Auckland war memorial museum
Location: Auckland domain.
Date of completion: 1929.
Architects: Grierson, Aimer and Draffin.
Materials: Marble, Portland stone and coromandel granite.
Design/Order: Neoclassical - with doric and ionic features.
Function of the Auckland war memorial museum: It is a symbol of remembrance for families and returned service personnel who wish to honour their loved ones and fallen comrades in battle. The museum allows New Zealanders to connect with their history and ponder the future ahead of them. The museum also is home to many precious artefacts and cultural displays.
Has its function changed since it was built: No its function has not changed, although their have been many new developments to the museum with displays of ancient artefacts and different sections which represent various ethnic groups, it is still a war memorial and a museum.
How can it be linked to the classical world: The portico has a colonnade of eight fluted doric columns, these columns are very similar to the colonnades on the eastern and western faces of the parthenon. The entrance has a bronze door case which is decorated with bronze medallions featuring a poppy motif, this feature is very similar to the bronze ornament which are seen on the ionic door case of the Erechtheion. The decorative frieze which consist of 174 panels or metopes at the top of the exterior wall was a direct replica of the continuous frieze of the Parthenon. There are 96 stone metopes carved in relief on the original building of which 78 are of precast concrete, these are countersunk between two sets of triglyphs which are of raised blocks or three vertical bands. The layout in which these alternating metopes and triglyphs are placed, are almost identical to that of the Parthenon frieze. The entablature which is influenced by the doric order extends continuously around the exterior walls of the who building, however it is slightly different to the Parthenon entablature as there are three main horizontal sections, the lowest which is the architrave, the middle which is the frieze and the top which consists of the over scaled corona instead of a cornice structure which the Parthenon has. On the entablature above the portico is one section of the continuous frieze, this section consists of 96 panels depicting scenes from 1914-18 of Aucklanders on service. These scenes on the museum were like the greek battles to the greek people which were expressed on the metopes of the Parthenon, they are of great historical and cultural importance to New Zealanders. The corona which was an over scaled 'box' was inscribed with a passage from Pericles' funeral, this feature was used to honour the Athenians who had died in battle. The Marble in the columns and flooring was used to construct entire frames in the Parthenon, Erechtheion and the Propylaea, by incorporating it into the columns and decorative floor, the marble which is known as the timeless quality material, emphasises the grandness of the museum.
The colonnade of the north face which consists of eight doric columns, have a slight curving from the base which is most pronounced immediately below the capitals. This feature is also a direct influence of the idea of symmetry on the Parthenon, the columns seem to swell at the bottom almost as if all of the buildings weight is on top of it, creating a sense of optical illusion of the building being perfectly straight horizontally and vertically when you look at it from any angle.
Inside the main entrance the foyer is flanked by two fluted ionic columns which lead to a greater hall, at the rear inside the hall are three marble steps which create a stylobate, on top of which are six freestanding fluted ionic columns, ionic columns were used on the Parthenon, Propylaea, The temple of Nike and the Erechtheion. More of these ionic columns are placed in two row of three up to the second storey in front of the entrance to the Maori court of the museum, this feature was influenced by the arrangement of the ionic columns on the Propylaea. The architrave above the eight ionic columns in the hall consist of a cornice which is decorated with dentils and a band of egg/dart motifs. Above the cornice is a wide corona which is decorated with classical ornaments intertwined with maori motifs. The symmetrical floor plan of the museum are very much like the floor plan of the Parthenon and the Temple of Nike, while the optical refinement of the museum were not intended by the architects, the design of the floor plan stays true to the Greek's use of symmetry in their buildings. The cultural and respectful code of behaviour were expected to be the same as on any of the Acropolis buildings, the Acropolis was a spiritual place of the gods. All visitors who entered and processions which took place would pay utmost respect. This code of respect is expected of the museum because it is a tribute to the soldiers who fought heroically on the battle field, but also because is a museum who holds many precious artefacts which have been donated from around the world and protected over many years.
