National Library DOCOMOMO full...

d o

n c o _ m o n m o _

International working party for ISC/R members update 2003 documentation and conservation of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the for office use only modern movement

d o

n c o _ m o n m o _

International working party for documentation and conservation

New International Selection of buildings, sites and neighbourhoods of the Full Documentation Fiche 2003 modern movement composed by national/regional working party of:

0. Picture of building/ group of buildings/ urban scheme/ landscape/ garden

depicted item: National Library of New Zealand source: Christine McCarthy date: 2012

d o

n c o _ m o n m o _


1. Identity of building/ group of buildings/ group of buildings/ landscape/ garden

1.1 Data for identification current name: National Library of New Zealand/Te Ropu Tuatoko/Te Puna Matauranga

former/original/variant name: In January 1984 the National Government proposed to name the building the "Keith Holyoake Memorial Library Building" (Lambert, 34; O'Hare, 33, Smith March 1989, 17). The completion of the building occurred during a Labour Government and the initial name for the building did not come to fruition.

number(s) and name(s) of street(s): 70 Molesworth Street, cnr Molesworth and Aitken Streets town: Wellington.

province/state: Wellington Region post code: 6011 block: lot: country: New Zealand national topographical grid reference: current typology: ADM, EDC (library) former/original/variant typology: ADM, EDC (library)

comments on typology:

1.2 Status of protection protected by: record only; no protection grade: date: valid for: whole area/parts of area/building remarks: 1.3 Visually or functionally related building(s)/site(s) name(s) of surrounding area/building(s): The National Library is part of the New Zealand Parliamentary Precinct, which includes Parliament Buildings, the Court of Appeal, Archives New Zealand and St Paul's Cathedral and several other buildings housing government departments.

Of particular note are:

the State Services Commission building (c1987), under which a basement houses part of the National Library collection.

Turnbull House (1918), 25 Bowen Street, the original location of the Alexander Turnbull Library until c1945.

the General Assembly Library (1898), Parliament Buildings, Molesworth Street, which is housed in the General Assembly Library building. Its significance is that this collection was initially intended to also be housed in the National Library Building following the National Library of New Zealand Act (1965). The Parliamentary Service Act (1985) moved the General Assembly Library out from under the jurisdiction of the National Library, from 1 April 1987, to the Parliamentary Service Commission.

The Free Lance building (demolished c1987), 44-46 The Terrace, housed the Alexander Turnbull Library from 1973 until it was rehoused in the National Library.

d o

n c o _ m o n m o _


Archives New Zealand, 10 Mulgrave Street, these archives were initially to be housed in the National Library. The archives are now housed in the former Government Printery.

visual relations: The National Library is visually dominant in the Parliamentary precinct due to both its siting and to its striking architectural form of an inverted pyramid. There is a direct visual relationship between the National Library and Parliament Grounds. functional relations: This precinct houses National Institutions or Government Departments.

other relations:

2. History of building(s) etc.

2.1 Chronology

commission or competition date: c1970.

design period(s):

1971 sketch plans (Peter Boyes); 1972 working drawings 1972 (O'Hare, 33); 1974-1975 working drawings/contract documentation (Gerry Hoskins) start of site work:

1975-1976 foundations and basement construction (cost $1.1 million)

completion/inauguration: 6 April 1987 (temporary Alexander Turnbull Library reading room opened), 1 July 1987 (open to general users), 5 August 1987 (official opening), 10 November 1987 (gallery opening). 2.2 Summary of development commission brief: c1970; also: The National Library of New Zealand Act (1965) amalgamated the General Assembly Library (1858), the Alexander Turnbull Library (ATL) (1918), and the National Library Service (1945) as the National Library of New Zealand. It has been noted that "A National Library building has been on the "urgent" list since 1945" (O'Hare p. 32).

design brief: c1970

1974 Cabinet approval to call tenders for the demolition of the existing shops and buildings on the site (North-East cnr of Molesworth and Aitken Streets)

building/construction: 1974-75 (excavation and foundations);

