1930s at Marino Gardens

Dec 31, 2019
3 min read

Auckland Star, Vol. LXVI, Issue 242, 12 October 1935, Pg. 14

New Zealand Herald, Vol. LXXII, Issue 22242, 17 October 1935, Pg. 10

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."

New Zealand Herald, Vol. LXXII, Issue 22244, 19 October 1935, Pg. 23

"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.

New Zealand Herald, Vol. LXXIII, Issue 22362, 7 March 1936, Pg. 14