New Zealand
Wanaka Hotel
In this issue of Architecture, Forms + Functions I have chosen to publish the New Zealand approach to Hotel design which in many ways differs from the conventional line mainly because the grandeur of the New Zealand scene is so overwhelming as to make it almost impossible for architectural design to compete with the manifold variety of natural beauty.
Besides, most of the resorts are miles apart from each other and at great distance from the nearest habitation which explains why functional design had to be expressed in terms of simplicity as well as economy.
And yet, the visitor will find the standard of these hotels very high, excelled perhaps only by Swiss Hotel design which carries a long tradition.
It would have been a great mistake to confront the New Zealand scene with multi-storey hotels at greater expense because they would have been dwarfed by our environment, by no means lagging behind the most famous European beauty spots, anyway. The explanatory notes to each building will tell their own story.
All the hotels depicted are operated by the Tourist Hotel Corporation of New Zealand and are furnished and provide facilities to international standards. Guest rooms are of adequate size and each is provided with a fully equipped modern bathroom.
All rooms are provided with telephones and the hotels are fully covered by automatic fire sprinkler systems.
Public rooms are designed, decorated and named with a distinctive theme in mind associated with the locality of the hotel, for instance the “Lobster Pot” dining-room at Milford Sound where lobsters are plentiful, and are a feature on the menu.
The “Alpine” and “Snowline” bars at the Hermitage set in the centre of New Zealand’s Alpine region and the “Hobson Lounge”, “Victoria Room” and “Busby Room” at the Waitangi Hotel are names associated with this historic locality in New Zealand’s early development.
Due to the isolated situations of the Corporation’s tourist resort hotels it is necessary to include in their building projects full staff accommodation, water supply and stoiage, seawage treatment system and in some cases individual hydro or electric power generating plant.
Max Rosenfeld 200
Architects : Sargent & Smith & Partners Completed 1964.
Situated in the South Island in the centre of the Lakes District overlooking Wanaka Lake with panoramic views of snow capped mountains, in an area which in the early days of New Zealand was a centre of the gold rush.
Constructed of timber finished white externally giving a clean sharp contrast to the green landscaped lawns and surrounds.
LOUNGE
BED ROOMS FOYER
YARD DINING ROOM
CAR PARK
BARS.
STAFF GROUND
HANAKA HOTEL
FLOOR
PLAN
Tous les hôtels décrits sont dirigés par la Tourist Hôte! Corporation de NouvelleZélande. Modernement équipés (bains, téléphone avec chaque chambre) et automatiquement défendus contre le feu, ils offrent en outre le charme de restaurants pittoresquement décorés et nommés d’après les spécialités historiques ou gastronomiques des lieux.
(« Lobster Pot » à Milford Sound ou « Victoria Room » à l’hôtel Waitangi).
Vu la situation souvent isolée il a été nécessaire d’inclure dans certains plans le logement de tout le personnel, des réserves d'eau et même des groupes électrogènes individuels.
Alle beschriebenen Hotels werden von der Tourist Hotel Corporation von Neuseeland geleitet. Neuzeitlich ausgestattet (Bäder, Telefon in jedem Zimmer) und automatisch feuergesichert, bieten sie außerdem den Zauber von malerisch dekorierten Restaurants und sind nach historischen Begebenheiten und gastronomischen Spezialitäten benannt. (« Lobster Pot » in Milford Sound oder « Victoria Room » im Hotel Waitangi). Auf Grund der oft einsamen Lage war es notwendig, in gewissen Plänen die Unterkünfte für das gesamte Personal, Wasserreserven und selbst eigene Stromerzeuger zu berücksichtigen.
TO BEACH ZS. I AND I, BAY OF ISLANDS ft VIEW f-
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BISCUS WING
Waitangi Hotel Architect : Wm. Pearson Completed 1964.
Situated in the far north of New Zealand amid the historic Bay of Islands, scene of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi bringing union between the Maori and white races of New Zealand; and present day famous for its big game fishing.
The hotel, constructed of timber, structural steel and concrete masonry, is designed in three simple, low structures connected by covered walks and with tong verandahs lending a colonial air to the building which blends imaginatively with the landscape.
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CAR ' PARK
, CAR PARK
YARD
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FLOOR’ PLAN
201
Franz Josef Hotel Architects: Structon Group Architects (in collaboration with Win. Pearson) Completed 1965.
Situated on the West Coast of the South Island amid alpine surrounds with panoramic views of the Southern Alps and of the Franz Josef glacier which, with its terminal at near sea level is unique in the world's temperate zone.
Set amid peaceful forest surroundings the hotel has a ranch-like character constructed of timber with local river-stone as relief.
202
1 Æ1 The Hermitage Architects: 1st stage (1958) Hall & Mackenzie. 2nd stage (1961) Wm. Pearson Situated in the South Island in the Mt. Cook National Park the centre of New Zealand's alpine regions with views directly to Mt. Cook ( 12,349 ft.) New Zealand's highest mountain in the Southern Alps.
The strong simple character of the building with the use of local stone and stained timbers is in harmony with the rugged mountain ous character of the landscape.
Milford Hotel Architects: 1st stage (1954) Architectural Division of the Ministry of Works, F. Gordon Wilson, Government Architect.
2nd stage (1960) Wm. Pearson.
Situated in Southern Fiordland at the head of the Milford Sound with views of waterfalls and snow capped mountains rising sheer from the depths of the Sound.
Timber construction is used excepting for the guest accommodation wing is reinforced concrete. Greenstone, which is found in its area, has been used in the lounge fireplace. The striking mural in the foyer, based upon Polynesian art forms, is by Russel Clark.
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GROUND■FLOOR PLAN
203