October 1978 call for tenders for the rest of the building (i.e. not foundations)

February 1979 Government decision to redesign the building in reinforced concrete in order to bypass the Boilermakers' Union's strike

April 1981 Cabinet approval to Call for Tenders for the shell of the building (est $13.19 million)

d o

n c o _ m o n m o _


June 1981 Approval for contract to be let

July 1981 Contract let to James Wallace of New Zealand Ltd (later this company became part of Fletcher Development and Construction)

September 1982 - Cabinet decision not to house the National Archives in the National Library building; decision for the National Library to use 1.5 basement floors in the State Services Commission building

3 November 1982 Foundation Stone laid by the Prime Minister Robert Muldoon

1982-1983 Interior Redesign

13 February 1984 Cabinet Works Committee agreed to fast-track completion

June 1984 Cabinet approval for fast-track contract (for the interior) to be let. Agreement between NLNZ, MWD, Fletcher Development and Construction that fit-out would be concurrent with completion of the shell, and that the completion date would be 6 December 1986.

25 March 1985 "topping off" the shell by the Prime Minister David Lange

September 1985 Cabinet approval of $12.3 million for furniture, fittings and moving costs

The initial budget was $8 million (1974). Different sources cited final cost as between $50 million and $60 million (1987) (c.f. O'Hare, 33 and Broad et al, 51). completed situation: 1987

original situation or character of site: Prior to the National Library, the site had small shops and houses on it. 2.3 Relevant persons/organisations original owner(s)/patron(s): New Zealand Government/National Library

architect(s): Ministry of Works/Works Consultancy, Wellington (including Peter Boyes, Terence Broad, Gerry Hoskins, Duncan Joiner, Fergus Sheppard)

landscape/garden designer(s):

other designer(s):

Furniture: Lee Elliot (reception desk counter tops, reading room tables, coffee tables, Trustees' Room conference table); Le Sueur and Lang, Paraparaumu (management office furniture in rimu and tawa veneer); Meg Sillay (office partition fabric design, furniture fabric design, sofa design).

Interior Design: Fletcher Development and Construction Ltd (interior design); Clare Athfield (bookshop interior).

Artists: Barry Brickell (pottery guardian figures); Debra Bustin (firescreen); John Drawbridge ("untitled mural" initially created for the New Zealand pavilion, Expo 70, Osaka, Japan, but redesigned by Drawbridge for the library and the 1980s. The mural didn't fit on site so 50mm was cut off the top and the bottom); Cliff Whiting ("Te Wehenga o Rangi Raua Ko Papa" mural, from the 1976 Pacific Arts Festival).

d o

n c o _ m o n m o _


Signage: Paul Hartigan, Auckland (neon sign Aitken Street entrance).

consulting engineer(s): Brickell Moss Ltd, Wellington (Mechanical/Electrical/Fire Protection Engineers); Works Consultancy, Wellington (Structural Engineer); Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (re: room to freeze dry books)

building contractor(s): Fletcher Development & Construction; James Wallace, New Zealand Ltd

moving consultants and contractors: OCTA Associates; and Movements International Ltd

compact shelving manufacture: Zip Industries, Upper Hutt

2.4 Other persons or events associated with the building(s)/site name(s): Alan Smith, Deputy National Librarian

association: National Library of New Zealand Project Manager for the New Building from 1982

event(s):

period: 1982-1987

National Librarians: Penny Carnaby (2003-), Peter G. Scott (c1982-), Mary Ronnie (1976-1981), David C. McIntosh (1972-1975), Hector Macaskill (c1968-1972), Geoffrey Alley (1964-1967).