What was the messaged conveyed by the Auckland war memorial museum: It was designed to reflect the heroic valour of the New Zealand soldier and the ‘classical’ tragedy of battles such as Gallipoli. The solid and large columns of the memorial convey with undiminished determination the complex twin messages: “we will remember them” and “a war to end all wars.”
It acts as a reminder that we must all try harder to fight for peace and symbolises the cross of cultures between New Zealanders and Greek Athenians which is reflected in the design.
How might people have reacted to this building: When a visitor stands in front of the building they are engulfed by the size of the towering museum, as they glance upwards they are confronted by a colonnade of eight doric columns, these are the focal of the entranceway to draw the visitors attention towards the door to the interior of the museum. This colonnade was almost an exact replica of the original influence on the Parthenon, because the Parthenon reflected the superiority of the Athenians, their power, status and pride after they defeated the persians in war. The Parthenon was an important statement of the Athenians greatest achievements, with this in mind the museums design also reflects these statements, emulating its significance to New Zealanders. As they tilt further back they become mesmerised by the continuous frieze on the entablature that depicts the scenes of the soldiers fighting, the friezes relief brings these panels to life, overwhelming the visitor with its careful detail, helping them to clearly see the lives of those who fought nobly in battle and the importance of understanding this before entering the museum. Looking on past the columns and towards the bronze door, the visitor begins to reflect on their memories of fallen comrades, family and other loved ones after they catch a glimpse of the poppy motif which decorate the door. The poppy symbolises the Armistice day which signified the ending of war and the sacrifice of the blood shed, by featuring the poppies around the entrance to the museum, the visitor is told to remember the deaths of those who fought for us on the battlefields, which we must never forget. This creates a calm and soothing atmosphere for the visitor as now with their loved ones in mind, they are ready to enter into the museum to honour them. As the visitor enters into the grand foyer they are simply mind blown by the sense of the invincibility of the human spirit because they are able to understand the environment that they are now surrounded by. As the visitor takes in the interior of the building, they notice the symmetry of the floor plan and appreciate it as it not only is aesthetically appealing but it also makes navigation easier for the huge numbers of visitors that enter the museum. For an individual visitor being able to have their own space to take in the important meaning behind the museum itself without having others who overcrowd the interior is very appropriate. After analysing the interior, two fluted ionic columns catch their attention, as if beaconing for them to walk towards it. These columns have the effect of a startling beauty with a decorated, slender and elegant design, they embrace the emotions within the museum, as ionic columns are used to represent femininity, sensualism and emotionalism. These columns open up the visitors emotions before leading them into the 'Hall of memories,' the sanctuary which bears the names of all those who have been impacted by the war. This reinforces the visitors honour and respect towards those who fought for their country, they do not need to even utter a word as they pay their respects by understanding why a moment of silence is needed. Once again more ionic columns are used to lead them higher to the second story where they are confronted by the entrance to the maori court room. As they enter they look up in awe at the maori designs which are intertwined with classical designs, the visitor is able to feel the link between New Zealanders to the Athenians through the architecture and design. Athenian architecture was used to reflect their power, religion and pride, by incorporating this into the museum the visitor is simply speechless as it reflects New Zealand's culture and religion through these maori motifs and pride because as a nation those that fought nobly on the battlefield are out pride.
Also by using the influence of doric columns the museum wants its visitors to understand that the building will endure and last through generations, a visitor feels secure within the building because the museum holds many precious artefacts too, they want to be reassured that these will be protected in the future. The doric columns emphasise this idea of stability, reliability and strength, making its visitor feel very reassured and comfortable inside the building, which is also reflected in the Parthenon as it was also a building that provided security for the precious funds of the delian league.
The unusual feature of the corona; over scaled box, was not used in any of the acropolis buildings however the link between New Zealanders and the Athenians was clearly shown on this, by honouring Pericles' who was known for his building program on the acropolis, the feature emphasises the importance of Pericles' and the Athenians to the museum. This makes the link to the ancient world even greater as the museum was able to be designed the way it was from influences of Athenian architecture. This reinforces the presence of the culture and religion that the visitor experiences.
