Gummer and Ford
Encyclopedia
Gummer and Ford was an architectural firm founded in 1923 in Auckland
, New Zealand
by William John Gummer and C. Reginald Ford. It was among the country's best-regarded architectural firm of the first half of the 20th century, designing numerous iconic buildings, including the former National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum
in Wellington and the old Auckland Railway Station
. Eighteen of the company's buildings have been registered as significant historic places by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
. In 2006 an exhibition of their work was staged at The University of Auckland's Gus Fisher Gallery
, and in 2007 the firm was described as 'the best architectural practice of all time in New Zealand'.
When the partnership was established, Gummer was already a highly successful architect. In his early 20s he had travelled to England and there worked for Leonard Stokes
and Edwin Lutyens
. The latter architect, later known mostly for his memorial designs, 'profoundly influenced' Gummer He was placed third in a 1911 competition to design Parliament Buildings
in London
. After returning to New Zealand in 1914 he designed several well-regarded buildings including the New Zealand Insurance
office in Auckland and the State Fire Insurance
building in Wellington.
The partnership between the two men was highly productive. Gummer's biographer in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
attributes this to their complementary skills and personalities. Ford concentrated primarily on managing the practice and dealing with clients, although he also did some design work. Amongst the firm's early successes were Auckland's Dilworth Building
, and the Auckland Railway Station, awarded a New Zealand Institute of Architects
(NZIA) gold medal in 1931. The firm had earlier won a gold medal for the Remuera Public Library in 1928.
Gummer and Ford designed numerous war memorial
s, including the New Zealand National War Memorial in Wellington, the Christchurch Bridge of Remembrance and the Dunedin Cenotaph. Gummer's school buildings include St Peter's College, Auckland
(1939). They designed the Massey Memorial
.
Gummer was responsible for virtually all of the firm's iconic buildings but Ford also contributed significantly to New Zealand architecture and building through his book Earthquakes and Building Construction. He was also influential in the establishment of earthquake safety standards in New Zealand after the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake
, and the establishment of a Chair of Architecture at Auckland University.
Both Gummer and Ford were at various times president of the NZIA.
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
by William John Gummer and C. Reginald Ford. It was among the country's best-regarded architectural firm of the first half of the 20th century, designing numerous iconic buildings, including the former National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum
New Zealand Dominion Museum building
The New Zealand Dominion Museum building was completed in 1936, and is located on Buckle Street in Wellington next to the National War Memorial. The building originally housed the National Museum, the National Art Gallery of New Zealand and the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts...
in Wellington and the old Auckland Railway Station
Auckland railway station
Auckland Railway Station is the former main railway station of Auckland, New Zealand, and is located on the eastern edge of the Auckland CBD near Mechanics Bay...
. Eighteen of the company's buildings have been registered as significant historic places by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust is a non-profit trust that advocates for the protection of ancestral sites and heritage buildings in New Zealand...
. In 2006 an exhibition of their work was staged at The University of Auckland's Gus Fisher Gallery
Gus Fisher Gallery
The Gus Fisher Gallery is part of The University of Auckland’s National Institute of Creative Arts and Industries , and is located in The Kenneth Myers Centre, an historic building restored in 2000 with the help of the gallery's patron, Gus Fisher .It is operated by the Centre for New Zealand Art...
, and in 2007 the firm was described as 'the best architectural practice of all time in New Zealand'.
When the partnership was established, Gummer was already a highly successful architect. In his early 20s he had travelled to England and there worked for Leonard Stokes
Leonard Stokes
Leonard Aloysius Scott Stokes was an English architect.Leonard Stokes was born in Southport in 1858. He trained in London and travelled in Germany and Italy. Most of his designs were for Roman Catholic buildings, including churches, convents and schools. His first outstanding work was the...
and Edwin Lutyens
Edwin Lutyens
Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, OM, KCIE, PRA, FRIBA was a British architect who is known for imaginatively adapting traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era...
. The latter architect, later known mostly for his memorial designs, 'profoundly influenced' Gummer He was placed third in a 1911 competition to design Parliament Buildings
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. After returning to New Zealand in 1914 he designed several well-regarded buildings including the New Zealand Insurance
NZI
NZI or New Zealand Insurance was formed in 1859 and is one of New Zealand's largest and longest-serving fire and general insurance brands. In January 2003 Insurance Australia Group purchased NZI when acquiring Aviva's general insurance business...
office in Auckland and the State Fire Insurance
State Insurance
State Insurance is an insurance company based in New Zealand. "State" serves as a brand of IAG New Zealand Limited, a subsidiary of Insurance Australia Group.-History:State Insurance was formerly known as the State Insurance Office...
building in Wellington.
The partnership between the two men was highly productive. Gummer's biographer in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
Dictionary of New Zealand Biography
The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography contains biographies for over 3,000 New Zealanders. It is available in both English and Maori. All volumes of the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography are available online....
attributes this to their complementary skills and personalities. Ford concentrated primarily on managing the practice and dealing with clients, although he also did some design work. Amongst the firm's early successes were Auckland's Dilworth Building
Dilworth Building
The Dilworth Building is a heritage mixed-use building at the corner of Customs Street and Queen Street in the Auckland CBD, New Zealand...
, and the Auckland Railway Station, awarded a New Zealand Institute of Architects
New Zealand Institute of Architects
The New Zealand Institute of Architects is a membership based professional organisation. This body represents 90% of all registered architects in New Zealand and promotes architecture that enhances the New Zealand living environment....
(NZIA) gold medal in 1931. The firm had earlier won a gold medal for the Remuera Public Library in 1928.
Gummer and Ford designed numerous war memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
s, including the New Zealand National War Memorial in Wellington, the Christchurch Bridge of Remembrance and the Dunedin Cenotaph. Gummer's school buildings include St Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College, Auckland
St Peter's College is a Catholic college for year 7 to 13 boys . The school, located in Auckland, is one of the largest Catholic schools in New Zealand and is an integrated school under an integration agreement entered into by the Catholic Bishop of Auckland and the Government of New Zealand in...
(1939). They designed the Massey Memorial
Massey Memorial
The Massey Memorial is the mausoleum of New Zealand Prime Minister William Massey. It is located on Point Halswell on the Miramar Peninsula, Wellington, New Zealand.-History:...
.
Gummer was responsible for virtually all of the firm's iconic buildings but Ford also contributed significantly to New Zealand architecture and building through his book Earthquakes and Building Construction. He was also influential in the establishment of earthquake safety standards in New Zealand after the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake
1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake
The 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, also known as the Napier earthquake, occurred in New Zealand at 10:47 am on Tuesday 3 February 1931, killing 256 and devastating the Hawke's Bay region. It remains New Zealand's deadliest natural disaster...
, and the establishment of a Chair of Architecture at Auckland University.
Both Gummer and Ford were at various times president of the NZIA.
Sources
- John Stacpoole, Opening address for 'Past Present: The Visionary Architecture of Gummer and Ford', at the Gus Fisher Gallery, 14 July 2006.
- Ian J. Lochhead, 'Gummer, William Henry' in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
- PJD Waite, 'Safe as Houses', Heritage New Zealand, Summer 2005. Mostly about C. Reginald Ford.