Auckland Council District Plan (North Shore Section)
Proposed Plan Change 38
Proposed New Item
Appendix 11A: Schedule of Buildings, Objects and Places of Heritage
Significance
Name: Northcote Library
Address: 1 Ernie Mays Street, Norman King Square, Northcote
ID:
538
Category: B
Use: Public Library
DP Map: 25
Material 1:
Condition:
Cultural Heritage:
Material 2:
Integrity:
Streetscape:
Construction Dates
From: 1982
To:
Alteration Dates:
Legal Description: Lot 1 DP 44865
Zoning: Business 2
Architect/Designer/Contractor:
David Mitchell, Hill Manning Mitchell architects.
David Mitchell was born in Auckland in 1941, raised in Morrinsville and studied
architecture at Auckland University, taught by Vernon Brown, Peter Middleton and
Bill Wilson amongst others. He practiced successfully with Peter Hill and Jack
Manning in the 1970s and 80s. He also taught design at the Auckland School of
Architecture from 1972 until 1987. In 1990 he established a practice with Julie Stout,
which has won numerous NZIA Awards. The practice is described as having an
unfussy, no-nonsense approach to their work which is however well-crafted and
theoretically based. Mitchell’s book and television series, The Elegant Shed’ provided
an important commentary on New Zealand architecture. David Mitchell is described
as an early proponent of post-Modern ideas particularly in their more whimsical and
‘pop’ forms. 1
Contractor: Good Bros. Construction
Architectural Style:
The Northcote Library is described as combining post-modern overtones with crisply
detailed functionalism. A series of wedge-shaped forms intersect to give the building
a sculptural quality. The building combines a simple palette of carefully detailed
materials and forms. The L-shaped plan arrangement creates an exterior courtyard
which is edged with a vine-covered pergola, this human scaled component
contrasting with the uplifting form and scale of the library. The projection of the lower
scaled Plunket rooms to the south of the library provides a sheltered and welcoming
entrance. Original architectural drawings show the development of this courtyard
space.( Refer appendices) The exterior was described in NZ Architect (No. 3 1982)
as resembling ‘a well-detailed industrial building with pink flat sheet, screw-fixed wall
panels, reflective glass and ritzy door handles.’ Inside generous areas of glazing on
the south-west elevation allows for a spacious, light and airy interior, with the
repetition of triangular timber trusses providing an appealing rhythm and detail. The
interior has a strong visual connection with Norman King Square and the Northcote
Shopping centre.
Reference Source:
Brenda Knight, “History of Northcote Library”, 1991, from Northcote Local History
Archive, Northcote Library
Doris Paterson, Northcote Public Library Annual Report, year ended 31 March 1967,
from Northcote Local History Archive, Northcote Library
Doris Paterson, Northcote Public Library, from Northcote Local History Archive,
Northcote Library, Annual Reports for:
Year ended 31 March 1975,
Year ended 31 March 1976,
Year ended 31 March 1979,
Year ended 31 March 1980,1
“Northcote Library”, NZ Architect No. 3, 1982
Obituary, Library Life, Issue 300, March 2006, pp. 4-5, NZ Herald death notices, from
Northcote Local History Archive, Northcote Library; “Oral history interview with Doris
Paterson,
1995”,
North
Shore
Local
History
Collection
notes,
http://www.localhistoryonline.org.nz, sighted 10 October 2010
Matthews & Matthews, Northcote Historic Residential Neighbourhoods, Heritage and
Character Studies, 2005, p. 21
http://www.architecture-archive.auckland.ac.nz/docs/block-digital/200705BlockDigital-MitchellStoutGuide.pdf
North Shore City Council Archives: copies of preliminary drawings, brief,
perspectives and architectural drawings and correspondence. (Refer copies in
Appendices)
NZHPT Listing:
Not registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
1
Website: http://www.architecture-archive.auckland.ac.nz/docs/block-digital/2007-05BlockDigitalMitchellStoutGuide.pdf
Significant Elements:
The building as a whole including exterior and interior of library building.
Extent of Listing:
The entire exterior and interior of library building.
History:
The first library in Northcote was set up in the 1956 War Memorial Hall behind the
original council chambers at the corner of Queen and Rodney Road. It was run by
volunteers until May 1958 when Doris Paterson was appointed as the first paid
librarian.
