William Toomath
Encyclopedia
Stanley William Toomath (born 1925, Lower Hutt, New Zealand) is a Wellington
(New Zealand
) architect
. He was a founding member of the Architectural Group in Auckland
in 1946 and is a life member of the Wellington Architectural Centre
and a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. Both the founding of the Group and the Architectural Centre were important factors in New Zealand's modernist architectural history
. Toomath studied architecture
at the Auckland College of the University of New Zealand, in 1945-49 for BArch and was awarded a UNZ 2-year Travelling Scholarship which took him to Europe in 1951. Adding an early Fulbright Graduate Award in 1952 enabled him to complete a MArch at the Harvard Graduate School of Design
where he was taught by I. M. Pei
and was a co-student with John Hejduk
. He briefly worked with Walter Gropius
at the Architects' Collaborative and then with I. M. Pei before returning to New Zealand in 1954.
to set up Toomath and Wilson. Toomath and Wilson were later joined by Don Irvine and Grahame Anderson in 1972, forming the firm Toomath Wilson Irvine Anderson Ltd.
Toomath's work reflects an exploratory and intelligent engagement with modernist architectural ideas. A key architectural interest has been the articulation of continuous space, which is particularly evident in his Toomath Senior house, Lower Hutt (1949), and the Mackay house, Silverstream (1961). The Toomath Senior house is famous as the site of a discussion Toomath and Lew Martin had with architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner
about New Zealand construction. Pevsner found the detailing of a post in the carport unrefined. Toomath argued that it reflected an honesty in detailing, relevant to New Zealand architecture. The Mackay House, Silverstream is symmetrically planned and was designed for a couple without children. It was awarded the N.Z.I.A. Bronze Medal in 1962.
Other key works include Wool House, Featherston Street, Wellington (1955, in association with Bernard Johns & Whitwell) and the Wellington Teachers' College
, Donald Street, Karori (1966–1977). The Wellington Teachers College, Karori, Stage One was awarded N.Z.I.A. Silver Medal (1972), and an N.Z.I.A. Local Award (Enduring Architecture) (2005). Wool House (also now known as Old Wool House) was recognised with an N.Z.I.A. Wellington Branch Enduring Architecture Award (2002).
's projects on Wellington's urban form, namely: "Te Aro Replanned" (1947), "Homes Without Sprawl" (1957), "City Approaches" (1959) and Wgtn 196X" (1961). Toomath also presented professional evidence for the Wellington City Council on proposals for controlling building heights, protected viewshafts and urban form planning (1989–1990) in hearings before the Planning Tribunal.
Toomath led a small team whose report on the Old Town Hall stopped moves for its demolition. He has written papers on conservation matters and presented evidence in support of a number of heritage buildings including: the AMP Head Office Building, the State Fire Insurance Building, Wharf Sheds 7 and 21. He had an active role in campaigns to save Old St Pauls.
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...
(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...
) architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
. He was a founding member of the Architectural Group in Auckland
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...
in 1946 and is a life member of the Wellington Architectural Centre
Wellington Architectural Centre
The Architectural Centre Inc is a nonprofit organization in Wellington, New Zealand for architects and laypeople which offers lectures, site visits, tours and exhibitions.It is a co-organiser of Wellington Architecture Week.-History of the Centre:...
and a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects. Both the founding of the Group and the Architectural Centre were important factors in New Zealand's modernist architectural history
Architectural History
Architectural History is the main journal of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain .The journal is published each autumn. The architecture of the British Isles is a major theme of the journal, although it includes more general papers on the history of architecture. Member of...
. Toomath studied architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
at the Auckland College of the University of New Zealand, in 1945-49 for BArch and was awarded a UNZ 2-year Travelling Scholarship which took him to Europe in 1951. Adding an early Fulbright Graduate Award in 1952 enabled him to complete a MArch at the Harvard Graduate School of Design
Harvard Graduate School of Design
The Harvard Graduate School of Design is a graduate school at Harvard University offering degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning and Design.-History:...
where he was taught by I. M. Pei
I. M. Pei
Ieoh Ming Pei , commonly known as I. M. Pei, is a Chinese American architect, often called a master of modern architecture. Born in Canton, China and raised in Hong Kong and Shanghai, Pei drew inspiration at an early age from the gardens at Suzhou...
and was a co-student with John Hejduk
John Hejduk
John Quentin Hejduk , was an American architect, artist and educator who spent much of his life in New York City, USA...
. He briefly worked with Walter Gropius
Walter Gropius
Walter Adolph Georg Gropius was a German architect and founder of the Bauhaus School who, along with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, is widely regarded as one of the pioneering masters of modern architecture....
at the Architects' Collaborative and then with I. M. Pei before returning to New Zealand in 1954.
Architectural Practice
On his return from New York Toomath set up practice, and three years later was joined by Derek WilsonDerek Wilson
Derek J. Wilson is a New Zealand architect. He was active in Wellington. He is also known as an environmentalist, and has published several works.-Early years and private life:...
to set up Toomath and Wilson. Toomath and Wilson were later joined by Don Irvine and Grahame Anderson in 1972, forming the firm Toomath Wilson Irvine Anderson Ltd.
Toomath's work reflects an exploratory and intelligent engagement with modernist architectural ideas. A key architectural interest has been the articulation of continuous space, which is particularly evident in his Toomath Senior house, Lower Hutt (1949), and the Mackay house, Silverstream (1961). The Toomath Senior house is famous as the site of a discussion Toomath and Lew Martin had with architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
about New Zealand construction. Pevsner found the detailing of a post in the carport unrefined. Toomath argued that it reflected an honesty in detailing, relevant to New Zealand architecture. The Mackay House, Silverstream is symmetrically planned and was designed for a couple without children. It was awarded the N.Z.I.A. Bronze Medal in 1962.
Other key works include Wool House, Featherston Street, Wellington (1955, in association with Bernard Johns & Whitwell) and the Wellington Teachers' College
Victoria University of Wellington Faculty of Education
The Faculty of Education of Victoria University of Wellington was formed from the former School of Education of the University, and the former Wellington College of Education on 1 January 2005....
, Donald Street, Karori (1966–1977). The Wellington Teachers College, Karori, Stage One was awarded N.Z.I.A. Silver Medal (1972), and an N.Z.I.A. Local Award (Enduring Architecture) (2005). Wool House (also now known as Old Wool House) was recognised with an N.Z.I.A. Wellington Branch Enduring Architecture Award (2002).
Architectural Exhibitions and Advocacy
Following his return from studying architecture in America and working with Walter Gropius and I.M.Pei, Toomath has spent the majority of his architectural career in New Zealand (including over 35 years in professional practice). He was an advocate for several heritage buildings (see below), and played key roles in the Wellington Architectural CentreWellington Architectural Centre
The Architectural Centre Inc is a nonprofit organization in Wellington, New Zealand for architects and laypeople which offers lectures, site visits, tours and exhibitions.It is a co-organiser of Wellington Architecture Week.-History of the Centre:...
's projects on Wellington's urban form, namely: "Te Aro Replanned" (1947), "Homes Without Sprawl" (1957), "City Approaches" (1959) and Wgtn 196X" (1961). Toomath also presented professional evidence for the Wellington City Council on proposals for controlling building heights, protected viewshafts and urban form planning (1989–1990) in hearings before the Planning Tribunal.
Toomath led a small team whose report on the Old Town Hall stopped moves for its demolition. He has written papers on conservation matters and presented evidence in support of a number of heritage buildings including: the AMP Head Office Building, the State Fire Insurance Building, Wharf Sheds 7 and 21. He had an active role in campaigns to save Old St Pauls.