Date of completion: 1929.
Architects: Grierson, Aimer and Draffin.
Materials: Marble, Portland stone and coromandel granite.
Design/Order: Neoclassical - with doric and ionic features.
Function of the Auckland war memorial museum: It is a symbol of remembrance for families and returned service personnel who wish to honour their loved ones and fallen comrades in battle. The museum allows New Zealanders to connect with their history and ponder the future ahead of them. The museum also is home to many precious artefacts and cultural displays.
Has its function changed since it was built: No its function has not changed, although their have been many new developments to the museum with displays of ancient artefacts and different sections which represent various ethnic groups, it is still a war memorial and a museum.
How can it be linked to the classical world: The portico has a colonnade of eight fluted doric columns, these columns are very similar to the colonnades on the eastern and western faces of the parthenon. The entrance has a bronze door case which is decorated with bronze medallions featuring a poppy motif, this feature is very similar to the bronze ornament which are seen on the ionic door case of the Erechtheion. The decorative frieze which consist of 174 panels or metopes at the top of the exterior wall was a direct replica of the continuous frieze of the Parthenon. There are 96 stone metopes carved in relief on the original building of which 78 are of precast concrete, these are countersunk between two sets of triglyphs which are of raised blocks or three vertical bands. The layout in which these alternating metopes and triglyphs are placed, are almost identical to that of the Parthenon frieze. The entablature which is influenced by the doric order extends continuously around the exterior walls of the who building, however it is slightly different to the Parthenon entablature as there are three main horizontal sections, the lowest which is the architrave, the middle which is the frieze and the top which consists of the over scaled corona instead of a cornice structure which the Parthenon has. On the entablature above the portico is one section of the continuous frieze, this section consists of 96 panels depicting scenes from 1914-18 of Aucklanders on service. These scenes on the museum were like the greek battles to the greek people which were expressed on the metopes of the Parthenon, they are of great historical and cultural importance to New Zealanders. The corona which was an over scaled 'box' was inscribed with a passage from Pericles' funeral, this feature was used to honour the Athenians who had died in battle. The Marble in the columns and flooring was used to construct entire frames in the Parthenon, Erechtheion and the Propylaea, by incorporating it into the columns and decorative floor, the marble which is known as the timeless quality material, emphasises the grandness of the museum.
The colonnade of the north face which consists of eight doric columns, have a slight curving from the base which is most pronounced immediately below the capitals. This feature is also a direct influence of the idea of symmetry on the Parthenon, the columns seem to swell at the bottom almost as if all of the buildings weight is on top of it, creating a sense of optical illusion of the building being perfectly straight horizontally and vertically when you look at it from any angle.
Inside the main entrance the foyer is flanked by two fluted ionic columns which lead to a greater hall, at the rear inside the hall are three marble steps which create a stylobate, on top of which are six freestanding fluted ionic columns, ionic columns were used on the Parthenon, Propylaea, The temple of Nike and the Erechtheion. More of these ionic columns are placed in two row of three up to the second storey in front of the entrance to the Maori court of the museum, this feature was influenced by the arrangement of the ionic columns on the Propylaea. The architrave above the eight ionic columns in the hall consist of a cornice which is decorated with dentils and a band of egg/dart motifs. Above the cornice is a wide corona which is decorated with classical ornaments intertwined with maori motifs. The symmetrical floor plan of the museum are very much like the floor plan of the Parthenon and the Temple of Nike, while the optical refinement of the museum were not intended by the architects, the design of the floor plan stays true to the Greek's use of symmetry in their buildings. The cultural and respectful code of behaviour were expected to be the same as on any of the Acropolis buildings, the Acropolis was a spiritual place of the gods. All visitors who entered and processions which took place would pay utmost respect. This code of respect is expected of the museum because it is a tribute to the soldiers who fought heroically on the battle field, but also because is a museum who holds many precious artefacts which have been donated from around the world and protected over many years.