2.5 Summary of important changes after completion type of change: Redesign of recessed entranceway, removal of previous bookshop space, and redesign of foyer space

date(s): 2004-2005

circumstances/ reasons for change: To improve accessibility and entrance of the library

effects of changes: Remodelling of entrance, removal of original book shop space, redesign of foyer space persons/organisations involved: Athfield Architects (architects); Dean Whiting (Cultural adviser and designer)

3. Description of building(s) etc.

3.1 Site/building character Summarize main character and give notes on surviving site/building(s)/part(s) of area. If a site: principle features and zones of influence; main elements in spatial composition. If a building: main features, construction and materials. The National Library of New Zealand building is a bold inverted pyramid form elevated off a podium in New Zealand's parliamentary precinct. It is sited on a rising hill, and occupies a dominant position in the landscape directly opposite the New Zealand Parliament Buildings. The facade of the inverted pyramid or ziggurat is constructed of alternating bands of pronounced concrete panels and deep-set slot windows, and is supported by large concrete columns between which floor to ceiling glazing encloses the main ground floor. The exterior form of the building is strongly influenced by Kallmann, McKinnell & Knowles Boston City Hall, 1962-68. It is considered fortress-like, isolating, and intimidating. It accurately portrays

d o

n c o _ m o n m o _


the 1970s image of a National Library as a place to protect national treasures. At the time of building its critics called it an "Aztec Tomb" (Lambert, 31), making reference to this inverted pyramid form, and described it as "a building that seems designed to exclude" (O'Hare p. 32), and having a "Fort Knox" appearance. It was designed to meet the library's needs until the year 2000.

The National Library of New Zealand is a closed-access library, which has six levels, with a floor area of 23,800m2, and additional floor area of 4,450 m2 in the neighbouring State Services Commission building. One floor is completely underground, and the lower ground floor is partially undergrounded by the slope of the hill. Three of the remaining four storeys are above the two-storey podium. A marble-clad "box" protrudes at the main ground floor level to form the "mausoleum-like Turnbull Room" (Alington, 54).

The interior of the building reflects: the complex range of functions the library houses, the need for the Alexander Turnbull Library (ATL) to retain a distinct identity, and to manage and distinguish public and restricted access.

The underground basement contains stack rooms (housing the largest rail-mounted compact shelving installation (120 km) in the country, designed by MWD/NLNZ), four cool stores for film and glass negative preservation (+2˚, +13˚, and -29˚) and the main plant room and computer room. This basement extends the full length of block between Aitken and Pipitea Streets. The lower ground floor contains public areas (the ATL Newspaper Reading Room, the Sound and Music Centre, the 201 seat Auditorium/cinema and the cafeteria) and restricted areas (stack rooms, control centre for the building's A/V and CCT systems, a Conservation Laboratory, Reprographics Centre, Security Control Room, the main Administration offices, and the Circulation Unit).

The main entrance at the ground floor includes: the reception area, the main reading room (80 seats) (which includes the Cliff Whiting mural "Te Wehenga O rangi Raua Ko Papa"), an L-shaped exhibition gallery (320m2) (with the attached marble-clad "Turnbull Room" 36 m2, and gallery preparation rooms 48m2), and the Reference and Interloan Service Division. The hanging stair in the reception foyer is glass, stainless steel, and Kairuru marble. Its stairwell forms a small two-storey atrium void and connects the ground and first floors. The floor of the foyer space is Spanish marble. Originally the reception desk was granite, Takaka marble and green Italian marble, and a bookshop was also on this level, in this reception area, which still houses John Drawbridge's "untitled mural."

The first and second floors are primarily dedicated to the ATL. The first floor houses the ATL reading rooms (18 and 22 seats) and the Rare Books, and New Zealand and Pacific Collections, the office of the National Library Fellow, and the main office, reference and technical service areas. The second floor houses the ATL Collections (Photographic Archive, Drawings and Prints Collection, Cartographic Collection, Ephemera Collection, the Oral History Archive), Legal Deposit, mechanical plant and a stack room.

The third floor contains the National Librarian's office and management support, NZBN, Regional Services Head Office, most of the Collection Management division, the Dorothy Neal White Room (children's book collection), the Trustees' Room. At the centre of the third floor are the roof garden and the glazed pyramid tearoom.