1967 brought a move for the main library to the Northcote Shopping Centre, with the
original library at Queen Street left open as a branch library, before it finally closed in
1985. 2
The main library opened on 15 March 1967 at the shopping centre, 3 the centre itself
the first municipally owned shopping centre in the country, dating from 1959. 4 Within
a few years, however, the library’s space proved to be inadequate for the needs of
the community and the services.
The architectural firm of Hill Manning and Mitchell were appointed in 1974/1975 to
draw up sketch plans and estimates for a new building, 5 working drawings were
completed in 1976. However, the project was reliant upon the permission of the
Loans Board for Northcote Borough Council to raise a loan for the work, and in 19751976 there was a freeze on such permission due to the existing economic situation. 6
The Loans Board finally approved the loan in 1978, but then a negative result from a
ratepayer’s poll negated the approval. Doris Paterson then led a campaign to reverse
the decision, and a further ratepayer’s petition was organised in February 1979. 7
The result was another poll in April 1980, this time deciding in favour of the project
proceeding. 8
The new building was completed in 1982, and featured in NZ Architect that year. 9
Doris Paterson retired in 1985, and died 18 February 2006, aged 87. She served
during World War II in the Women’s Auxiliary Volunteer Corps, was an associate of
the New Zealand Library Association, a life member of the Library and Information
Association of New Zealand Aotearoa, and was awarded a QSM in 1990. 10
2
Brenda Knight, “History of Northcote Library”, 1991, from Northcote Local History Archive, Northcote Library
Doris Paterson, Northcote Public Library Annual Report, year ended 31 March 1967, from Northcote Local History
Archive, Northcote Library
4
Matthews & Matthews, Northcote Historic Residential Neighbourhoods, Heritage and Character Studies, 2005, p. 21
5
Doris Paterson, Northcote Public Library Annual Report, year ended 31 March 1975, from Northcote Local History
Archive, Northcote Library
6
Doris Paterson, Northcote Public Library Annual Report, year ended 31 March 1976, from Northcote Local History
Archive, Northcote Library
7
Doris Paterson, Northcote Public Library Annual Report, year ended 31 March 1979, from Northcote Local History
Archive, Northcote Library
8
Doris Paterson, Northcote Public Library Annual Report, year ended 31 March 1980, from Northcote Local History
Archive, Northcote Library
9
“Northcote Library”, NZ Architect No. 3, 1982
10
Obituary, Library Life, Issue 300, March 2006, pp. 4-5, NZ Herald death notices, from Northcote Local History
Archive, Northcote Library; “Oral history interview with Doris Paterson, 1995”, North Shore Local History Collection
notes, http://www.localhistoryonline.org.nz, sighted 10 October 2010
3
Statement of Significance
Architecture:
Libraries are significant community facilities, a specialised building type, typically
prestigious architectural commissions and located in central positions within town
centres. The Northcote Library is a good example of a public building designed by
architect David Mitchell of Hill Manning Mitchell. It combines post-Modern ideas with
a functionalist building. Simple building forms, well-crafted materials and the plan
form and scale create a welcoming building that successfully edges Frank Pearn
Place.
History:
The building is significant as the first purpose-built separate public library for
Northcote. It demonstrates the importance of this building type as a community
facility, in this case located at the heart of Northcote shopping centre. Its
development reflects growth in the Northcote population and the role of the Northcote
Shopping centre as the main community hub after the 1960s.
The building has important associations with Doris Paterson, QSM, appointed as the
first paid librarian in Northcote in 1958 who played an important role in getting the
development of the Northcote Library to proceed.
The building is important in representing themes in the historic development of
Northcote and the North Shore including Community organisations and facilities;
Libraries and Commercial and Public Architecture.
Context:
Northcote Library is at the heart of the Northcote Shopping centre and successfully
frames Norman King Square to create an attractive central courtyard within the
centre. The building establishes a strong but permeable edge to the square with the
pergola, extensive glazing and clear inviting entrance.
APPENDICES
NZ Architect, No.3 1982
Perspective drawing by Hill Manning Mitchell, North Shore City Archives