What was the messaged conveyed by the Auckland war memorial museum: It was designed to reflect the heroic valour of the New Zealand soldier and the ‘classical’ tragedy of battles such as Gallipoli. The solid and large columns of the memorial convey with undiminished determination the complex twin messages: “we will remember them” and “a war to end all wars.”
It acts as a reminder that we must all try harder to fight for peace and symbolises the cross of cultures between New Zealanders and Greek Athenians which is reflected in the design.
How might people have reacted to this building: When a visitor stands in front of the building they are engulfed by the size of the towering museum, as they glance upwards they are confronted by a colonnade of eight doric columns, these are the focal of the entranceway to draw the visitors attention towards the door to the interior of the museum. This colonnade was almost an exact replica of the original influence on the Parthenon, because the Parthenon reflected the superiority of the Athenians, their power, status and pride after they defeated the persians in war. The Parthenon was an important statement of the Athenians greatest achievements, with this in mind the museums design also reflects these statements, emulating its significance to New Zealanders. As they tilt further back they become mesmerised by the continuous frieze on the entablature that depicts the scenes of the soldiers fighting, the friezes relief brings these panels to life, overwhelming the visitor with its careful detail, helping them to clearly see the lives of those who fought nobly in battle and the importance of understanding this before entering the museum. Looking on past the columns and towards the bronze door, the visitor begins to reflect on their memories of fallen comrades, family and other loved ones after they catch a glimpse of the poppy motif which decorate the door. The poppy symbolises the Armistice day which signified the ending of war and the sacrifice of the blood shed, by featuring the poppies around the entrance to the museum, the visitor is told to remember the deaths of those who fought for us on the battlefields, which we must never forget. This creates a calm and soothing atmosphere for the visitor as now with their loved ones in mind, they are ready to enter into the museum to honour them. As the visitor enters into the grand foyer they are simply mind blown by the sense of the invincibility of the human spirit because they are able to understand the environment that they are now surrounded by. As the visitor takes in the interior of the building, they notice the symmetry of the floor plan and appreciate it as it not only is aesthetically appealing but it also makes navigation easier for the huge numbers of visitors that enter the museum. For an individual visitor being able to have their own space to take in the important meaning behind the museum itself without having others who overcrowd the interior is very appropriate. After analysing the interior, two fluted ionic columns catch their attention, as if beaconing for them to walk towards it. These columns have the effect of a startling beauty with a decorated, slender and elegant design, they embrace the emotions within the museum, as ionic columns are used to represent femininity, sensualism and emotionalism. These columns open up the visitors emotions before leading them into the 'Hall of memories,' the sanctuary which bears the names of all those who have been impacted by the war. This reinforces the visitors honour and respect towards those who fought for their country, they do not need to even utter a word as they pay their respects by understanding why a moment of silence is needed. Once again more ionic columns are used to lead them higher to the second story where they are confronted by the entrance to the maori court room. As they enter they look up in awe at the maori designs which are intertwined with classical designs, the visitor is able to feel the link between New Zealanders to the Athenians through the architecture and design. Athenian architecture was used to reflect their power, religion and pride, by incorporating this into the museum the visitor is simply speechless as it reflects New Zealand's culture and religion through these maori motifs and pride because as a nation those that fought nobly on the battlefield are out pride.
Also by using the influence of doric columns the museum wants its visitors to understand that the building will endure and last through generations, a visitor feels secure within the building because the museum holds many precious artefacts too, they want to be reassured that these will be protected in the future. The doric columns emphasise this idea of stability, reliability and strength, making its visitor feel very reassured and comfortable inside the building, which is also reflected in the Parthenon as it was also a building that provided security for the precious funds of the delian league.
The unusual feature of the corona; over scaled box, was not used in any of the acropolis buildings however the link between New Zealanders and the Athenians was clearly shown on this, by honouring Pericles' who was known for his building program on the acropolis, the feature emphasises the importance of Pericles' and the Athenians to the museum. This makes the link to the ancient world even greater as the museum was able to be designed the way it was from influences of Athenian architecture. This reinforces the presence of the culture and religion that the visitor experiences.
