1935
Project: Marino Gardens
Client: Central Buildings Ltd
Value(millions): NZ£0.01196
Architect: Kenneth W Aimer
Start Date: 18 March 1935
Completion Date: 1 October 1935
Description: 17,450ft 2 two-storeyed block of 18 flats and seven lock-up garages on a 39,250ft 2 site, corner 145-147 Mt Eden and Livingstone Roads, Mt Eden, Auckland. Building Today, January 1937 reported There are eighteen flats in Marino Gardens, arranged in a two-storey block having nine flats on each floor. Sixteen of the flats are arranged in four groups of four flats each, served by one principal entrance and staircase to each group; the other two flats have independent entrances. Each flat throughout the block has its own separate trades entrance, giving direct access to the kitchen, so that trades and services are entirely excluded from the principal entrances. Each flat extends the full width of the block, and thus secures direct sunshine both in morning and afternoon. The accommodation of each flat comprises private entrance hall, living room, with meal alcove, kitchen, two bedrooms, bathroom and rear service porch. The living room and meal alcove together occupy the full depth of the flat, 29 ft., and thereby secure good through ventilation. Each flat is provided with an independent hot water service to sink and to bathroom, and is fitted with a refrigerator in the kitchen. Thirteen lock-up garages are provided on the site, together with three laundries and ample drying space. The 1935 gold medal of the New Zealand Institute of Architects was awarded to Mr. Kenneth Aimer, Auckland, for his design for the apartment buildings, "Marino Gardens," at Mount Eden. The award was made annually in England by a jury appointed by the Royal Institute of British Architects. Site plan drawing dated 12 November 1934 had a block of seven lock-up garages. Building Permit No 8070 for 18 flats issued to Geo Winstone Est (Central Building Ltd) on 19 March 1935
Date 1935 - 1951
By Mitchell & Mitchell and Partners (Firm)
Aimer, Kenneth Walter, 1890-1960
Ref Plans-2002-058-044-167/170
Built in 1935-36, this was one of the developments carried out by Winstone Limited in the first half of the 20th century to showcase the building materials they stocked and sold. Constructed of brick and Steeltex this building provided safety from fire, borer, vermin, dry rot, maintenance and depreciation, and is considered early International Modern style.
Construction came at a time of increasing popularity of flats for residential purposes and were described as a modern trend of the time. It was designed in a two storey block with nine flats on each floor, 13 garages, three laundries and drying space. Landscaping was planned to include gardens, shrubs and trees, and a tennis court with a brick shelter pavilion.
More than one architect has worked on this building; Vernon Akitt Brown and Kenneth Walter Aimer. Kenneth Walter Aimer (1891-1960), was an Associate of the New Zealand Institute of Architects from 1918 while being in partnership with Grierson (Grierson and Aimer), he was awarded the A.N.Z.I.A. Gold Medal for his design of the Marino Gardens Flats (145 Mount Eden Road).
Marino Gardens Luxury Flats
"Situated at the corner of Mount Eden and Esplanade Roads. Open to the public for inspection on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next. These beautiful flats are constructed on the latest principles, embodying maximum sun and light, sound proofing, ventilation, cooking and refrigeration features."
Marino Gardens Luxury Flats
"Situated at the corner of Mount Eden and" Esplanade Roads. Open to the public for inspection to-day, Friday and Saturday, these beautiful flats are constructed of Steeltex and are designed on latest principles embodying maximum sun and light, sound proofing, ventilation, cooking and refrigeration features."
"A home that is a home, and yet without the unescapable duties which surround a detached residence. A high degree of luxury, comfort, privacy, close proximity to culcural, educational and recreational centres—these are the requirements which have brought into being the vogue and demand for modern flat construction.
Business chief, executive, professional man—these classes require congenial surroundings, in which they may pursue their hobbies or cultural pursuits—in which their wives and families may suitably entertain, and yet be free from the irksome ties of ordinary domestic residence.
It is an essential condition of modern flat construction that is should cater for this need.
Think for yourself what a change there has been in residential occupation in large cities; particularly this is noticeable in such examples as New York and London, and to-day, in our own city, flat construction plays a very important part.
In the early evolution of this form of construction, flats usually consisted of a number of rooms isolated from another block, but with little regard to the arrangement of such rooms, paying little attention to such essential details as the maximum employment of space available, comfort, labour-saving and, very importantly, health outlook.
To-day, however, the designing and building of blocks of residential flats is given very full and complete consideration. There are many essential factors governing modern flat construction, and these have been incorporated in the example which is illustrated on this page.
For instance, it is essential the each flat should be so constructed as to obtain the maximum of sunlight, both in back and front, so that whether it be in the living room, bedroom or kitchen, there is an impression of lightness and airiness. Privacy is another requirement of modern flat construction. Each flat must possess its individual entrance both back and front. The passage of sound between flat and flat, either on same ground level or on adjoining storeys, must be eliminated. This is done by the many types of soundproof construction which are available.
The construction of the external walls of the building i required to be in thoroughly modern design—damp-proof, insulating, fireproof, yet colourful and distinctive.
The roof employed should be colourful and artistic, yet watertight and noiseless during wind or storm. Dwellers in top flats also require that the roofing shall be of such as nature as to protect them against extremes of temperature, so that in the heat of summer the interior of upper flats shall be cool and, yet in winter, heat generated shall not be disseminated through the roof.
The interior arrangement of the flat is so designed as to make the best possible use of all space available. Labour-saving devices are incorporated wherever possible. In kitchen and bathroom, colour is introduced by the use of modern materials, which are at once both practical and colourful, easy to clean, and easy to keep clean. Ample cupboard space, modern plumbing, modern cooking stoves, either electric or gas, refrigeration—all these are called for in present-day flat construction.
It is essential that, as these blocks of flats are the social centre of many individual families, there should be around and about these flats airy surroundings—that is, sufficient ground and landscape features—gardens, trees and, in addition, areas for recreation, for instance, tennis courts. Most modern, well-equipped flat blocks provide these amenities.
An intelligent study of recent flat construction is often of very great value to any intending home builder, while prospective flat dwellers will have a greater appreciation of their surroundings by assuring themselves that their future residence contains the desirable features outlined in this article.
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