The building has four lifts. The western one (and its stair) is primarily for public use, and like the eastern lift and stair, this core travels the full height of the building. A third lift is dedicated to collection movement between secure areas, the fourth lift runs between the basement and the sub-basement levels.

The internal circulation of books and other library items is via the automatic Telelift (Lanson computer controlled), which is an 1.5km mini-railway track or tracked electronic delivery system using 32 plastic briefcase-sized cars holding up to 10 kg in weight, (O'Hare, 33; Smith June/Sept 1989, 36; Hurst, 85).

d o

n c o _ m o n m o _


The cars can travel horizontally, vertically, upside-down and around vertical and lateral curves. These can be coded to go to any of 13 stations spread over the six levels of the library.

The National Library is an air-conditioned reinforced concrete building. Large span concrete waffle slabs form the floor, while huge hollow precast concrete panels form the exterior cladding hang off the structural frame, spaced to allow slot windows between. The dark grey podium is bush-hammered concrete aggregate. Provision was made when the building was constructed for another floor to be added in future years.

3.2 Current use of whole building/site: National Library of New Zealand

of principal components (if applicable):

comments:

3.3 Present (physical) condition of whole building/site: The building structure is generally in good condition. Plant and infrastructure are out-dated, with some need for replacement.

of principal components (if applicable):

of other elements (if applicable):

of surrounding area (if applicable):

comments: 3.4 Note(s) on context, indicating potential developments In May 2008 the then Labour Government announced a proposal for a major redevelopment of the building driven principally by the desire to make the building more accessible to the public, to engage with digital resources, and to provide increased storage. The proposal included the removal of the concrete facade, and the extension of the width of the building. Even at its opening in 1987 it was acknowledged that the idea of a National Library had changed since its design in the 1970s: "Since then ... the emphasis of library work has shifted from the preservation of materials to the promotion of their use" (O'Hare, 32). The $69 million redesign was awarded to Warren & Mahoney, with a completion date of December 2011. The proposal caused significant debate within the architectural and arts communities as reflected in professional journals and newsletters and public blog sites, such as eyeofthefish.org. In November 2008 a National Government was elected. Partly because of the global recession and the commitment by National to reduce Government spending the proposed redevelopment has been substantially reduced. In April 2009 a new $35 million proposal was put forward to improve storage and replace plant and infrastructure.

4. Evaluation

Intrinsic value 4.1 technical evaluation: The building's use of large hollow core concrete cladding as such striking architectural form-making is unusual in New Zealand.

d o

n c o _ m o n m o _


4.2. social evaluation: The National Library was the last major building to be completed by the Ministry of Works and Development before it was dis-established in the 1980s. The construction was delayed in the mid 1970s due to the Boilermaker's Union strike causing the building to be re-designed replacing the spun-steel columns with a reinforced concrete structure. The building hence represents two important moments in New Zealand's architectural history: the demise of the Ministry of Works, and the unusual event of the complete re-design of a building in order to evade the impact of a union strike.

4.3. cultural and aesthetic evaluation: The building is an architectural embodiment of the National Library of New Zealand Act (1965), and it has cultural significance as it both physically and symbolically bought the various parts of the National Library together in a single building, signifying national coherence. Prior to this the libraries were spread across Wellington in fourteen different buildings, as far away from the central city as Tawa (about 15 km from central Wellington). The changing locations of the National Library was apparently expressed by a removals contractor who claimed that; "If you're looking for the National Library ... just stand on the side of any street and sooner or later it will go by." (O'Hare, 32-33). The building is hence an image of stability and unity for New Zealand's library culture.

The robust fortress-like exterior effectively conveys the image of a National Library as a "safe-keeper," "repository of taonga," and different to other libraries in New Zealand. This was a deliberate architectural design strategy and recalls a specific historical time when libraries, and national libraries in particular, were less interested in current trends for imaging buildings in terms of intellectual and physical accessibility. The building is hence an historic image of a national library.

