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John Scott (architect)
Encyclopedia
John Colin Scott was a New Zealand architect of the 20th century, known for his unique buildings that incorporated ideas from Maori and cultural architecture.
, Hawke’s Bay on 9 June 1924, the third of seven children of Kathleen Hiraani Blake and Charles Hudson Scott, a farmer. His mother and father both had British ancestry, while his father was also a descendant of Te Arawa
.
John Scott had a typical Hawke's Bay childhood, riding to Haumona School on horseback. Then attending St John's College
in Hastings
where he was head prefect and captain of the school's First XV rugby team. After leaving school he found work as a shepherd
, before volunteering for the air force as the Second World War came to an end.
In 1946 he studied at the School of Architecture at Auckland University College, but he was unsure of what he wanted to do. He disliked the university academic environment and by 1950 he reduced himself to studying part-time. Scott never achieved his architecture diploma from the College, but he was influenced by teachers Vernon Brown and Bill Wilson. In 1951 he married Wilson's sister-in-law Joan Moffatt in Auckland.
After leaving University he worked for two architectural firms in as many years. Then he decided to move back to Haumona in the Hawke's Bay with his wife and work for himself. His initial jobs were mostly private houses, like the Savage House and the Falls House in Havelock North (1952–53). As he developed his individual style, he became inspired by traditional New Zealand buildings such as the whare and woolshed, elements of which can be seen in his later work. Much of his work is characterised by strong geometric shapes.
His first church was designed for St John's College
in Hastings
(1954–56). This led to the commission of a Marist chapel in Karori
, Wellington
. This project, the Chapel of Futuna
(1958–61) is arguably the best work of his career, and is recognised nationally and internationally. The chapel incorporates ideas from a whare
- a central pole, ribs of rafters and low eaves. The building won the New Zealand Institute of Architects
gold medal in 1968, and the first 25-year Award in 1986.
Scott mostly worked on private commissions, although he did design several other public buildings. The Maori Battalion Memorial Centre in Palmerston North (1954–64) used carved panels and tukutuku for decoration. The Urewera National Park Headquarters building (1974–76) was designed as a pavilion to suit the neighbouring bush, and shows that sense of place and landscape were critical to his architectural thinking.
for his unique contribution to architecture.
Early life
John Colin Scott was born in HaumoanaHaumoana
-The Beach:Haumoana is located twelve kilometres south of Napier and ten kilometres east of Hastings. The village incorporates a school, a Presbyterian Church, a general store, a takeaway shop, a hall and a fire station. The village was developed as a holiday settlement with baches, and the...
, Hawke’s Bay on 9 June 1924, the third of seven children of Kathleen Hiraani Blake and Charles Hudson Scott, a farmer. His mother and father both had British ancestry, while his father was also a descendant of Te Arawa
Te Arawa
Te Arawa is a confederation of Māori iwi and hapu based in the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty areas of New Zealand, with a population of around 40,000.The history of the Te Arawa people is inextricably linked to the Arawa canoe...
.
John Scott had a typical Hawke's Bay childhood, riding to Haumona School on horseback. Then attending St John's College
St John's College, Hastings
St John's College is a State Integrated, Catholic, Day School for boys, located in Hastings, a provincial city in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.Founded in 1941 by the Marist Fathers, St John's College has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 450 students from Year 9 ...
in Hastings
Hastings, New Zealand
The city of Hastings is a major urban settlement in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island of New Zealand, and it is the largest settlement by population in Hawke's Bay. Hastings city is the administrative centre of the Hastings District...
where he was head prefect and captain of the school's First XV rugby team. After leaving school he found work as a shepherd
Shepherd
A shepherd is a person who tends, feeds or guards flocks of sheep.- Origins :Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations, beginning some 6,000 years ago in Asia Minor. Sheep were kept for their milk, meat and especially their wool...
, before volunteering for the air force as the Second World War came to an end.
In 1946 he studied at the School of Architecture at Auckland University College, but he was unsure of what he wanted to do. He disliked the university academic environment and by 1950 he reduced himself to studying part-time. Scott never achieved his architecture diploma from the College, but he was influenced by teachers Vernon Brown and Bill Wilson. In 1951 he married Wilson's sister-in-law Joan Moffatt in Auckland.
Architectural career
His first church was designed for St John's College
St John's College, Hastings
St John's College is a State Integrated, Catholic, Day School for boys, located in Hastings, a provincial city in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.Founded in 1941 by the Marist Fathers, St John's College has a non-selective enrolment policy and currently caters for approximately 450 students from Year 9 ...
in Hastings
Hastings, New Zealand
The city of Hastings is a major urban settlement in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island of New Zealand, and it is the largest settlement by population in Hawke's Bay. Hastings city is the administrative centre of the Hastings District...
(1954–56). This led to the commission of a Marist chapel in Karori
Karori
Karori is a suburb located at the western edge of the urban area of Wellington, New Zealand, some 4 km from the city centre.Karori is significantly larger than most other Wellington suburbs, having a population of over 14,000 at the time of the 2006 census.-History:Before the arrival of...
, Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
. This project, the Chapel of Futuna
Futuna Chapel
Futuna Chapel is a building in the suburb of Karori, Wellington designed by the architect John Scott.Built by the brothers of the Society of Mary, the chapel is named after the Pacific Island of Futuna on which the missionary Peter Chanel, to whom the project is dedicated, was martyred in 1841...
(1958–61) is arguably the best work of his career, and is recognised nationally and internationally. The chapel incorporates ideas from a whare
Wharenui
A wharenui is a communal house of the Māori people of New Zealand, generally situated as the focal point of a marae. Wharenui are usually called 'meeting houses' in New Zealand English.-Wharenui:...
- a central pole, ribs of rafters and low eaves. The building won the 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....
gold medal in 1968, and the first 25-year Award in 1986.
Scott mostly worked on private commissions, although he did design several other public buildings. The Maori Battalion Memorial Centre in Palmerston North (1954–64) used carved panels and tukutuku for decoration. The Urewera National Park Headquarters building (1974–76) was designed as a pavilion to suit the neighbouring bush, and shows that sense of place and landscape were critical to his architectural thinking.
Late life
John Scott died on 30 July 1992 in Auckland after a major heart operation. In 1999 he was awarded another gold medal by the New Zealand Institute of ArchitectsNew 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....
for his unique contribution to architecture.