Thursday 28 August 2014

Blind Institute Parnell Auckland


In 1909 Edward Bartley was aged 70. He was at last enjoying a particularly buoyant economic climate for architects. Not since the early 1880's had Auckland seen such a level of public works and new construction in the commercial area of the city. This reflected a more general confidence in the economy as a whole and Aucklanders enjoyed a higher standard of living in 1908- 1914 than they were to achieve for quite some time afterwards.

The brick building Edward designed for the Royal Institute for the Blind in Parnell is familiar in Auckland. Less well known is the fact that Edward's relationship with the Institute, both personally and professionally, preceded that building by many years.
In 1890 the Jubilee celebrations in Auckland had been completed with a surplus of  £155. It was suggested that this surplus should be used to establish an Institute for the Blind. 
The object of the proposed institution was to provide basic education and instruction in a craft or skill to enable the blind to earn their own living. The example of the Liverpool Blind Asylum was held up as a model. In 1891 the Institute moved to property at the Parnell end of Manukau Rd which was altered to suit.
Additional ground beside the school was purchased. This allowed the executive to agree to construct a school room, gymnasium, male dormitory and new sanitary areas for the rapidly growing student body now in residence.
 Edward prepared plans for these additions.  The gymnasium and the larger workshop were deferred for the time being but the decision was made to proceed with the other new buildings, along with the suggested fire precautions and improved water supply.
The additions were opened in August 1892 and featured wide verandahs on the whole of the north side of each block. The boys’ dormitory was considered  generous - a room 32 x 55 feett was divided internally into four rooms, each with four beds.
 About this time the Institute Executive was attacked via Letters to the Editor accusing the gentlemen concerned of self  promotion and cynical charitable gesturing.
Edward felt strongly enough to reply swiftly in an angry defence of the organisation and the aims of the Institute: 
NZ Herald 25 August 1892
By 1898 the school had outgrown the existing buildings. Fire safety was still a major concern. The Auckland members of the Legislative Council were canvassed to approach the Premier for £5000 to erect the main block required. While this lobbying was under way the inevitable happened. 
On 7 October 1898 fire broke out at the Blind Institute. Starting in the outbuildings the fire was contained before it reached the main block, mainly due to the availability of town supply water at key points on the premises. Edward’s first designs for a two storey brick building date from this time. 
It was not until 1905 that plans for a masonry building could be realised. A Government subsidy of £2500, along with a further bequest, enabled Edward's design to be accepted. The foundation stone was laid in 1907. The building was opened in May 1909. 
Construction was of brick, primarily as a fire precaution, but also because the material suited the style the Institute required. The building featured a number of technical innovations. Most notable was the first floor construction, where steel and concrete slab were used, with a more traditional tongue & groove timber top surface. A verandah surrounded both floors on all sides and the verandah doors incorporated another new device whereby the doors were hung on the inside but opened to the outside, allowing full use of all the verandah space without obstruction in the doorway.
 Inside the concrete stairways were adorned with very decorative cast iron railings. These balustrades were much admired at the time of the opening in 1909, and continue to be regarded as fine examples of the use of this type of decorative work. 




[i] NZH 17 September 1901

See also New Zealand Herald 10 July 1890 p 5 col 5 & 6; 8 Oct 1898 p 5 col 1; 11 Nov 1898 p 6 col 4; 17 Sept 1901 p 5 col 2; 25 Oct 1901 p 5 col 5; 9 Jan 1903 p 7 col 1; 9 Sept 1905 p 5 col 1; 4 Oct 1905 p 6 col 4 & p 4 col 6; 22 Mar 1906 p 6 col 3; 16 Aug 1906 p 8 col 6;3 Oct 1906 p 8 col 8; 17 Nov 1906 p 5 col 6; 2 May 1907 p 6 col 2; 16 July 1907 p 7 col 2