Public Trust office - Napier
Location: Napier city.
Date of completion: 1921 - Pre earthquake.
Architects: Hyland and Phillips.
Materials: Reinforced concrete.
Design/order: Classical revival - with doric features.
Function of the Public Trust Office: It was a government building which manages the personal assets of customers for the benefit of customers and organisations they support. In 1998 the Public trust left the building which they used as offices.
Has its function changed since it was built: It is no longer a public trust, currently the top floor of the building is a gymnasium and the bottom floor is leased.
How can it be linked to the classical world: The Public Trust office has engaged doric columns which are actually attached to the building however these columns have doric capitals. They were embedded partly into the exterior wall of the building, these were not used in the buildings on the acropolis and were rarely used in classical greek architecture. Each of these engaged columns were also built from one single block of concrete, where as on the acropolis the buildings; Parthenon, Propylaea and the Erechtheion had columns which were built by layering round blocks of marble on top on each other to make one column, apart from the Temple of Athene Nike - The columns on the building were also made from one single block of pentelic marble just like the engaged columns on the Public trust. These columns reflect the greek idea of symmetry, creating an optical illusion as the columns swell and curve outwards at the bottom as if they are being bulging under the weight of the building itself. However the greeks used this idea to create the Parthenon in a way that they thought would make it perfect, because it looks straight horizontally and vertically from any angle. The doric columns which were fluted and doric capitals were very similar to that of the doric columns of the Parthenon and the Propylaea, the building has engaged windows which is different from the buildings on the Acropolis so that the windows could be used, the buildings on the acropolis did not have windows. The entablature was of doric order, it consisted of a doric frieze with metopes and triglyphs, the metopes were shields and the triglyphs extended around the building with guttae at the bottom of them. The building also had an plain doric architrave and a cornice which consisted of palmettes and mutules. The palmettes were found in various stripped classical buildings around Napier city, on this building they are arranged in a line that runs along the top of the structure, this decorative feature is very similar to those that can be found of the Parthenon. The cultural and behavioural expectations are very similar to that of the sanitary temples on top of the Acropolis, it was a place where people could discuss their wills and other legal administration services, the Public trust office was a formal place where being respectful was very important. Also as a trust office they kept private information safe and secure, it had very high ethical morals, was a trusted and private sector to the public. The building is pre-earthquake and was built to endure and last for generations, it was aimed to be safe from the fire that occurred after the Napier earthquake in 1931. This reinforces the true strength and endurance of the building because it survived the fire, but the previous buildings on the Acropolis before Pericles' building program, had all been burnt down by the persians. However most of the buildings on the Acropolis to this day are still standing, they have endured through centuries of conflict, by reflecting the Athenian's architecture in the Public trust building, the true power and strength of endurance was also reflected.
What was the messaged conveyed by the Public Trust Office: The building was intended to show the power and strength of the government, emphasising the its stability and the power of democracy. As the building was a place that people could trust, the use of the doric order in the structure reinforces how strong and reliable the Public trust office was. It reflects the idea of how powerful the government is and that it will be able to achieve anything for its people as it is a government building. They wanted to symbolise their link to the greek world through democracy as the Athenians created the system, as a government building by using features which were used on the acropolis buildings, they wanted to reflect the stature and superiority that resonated within the acropolis buildings.
How might people have reacted to this building: As a visitor you would stand outside the entrance of the building, gazing up in awe as you take in the size and magnificence of the structure. The first thing they see are the thick and solid doric columns which are uplifted off the ground and stand proudly on the exterior of the building, creating a sense of power and strength to guard the building from intruders. This gives the visitor that they know their private information will be protected, theres nothing more that can upset a customer is people are able to easily access their confidential papers, the factor of security is very important to a customer. The public trust office achieves this which intensifies the importance of the building and the trust kept between customer and client, the visitor feels that they will be able to fully rely on them without having to worry. The building also resonates with power and authority, making the visitor understand that the stature and strength of it really do belong to the government, emphasising the importance of democracy to the visitor as New Zealand is a democratic country. By using the influence of Athenian architecture in a government building, these strong ideas of democracy become reinforced, and the visitor is awe struck in amazement at the careful thought that has gone into designing the building. Democracy gives everyone an equal ability to vote and voice out their opinions, by highlighting its importance through the building, the visitor gains a strong sense of emotion to know that their opinion is valued just as much as everyone else's. The visitor is left with the idea that if the building will endure through generations then so will democracy in this nation.
