
It is rendered to imitate sandstone, as was common at the time, and the base of the building has a slightly redder colour providing definition.
#Architect nelson windows
It points to the Modern, Art Deco, movement principles of simple geometry, good proportions, bands of windows and few materials. The State Advances Building has a Stripped Classical style with Classical detailing to create a delicate yet strong building, which is one of the most handsome in Nelson. His building design was informed by function. Mair was Government Architect from 1922-1942. Ownership of the building only changed in 1990, when it became the Post Office, and the following year the title was transferred to Nelson City Council.

They were major lenders in the housing market and enabled many people to build and purchase their own house. Government Life Insurance became the State Advances Corporation, established by the Reform Government in 1894 to provide loans to encourage public ownership of housing. Plans indicate that the proposed building would have two stories and be positioned on the corner of Trafalgar Street and Victoria Avenue (now Achilles Avenue - renamed after the New Zealand Battleship which fought at the Battle of the River Plate during World War II). It was built to house Government Life Insurance in 1938 and designed by J.T. The State Advances Building, 106-110 Trafalgar Street, which is also occupied by Nelson City Council is more widely admired. View of a large crowd gathered outside the Nelson Post Office building on the corner of Trafalgar and Halifax Streets, 1906. The replacement building was designed by John Rowe for the Ministry of Works and Development, and Athfield Architects provided the working drawings. It replaced the 1906 Post Office, which was a heritage building. Never very popular with Nelsonians, it is, nevertheless, iconic. It was redeveloped in 1992, and refurbished in 2012, but the original exterior has been retained.Ĭivic House and the State Advances BuildingĬivic House, with its feature clock tower, is an example of 1970’s architecture. Initially leased to Amalgamated Theatres, and later a part of Hoyts Empire owned by the Moodabe Family, it then passed to Mike Schaab, former projectionist, and is now owned by a Nelson based partnership. It has a Heritage B Historic Places Trust listing. Francis Willis and built by James Baird, opening in February 1936 as the State Chambers. He continues to pursue and be involved with issues of affordable climate responsive housing.This building, on the corner of Trafalgar and Halifax Streets, is an example of Art deco, Art Moderne, style, with its streamlined, stripped lines.

He has remained in Charlotte and is currently taking advantage of the freedom from the academic calendar by traveling in his 16-foot Airstream trailer with his wife and Irish setter and spending more time at the cottage in northern Ontario, Canada. Under his guidance the SoA students designed and built 12 homes for families in need, receiving funding from and working with the Mecklenburg County Community Development Department, City of Charlotte Neighborhood Development and Habitat for Humanity.

Over the course of his teaching and practice career he directed the SoA Design Build initiatives for the college. He was a registered Architect focusing on climate responsive/sustainable affordable housing issues. John Nelson is an Associate Professor Emeritus of Architecture who retired in 2017 after serving the North Carolina University System at UNC Charlotte, College of Arts + Architecture, School of Architecture for 41 years.
