Great Design at All Levels

These last few weeks I have been out and about in Wellington helping with reports for Housing NZ on the general condition of some of their local housing stock. These visits have got me thinking, once again, about the architectural dilemma of how to provide affordable functional housing without compromising good design.

Although not new, this idea was perhaps best expressed locally by Group Architects 60 years ago when the Government was building this local stock. They espoused the idea that affordable housing and good design could go hand-in-hand. Their ideas and vision are still relevant today. A soon-to-be-published book about Group Architects, by Julia Gatley, will be launched on 15th October (5.30pm) at the Gus Fisher Gallery, Auckland, with an open invitation to all NZIA members.

I too believe that good design need not be reserved for the high-end of the market. Good design should be sought at every level of architectural practice. This new book should be a welcome edition to our reference libraries.

- Posted Oct. 2, 2010