Date of completion: 1921 - Pre earthquake.
Architects: Hyland and Phillips.
Materials: Reinforced concrete.
Design/order: Classical revival - with doric features.
Function of the Public Trust Office: It was a government building which manages the personal assets of customers for the benefit of customers and organisations they support. In 1998 the Public trust left the building which they used as offices.
Has its function changed since it was built: It is no longer a public trust, currently the top floor of the building is a gymnasium and the bottom floor is leased.
How can it be linked to the classical world: The Public Trust office has engaged doric columns which are actually attached to the building however these columns have doric capitals. They were embedded partly into the exterior wall of the building, these were not used in the buildings on the acropolis and were rarely used in classical greek architecture. Each of these engaged columns were also built from one single block of concrete, where as on the acropolis the buildings; Parthenon, Propylaea and the Erechtheion had columns which were built by layering round blocks of marble on top on each other to make one column, apart from the Temple of Athene Nike - The columns on the building were also made from one single block of pentelic marble just like the engaged columns on the Public trust. These columns reflect the greek idea of symmetry, creating an optical illusion as the columns swell and curve outwards at the bottom as if they are being bulging under the weight of the building itself. However the greeks used this idea to create the Parthenon in a way that they thought would make it perfect, because it looks straight horizontally and vertically from any angle. The doric columns which were fluted and doric capitals were very similar to that of the doric columns of the Parthenon and the Propylaea, the building has engaged windows which is different from the buildings on the Acropolis so that the windows could be used, the buildings on the acropolis did not have windows. The entablature was of doric order, it consisted of a doric frieze with metopes and triglyphs, the metopes were shields and the triglyphs extended around the building with guttae at the bottom of them. The building also had an plain doric architrave and a cornice which consisted of palmettes and mutules. The palmettes were found in various stripped classical buildings around Napier city, on this building they are arranged in a line that runs along the top of the structure, this decorative feature is very similar to those that can be found of the Parthenon. The cultural and behavioural expectations are very similar to that of the sanitary temples on top of the Acropolis, it was a place where people could discuss their wills and other legal administration services, the Public trust office was a formal place where being respectful was very important. Also as a trust office they kept private information safe and secure, it had very high ethical morals, was a trusted and private sector to the public. The building is pre-earthquake and was built to endure and last for generations, it was aimed to be safe from the fire that occurred after the Napier earthquake in 1931. This reinforces the true strength and endurance of the building because it survived the fire, but the previous buildings on the Acropolis before Pericles' building program, had all been burnt down by the persians. However most of the buildings on the Acropolis to this day are still standing, they have endured through centuries of conflict, by reflecting the Athenian's architecture in the Public trust building, the true power and strength of endurance was also reflected.
What was the messaged conveyed by the Public Trust Office: The building was intended to show the power and strength of the government, emphasising the its stability and the power of democracy. As the building was a place that people could trust, the use of the doric order in the structure reinforces how strong and reliable the Public trust office was. It reflects the idea of how powerful the government is and that it will be able to achieve anything for its people as it is a government building. They wanted to symbolise their link to the greek world through democracy as the Athenians created the system, as a government building by using features which were used on the acropolis buildings, they wanted to reflect the stature and superiority that resonated within the acropolis buildings.
