"Banal and Unadventurous"
Every year the NZIA Southern Branch holds a lecture series in memory of the renown Otago architect Ted McCoy.
Christopher Kelly, the principal from Architecture Workshop, was invited to give this years Ted McCoy lecture and focused on presenting three recent landmark projects in the New Zealand landscape.
He introduced the lecture with these comments ...
"John Stackpoole, with Peter Beavan as it turned out, was one of the first architects to record the best architecture built in Aotearoa between 1820-1970. I understand from Johns obituary this year that it was ‘The first book on architecture written in NZ’ (published in 1972). It won't surprise you that E J McCoy makes the cut (entry 77 on page 99) records the University College Dunedin 1969."
Our two raconteurs write : "In the early 1950's when New Zealand architecture was generally both banal and unadventurous, McCoys work for the Roman Catholic Church in Dunedin was a beacon of architectural hope, and stood for a humane rational architecture suitable to its climate, and loved by its users. McCoy has always worked closely within his experience and awareness of the Otago province. He has never worked outside it. This (University College of Dunedin) is his finest and largest building, placed on a knoll beside the main University Buildings. The vigorous modelling of the buildings shows their maturity, and the low buildings in front, dining and common rooms, contain fine spaces inside and out for talking, meeting and living together."
Christopher went on to present Three Rooves in relation to German philosopher Gottfreid Sempers engagement with the earth and contrasting this with the light weight use of innovative engineered timber. He discussed the evolution of the concept and thought behind the detail development in close collaboration with the design consultants over a series of three projects.
Though the talk was by an architect for architects (ie very intensively in-house) the presentations were very well attended, particularly in Queentown, creating alot of interest and questions. The NZIA Southern Branch were very generous in their hospitality and the lecture stimulated discussion long into the evening. Thanks to the Southern Branch for great organisation.
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