 1990 by Bill Wilson, in 1965, to act as as interiors, graphic design, of Chris Cochran, this variously Detail and in 1997 by Cross an informal club or society for and ceramics. Emanating what formatted journal was the Section. Due to the current discussion, exhibition and, from now seems an Austin Powers- vehicle by which Centre economic situation, Cross 1966 when the AAA Bulletin ish grooviness, the magazine members gave attention to Section recently switched to an was started, publication. The included some of the best heritage issues in the 1970s electronic format, distributed Bulletin is a terrific record of coverage of 70s architecture – when more and more of by email. The NZIA has also Auckland architectural activity particularly Athfield, Walker and Wellington’s old buildings supported local newsletters and personalities of the day, the other Wellington heroes. were being pulled down. A – the Wellington Branch injected with the kind of The magazine gave extensive particular highlight is the issue published the Wellington humour that predates political coverage to important projects that records the Centre’s Architect (1993-95) and correctness. The Bulletin such as the NZ Pavilion at vote on whether or not John Auckland, Pete Bossley and continued as the AAA Journal Expo 70 in Osaka, the Hannah Campbell’s Edwardian Baroque Pip Cheshire’s photocopied (1979-82). Today the AAA runs Playhouse and the Beehive, Public Trust Office (1908) broadsheet, Big Issues (1990- one of the most interesting looking at the contribution of should be retained.