How might people have reacted to this building: As a visitor you would stand outside the entrance of the building, gazing up in awe as you take in the size and magnificence of the structure. The first thing they see are the thick and solid doric columns which are uplifted off the ground and stand proudly on the exterior of the building, creating a sense of power and strength to guard the building from intruders. This gives the visitor that they know their private information will be protected, theres nothing more that can upset a customer is people are able to easily access their confidential papers, the factor of security is very important to a customer. The public trust office achieves this which intensifies the importance of the building and the trust kept between customer and client, the visitor feels that they will be able to fully rely on them without having to worry. The building also resonates with power and authority, making the visitor understand that the stature and strength of it really do belong to the government, emphasising the importance of democracy to the visitor as New Zealand is a democratic country. By using the influence of Athenian architecture in a government building, these strong ideas of democracy become reinforced, and the visitor is awe struck in amazement at the careful thought that has gone into designing the building. Democracy gives everyone an equal ability to vote and voice out their opinions, by highlighting its importance through the building, the visitor gains a strong sense of emotion to know that their opinion is valued just as much as everyone else's. The visitor is left with the idea that if the building will endure through generations then so will democracy in this nation.
ASB bank - Napier
Location: Napier city.
Date of completion: 1932 - Post earthquake.
Architects: Crichton, McKay and Haughton.
Materials: Reinforced concrete.
Design/Order: Stripped classical - with corinthian features.
Function of the ASB Bank: It is a bank where people can store their funds, and it provides security for peoples money.
Has its function changed since it was built: Originally, it was the bank premises for the Bank of New Zealand, however now it is the bank premises for the ASB bank.
How can it be linked to the classical world: The pilasters, which are half pillar/column are fluted and decorated with maori designs. The fluting on these pilasters are very similar to the fluting on the Parthenon, Erechtheion, the Temple of Nike and the Propylaea. However pilasters were not used on any of the buildings on the acropolis, these were used to give the impression of a supporting column on an exterior wall, they only had an ornamental function whereas on the acropolis the columns on every building was used to actually support the building such as the doric colonnades on the Parthenon. Inside the ASB bank there is a coffered ceiling, this was used to let in natural light from above, the main ceiling is coffered however some sections of the coffered ceiling are left covered and surround with more maori designs. This feature is similar to that of the coffered ceiling in the northern porch of the Erechtheion. The capitals on the pilasters are of corinthian order which none of the buildings on the Acropolis have, however they contain maori designs. The ASB bank also contains a frieze with Kowhaiwhai patterns along the structure between the capitals of the pilasters. There are also archaic maori designs along the very top of the building below the roof line. The cultural and behavioural expectations were very much like that of the expectations of visitors onto the acropolis. The building is a bank, so it was expected of customers to be quiet and respectful towards the bank as it is a formal place which deals with currency. This aspect is particularly similar to the function of the parthenon as it too was used to store funds, in the 5th century it was used to store the funds from the Delian league just like a bank, the Parthenon was a trusted place where the funds were kept safe and secured.
What was the messaged conveyed by the ASB Bank: The bank wanted to establish the public's trust in them, as well as reassuring them of the security of their funds, keeping a strong link between the customer and the bank by providing financial support. The bank was intended to leave its customers with an effect of permanence and solidity, the influences from athenian architecture were used to give a sense of endurance and stability to its customers, showing them that the bank will last through generations.
How might people have reacted to this building: What customers seek in a bank is security, stability and trust. The ASB bank draws its visitors in with its thick and solid concrete structure, giving the visitor a sense of permanence and stability, the structure reflects the banks intention towards its customers, this makes the visitor feel amazed by the mathematical harmony, logic and thought that has gone into creating this building. The coffered ceiling which is used in the Erechtheion was designed to captivate its visitor after walking through the doors into the foyer, with a single glimpse of the beautiful sections of refracted light down into the building, it leaves a sense of nature still being with you even though you are inside a building. As a bank you want to make your customers feel comfortable while they are inside, you do not want them to feel uneasy when inside the bank, by having this natural light come through and into the building to act as a relaxation for customers who have had a troubling day. The Erechtheion is also a very important building on the acropolis, therefore by using the feature of a coffered ceiling from the Erechtheion, the bank is establishing itself as a very important place for its customers, dealing with funds is vey significant aspect of the publics every day life, therefore the bank serves as a building which will securely handle and store these funds. Through this unique design the visitor is able to understand how important having a bank for which they can rely on with funds that they have worked hard for, they want a bank in which they can fully trust with their money, a bank where the security is taken very seriously, so that they can feel at ease every time they make a transaction. The ASB bank provides its customers with a strong sense of endurance, no customer would ever want their bank to go down and under. The bank uses its design to leave its customers with a sense of reassurance of the fact that their bank will last very long.
