Media release 24 September 2008
New book aims to help identify, preserve NZ's modernist heritage
Think of New Zealand's historic buildings and you probably conjure up images of crumbling structures from our colonial
past—not buildings reflecting 20th century architecture.
But aren't buildings in this modernist tradition also worthy of preservation and regard?
That's the view of Dr Julia Gatley of The University of Auckland's School of Architecture and Planning, at the National
Institute of Creative Arts and Industries (NICAI). As editor of the forthcoming book, Long Live the Modern: New
Zealand's New Architecture, 1904-1984 (Auckland University Press, 2008), Dr Gatley has used photographs and text to
survey 180 modernist sites and buildings in New Zealand.
Dr Gatley notes the term "modern" is not explicitly related to the modernist movement of architecture; rather, it is
associated with "the new" – including changes in technology, materials, engineering capabilities, modes of transport and
ways of living in the 20th century.
"It may take an adjustment of mindset to think of our architectural heritage as a continuous development over time –
heritage does not stop at any one given date; it includes buildings of the quite recent past," says Dr Gatley. "Many of
the architects who designed the modern buildings disliked Edwardian and Victorian ornamentation – they thought it fussy
and were often divided on whether or not old buildings should be retained. I think they would like the fact that their
buildings are now getting heritage recognition though; it demonstrates that they designed things that subsequent
generations consider worth keeping," she says.
Long Live the Modern features contributions from 46 experts in the field who examine private homes as well as public
buildings. Examples range from Auckland's West Plaza Building to Wanganui's War Memorial Hall, the Roxburgh Power
Station and Tamaki state housing; and houses designed by Ernst Plischke, Group Architects and many others.
Dr Gatley notes that currently, the Historic Places Trust is registering a small number of modern buildings per year and
the Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch City Councils are also active in identifying their modern heritage, but many
other local authorities are not. As a result, listings are neither comprehensive nor consistent nationwide at the
present time. She hopes Long Live the Modern, by giving a national survey of architectural modernism, will encourage the
listing of more modernist buildings for preservation.
Dr Gatley says Long Live the Modern arose from her work with DOCOMOMO, the international organisation, started in the
Netherlands, for the DOcumentation and COnservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the MOdern MOvement.
Like the founders of DOCOMOMO, Dr Gatley is interested in raising public appreciation and awareness of modern
architecture and the potential for modern buildings to be recognised as heritage buildings.
Long Live the Modern: New Zealand's New Architecture, 1904-1984 (Auckland University Press, 2008; RRP $64.99) will be
launched at the Gus Fisher Gallery on 17 October. The gallery will mount an architectural exhibition of the same title
that runs from 18 October to 22 November.
The University of Auckland's National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries comprises the School of Architecture and
Planning, Elam School of Fine Arts, the Centre for New Zealand Art Research and Discovery (CNZARD), the School of Music
and the Dance Studies Programme.
ENDS