In addition the building's form is a significant and positive landmark within the government precinct. Its strong sculpting of the exterior juxtaposes the current tendency for unimaginative and mundane architecture to house government activities and convey images of bureaucratic thrift. The building hence plays an important role in providing streetscape variety and interest. In short, it provides the government precinct with architectural character, boldness, and formal strength.

Comparative significance

4.4 canonical status (local, national, international) The building is of national significance as a significant landmark within the New Zealand parliamentary precinct and through its accommodation of a national institution. 4.5 historic and reference values: The building references Kallmann, McKinnell & Knowles Boston City Hall, 1962-68. 5. Documentation

5.1 archives/written records/correspondence etc. (state location/ address): Wellington City Archives

Alexander Turnbull Library. Manuscripts and Archives Section, Paper relating to planning, furniture and equipment for new building, [1981-1988], Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand refs.: 89-186-1; 89-186-2; 89-186-3; 89-186-4

Design report, Jones, Michael, National Library study and design reports, 1971, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand ref: MSX-2898.

d o

n c o _ m o n m o _


McLean, Hillas de Sailley Cecil, The proposed National Library, 1960, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand ref: qMS-1215

Report of an overseas study of 26 buildings, Jones, Michael, National Library study and design reports, 15 March-11 May 1970, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand ref: MSX-2897.

5.2 principal publications (in chronological order):

Frampton, John A. The organisation and functions of a national library (1953).

New Zealand. Public Service Commission Proposed national library, 1956 : report of committee set up by Public Service Commission to examine proposals from the New Zealand Library Association to the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. S.G. Holland) ([Wellington, N.Z.: Public Service Commission], 1956)

MacLean, H. The proposed National Library (1960) 27pp.

Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, National Library of New Zealand : 50th jubilee, June-July, 1970 ([Wellington, N.Z.: Alexander Turnbull Library and National Library of New Zealand, 1970])

Briefing paper: National Library of New Zealand (National Library Act 1965) (Wellington [N.Z.]: National Library of New Zealand, 1984)

Lambert, Max "The plight of the National Library" Wellington City Magazine (August 1985) pp.30-34

O’Hare, Noel "Opening the books" Listener (22 August 1987); v.117 n.2479, p.32-35

McLean, Liz "National Library building nears completion" School Library Review (1987); v.7, n.3, p.2.

Smith, Alan "The National Library building" New Zealand Libraries (September 1987) v.45, n.7, pp.156-157.

Hurst, Tony "Wellington's newest service is not for people" Rails (Nov 1987); v.17 n.4, p.85.

Turner, Robyn and Grant Sheehan "National treasure" New Zealand Home and Building (April/May 1988) p. 74-77.

Broad, Terence, William Alington, and Alan Smith "National Library" Architecture/New Zealand (September/October 1988) pp. 51-56.

Smith, Alan "The Well of Knowledge" New Zealand Libraries (Mar 1989) v.46 n.1:p.16-18.

Smith, Alan "The Well of Knowledge (Part 2)" New Zealand Libraries (Jun/Sep 1989) v.46 n.2/3, pp.35-38.

Melling, Gerald The mid-city crisis and other stories (Wellington: Thumbprint Press, 1989)

National Library of New Zealand Moving forward: the National Library in the 21st century (Wellington [N.Z.]: The Library, [1997])

National Library of New Zealand What is the National Library? Wellington [N.Z.]: National Library of New Zealand, [1997]

d o

n c o _ m o n m o _


National Library of New Zealand Towards the 21st century : strategic plan of the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa ([Wellington, N.Z.] : The Library, [1998])

Doran, Stephen "Library takes an outside-in view" Library life (November 2004) n.295, p.18-19.

"New look, new generation building" Off the Record (August 2008) n.16, p.2.