Date of completion: 1932 - Post earthquake.
Architects: Crichton, McKay and Haughton.
Materials: Reinforced concrete.
Design/Order: Stripped classical - with corinthian features.
Function of the ASB Bank: It is a bank where people can store their funds, and it provides security for peoples money.
Has its function changed since it was built: Originally, it was the bank premises for the Bank of New Zealand, however now it is the bank premises for the ASB bank.
How can it be linked to the classical world: The pilasters, which are half pillar/column are fluted and decorated with maori designs. The fluting on these pilasters are very similar to the fluting on the Parthenon, Erechtheion, the Temple of Nike and the Propylaea. However pilasters were not used on any of the buildings on the acropolis, these were used to give the impression of a supporting column on an exterior wall, they only had an ornamental function whereas on the acropolis the columns on every building was used to actually support the building such as the doric colonnades on the Parthenon. Inside the ASB bank there is a coffered ceiling, this was used to let in natural light from above, the main ceiling is coffered however some sections of the coffered ceiling are left covered and surround with more maori designs. This feature is similar to that of the coffered ceiling in the northern porch of the Erechtheion. The capitals on the pilasters are of corinthian order which none of the buildings on the Acropolis have, however they contain maori designs. The ASB bank also contains a frieze with Kowhaiwhai patterns along the structure between the capitals of the pilasters. There are also archaic maori designs along the very top of the building below the roof line. The cultural and behavioural expectations were very much like that of the expectations of visitors onto the acropolis. The building is a bank, so it was expected of customers to be quiet and respectful towards the bank as it is a formal place which deals with currency. This aspect is particularly similar to the function of the parthenon as it too was used to store funds, in the 5th century it was used to store the funds from the Delian league just like a bank, the Parthenon was a trusted place where the funds were kept safe and secured.
What was the messaged conveyed by the ASB Bank: The bank wanted to establish the public's trust in them, as well as reassuring them of the security of their funds, keeping a strong link between the customer and the bank by providing financial support. The bank was intended to leave its customers with an effect of permanence and solidity, the influences from athenian architecture were used to give a sense of endurance and stability to its customers, showing them that the bank will last through generations.
How might people have reacted to this building: What customers seek in a bank is security, stability and trust. The ASB bank draws its visitors in with its thick and solid concrete structure, giving the visitor a sense of permanence and stability, the structure reflects the banks intention towards its customers, this makes the visitor feel amazed by the mathematical harmony, logic and thought that has gone into creating this building. The coffered ceiling which is used in the Erechtheion was designed to captivate its visitor after walking through the doors into the foyer, with a single glimpse of the beautiful sections of refracted light down into the building, it leaves a sense of nature still being with you even though you are inside a building. As a bank you want to make your customers feel comfortable while they are inside, you do not want them to feel uneasy when inside the bank, by having this natural light come through and into the building to act as a relaxation for customers who have had a troubling day. The Erechtheion is also a very important building on the acropolis, therefore by using the feature of a coffered ceiling from the Erechtheion, the bank is establishing itself as a very important place for its customers, dealing with funds is vey significant aspect of the publics every day life, therefore the bank serves as a building which will securely handle and store these funds. Through this unique design the visitor is able to understand how important having a bank for which they can rely on with funds that they have worked hard for, they want a bank in which they can fully trust with their money, a bank where the security is taken very seriously, so that they can feel at ease every time they make a transaction. The ASB bank provides its customers with a strong sense of endurance, no customer would ever want their bank to go down and under. The bank uses its design to leave its customers with a sense of reassurance of the fact that their bank will last very long.