Colour design and conservation of Gummer Ford designed libraries in Auckland, New Zealand: Guidelines and comparison with other notable buildings (1923-28)

• Main Authors: Premier, Alessandro, Rennie, Julian
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: International Colour Association 2024
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/2292/68000

Architect William Gummer (1884-1966) was born in Auckland, New Zealand. He left for the United Kingdom in 1908, studying at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, and qualified as an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects. He notably worked for Sir Edwin Lutyens (and Daniel Burnham of Chicago). Upon his return home he set up the architectural practice “Gummer Ford” in 1923, (with Englishman C.R. Ford, who had travelled as the youngest member of Scott’s Antarctica 1901-04 expedition). The practice produced notable buildings in Auckland, firstly in the Beaux Arts tradition and later in the Modernist idiom. One small treasure is the Remuera Library (opened in 1926), which is clad in red brick cavity construction and some solid plaster rendering to the porticos, along with tall arched steel framed windows that activate the reading spaces. The interiors still retain their timber ceiling beams and panelling, giving a noble atmosphere well suited to the up-market, though conservative, suburb within which it sits. The goal of this research is to reveal the significance of this small architectural gem within the ‘minor’ heritage of New Zealand and to outline a proposal for the conservation of its colours in the near future. This study presents an analysis of the current building colours and a comparison with relevant buildings designed by the same Architectural firm within a similar period, notably: the Grey Lynn Library, (painted brick clad); the Auckland Wintergardens; the Jubilee Institute Building for the Blind Foundation; and the Auckland Railway Station. The research methodology includes a literature review, archival research, as well as on-site study. The latter includes the identification of the aforementioned buildings’ colour palettes of the external façades, by using the NCS Colourpin SE tool. The colour palettes – generated according to the NCS 1950 chart – have been compared with archival material (photos and drawings) to better understand the most appropriate strategy for colour conservation. ...