Discovering Noel D’Arcy Blackburn | Architecture Now

Open Houses supply potential consumers the prospect to see buildings first-hand previous to their monetary dedication. For others, together with myself, it might present the chance to view the work of grasp architects. The NZIA’s Bulletin emailed to members each Friday features a Actual Property Report which showcases a few of the best works by architects on this nation. A latest itemizing of a Vladimir Cacala home in St Heliers would, for me, be well worth the return drive from Hamilton to Auckland only for the half-hour viewing.

An open residence lately in my very own suburb of Hillcrest was an anticipated occasion. It was by all accounts a sexy mid-century dwelling, described within the itemizing as a recent residence of ‘daring character’ and ‘excessive finish design’. The itemizing agent, Anya Bliss of Lugtons, knowledgeable me the architect was Noel D’Arcy Blackburn, and he designed it for his household. I pleasure myself on native data however was fully in the dead of night as to who Blackburn was. Judging from the house, he was a talented architect.

At first look, the hovering roof kinds, concrete block development and age of the home steered the work of native architects I knew nicely, reminiscent of Rod Smith or Dick Mercer. Nonetheless, the compartmentalised spatial preparations, a number of ranges, expressed roof trusses, and inside linings proved in any other case. Whereas Dick Mercer would typically have concrete block unpainted in inside areas, he wouldn’t categorical the roof trusses the way in which Blackburn has. Mercer most well-liked shallow-pitched roofs, and sarked ceilings with uncovered rafters. Rod Smith would cover all roof construction behind plywood lining. Smith would line partitions, too, in plywood.

The Blackburn residence has a beneficiant sized kitchen (not typical for Smith homes), and an L-shaped flooring plan, with the centre dealing with a courtyard that appears north in the direction of a gully. It has quirks, reminiscent of a mezzanine loft in one of many three bedrooms accessed solely by ladder, and one other loft within the dwelling house. Every loft has simply sufficient room for a desk, and maybe a bookcase as nicely. Exterior partitions are generously glazed from flooring to ceiling. After viewing the home and falling in love with the distinctive areas, I used to be decided to search out out extra concerning the architect.

Sadly, the property file held by Hamilton Metropolis Council doesn’t maintain any architectural drawings. That is widespread for buildings of this age, nevertheless, two data within the file proved to be helpful. The primary is an as-built plan of the sanitary sewer strains, which affirm the proprietor’s identify (ND Blackburn) but additionally supplied an approximate completion date. This helped slender down the seek for the constructing allow, which was issued on the 2nd of March 1970. The allow data the dwelling’s builder as ‘self’, which suggests the home was each designed and constructed by Blackburn.

The second file on file is a plan for a brand new storage, dated 1976. The plan is ready by Hamilton agency Gillman Garry Clapp and Sayers (GGC&S) and might be a clue as to who Blackburn labored for. GGC&S have been a business agency in Hamilton that designed large-scale dairy and hospital initiatives. They designed the Te Rapa Milk Powder Manufacturing facility (1968) in Hamilton, which, when it opened, was the most important manufacturing facility of its variety within the world.

A search in David Sayer’s ebook The Goodwill Years, written concerning the agency GGC&S, lists Blackburn as an Affiliate of the corporate in 1978/9, and once more in 1981. Different Associates recorded have been Chien Chow, who in 1992 would set up Chow:Hill Architects with Richard Hill in Hamilton, and are nonetheless working towards at present. Chow recollects that Blackburn had a eager curiosity in healthcare initiatives, and though they didn’t work collectively on any initiatives, Chow remembers that Blackburn was useful and all the time willimg to help and mentor him.

The property’s Certificates of Title data that Blackburn and his spouse bought the vacant website in 1969, constructed their home in 1970, after which subdivided the location in 1977 into what it’s at present. In 1977 the home was bought. This ties in with Blackburn’s profession journey.

GGC&S have been changing into more and more busy with initiatives outdoors of the Waikato. In 1978, GGC&S have been appointed as architects for the brand new Braemar Hospital in Nelson. By now Blackburn had relocated from Hamilton to Nelson completely with the intention to handle this and different initiatives within the area. It could be attention-grabbing to see if Blackburn designed one other household residence in Nelson.

David Sayers retired from GGC&S in 1984; the final remining associate. In January 1985, the agency grew to become Gillman Companions and, six months later, the agency was bought to Worley Consultants Ltd, an engineering agency who would quickly set up an architectural department.

The final file I can discover of Blackburn’s profession is a 1992 skilled discover itemizing him as resident architect of Worley Architects Ltd in Nelson. Blackburn remained with the corporate after the amalgamation with Worley Consultants Ltd.

Blackburn’s qualification is attention-grabbing; he had a Diploma of Structure from Birmingham College and was registered with the RIBA. Blackburn grew up in Gisborne, and was engaged in 1957 to Murial Hedley, of County Durham, England. He was the one youngster of Mr and Mrs D’Arcy Blackburn (Noel’s father D’Arcy was a well known horticulturist and co-founder in 1950 of the New Zealand Iris Society).

It could appear that after his wedding ceremony, Blackburn and his spouse lived in England, the place he studied structure earlier than they returned to New Zealand to start out a household. It’s potential Blackburn was interested in the workplace of GGC&S throughout a recruitment drive Sayers undertook in England in 1966. This was as a result of elevated workload and an absence of native architects accessible for employment.

Expert architects, whereas working for big firms, can turn into comparatively nameless. GGC&S carried out little or no residential work. Sayer’s writes in his ebook that they have been so busy with hospital work, with the Tauranga and Waikato Hospital Boards, that they have been turning away no less than 50% of different basic business, ecclesiastical, and residential work. There have been exceptions, thankfully.

David Sayers household residence in Hamilton (NZIA Enduring Award 2011) was revealed in Bonny and Reynolds Residing with 50 Architects, a New Zealand Perspective (1980) and associate Barry Morris designed St Stephen’s Church (1972, NZIA Enduring Award 2016) in Tamahere.

It’s a pity Blackburn didn’t design extra homes, no less than that I’m conscious of, or grew to become higher referred to as a residential architect. His household residence in Hillcrest is a well-crafted, heat, and welcoming residence. I’m envious of the brand new homeowners, and hope that they recognize its unique situation as a lot as earlier homeowners have.

Imagery equipped and used with permission from Aaron Radford.