Architectural Centre Newsletter (Wellington: Architectural Centre, May/June 2008)

Goodman, Diana "Carnaby's new look" Architecture New Zealand (November/December 2008); n.6: pp.52-59

Worth, Richard "29 April 2009: Government to scale back National Library revamp: From the office of the Hon. Dr Richard Worth" (29 April 2009) http://www.natlib.govt.nz/about-us/news/media-releases/29-april-2009-building-announcement/

5.3 visual material (state location/ address) original visual records/drawings/photographs/others:

Brickell, Moss Rankine & Hill, National Library of New Zealand - Wellington [1972], Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, refs: Plans-81-0628; Plans-81-0629; [Second floor] Plans-81-0630; [First floor] Plans-81-0631; [Ground floor] Plans-81-0632; [Lower ground floor] Plans-81-0633; [Basement] Plans-81-0634.

Cavanagh, Sylvia, Photograph of National Library of New Zealand construction site, Wellington, ca 1984-1985, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, ref: PAColl-D-1198.

De Lyons, Paul, Photographs of excavation for National Library building, 1975, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, ref: PAColl-7643

Exterior photographs of National Library building, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, ref: PADL-000253.

Hoskins, Gerald R, Turnbull Room [National Library of New Zealand, Wellington] 1974, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand ref: Plans-88-0043.

Interior views of National Library building, 1987-1990, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, refs: PA12-0017 and PA12-0018

Jones, Michael, Photographs and negatives showing construction of National Library of New Zealand Building, Molesworth Street, Wellington, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, ref: PAColl-3180

Ministry of Works, National Library of New Zealand/ Te Puna Matauranga O Aotearoa, Wellington, [1976?], Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, ref: Plans - 89-0347/0351

National Library of New Zealand, Albums and photographs of the construction of the National Library Building in Wellington, ca 1974-1986, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, ref: PAColl-1937

[Photographer unknown] Excavation hole for construction of National Library of New Zealand building, Molesworth Street, Wellington, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, ref: PAColl-D-0585.

d o

n c o _ m o n m o _


Photographs of the ceremony for the laying of the foundation stone, National Library Building, October 2008, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, refs: 35mm-01075-F; 35mm-01076-F; 35mm-01077-F; 35mm-01078-F; 35mm-01079-F

recent photographs and survey drawings:

Interior and exterior photographs of Third Floor, National Library building, October 2008, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, ref: PADL-000261.

Interior photographs of Basement Floor, National Library building, October 2008, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, ref: PADL-000260.

Interior photographs of the Alexander Turnbull Library public areas, National Library building, October 2008, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, ref: PADL-000256.

Interior photographs of the Alexander Turnbull Library restricted areas, National Library building, October 2008, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, ref: PADL-000257.

Interior photographs of the Ground Floor, National Library building, October 2008, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, ref: PADL-000254.

Interior photographs of the Lower Ground Floor public areas, National Library building, October 2008, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, ref: PADL-000258.

Interior photographs of the Lower Ground Floor restricted areas, National Library building, October 2008, Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, ref: PADL-000259.

film/video/other sources:

d o

n c o _ m o n m o _


5.4 list documents included in supplementary dossier nil

depicted item: National Library facade detail source: Christine McCarthy date: 2006

depicted item: National Library podium source: Christine McCarthy date: 2006

d o

n c o _ m o n m o _


depicted item: exterior, Turnbull Room, National Library source: Christine McCarthy date: 2006

6. Fiche report name of reporter: Christine McCarthy address: School of Architecture, Victoria University, P.O. Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand

telephone:+64 4 463 6164 fax: +64 4 463 6204 e-mail: [email protected] date of report: August 2009, revised November 2010 following peer review by Dr Conal McCarthy

examination by DOCOMOMO national/regional section approval by wp co-ordinator/registers correspondent (name): Dr Ann McEwan sign and date: 16/11/12

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

examination by DOCOMOMO ISC/R name of ISC member in charge of the evaluation:

comment(s):

sign and date: ISC/R approval: date:

wp/ref. no.:

NAI ref. no.:

National Library DOCOMOMO full...

Documents

Transcript of National Library DOCOMOMO full...