The third building in our series of Lower Hutt modernist buildings is the War Memorial Library. Constructed: 1956. Architect: Structon (Ron Muston) Having designed the neighbouring St James Church, which was completed in 1953, Ron Muston was commissioned to design the library in a complementary style. This coordination helps to create the cohesion of a civic complex together with the town hall and horticultural hall, as was initially envisioned by mayor John William Andrews and shepherded to fruition by his successor Percy Dowse.

Placing these buildings together in parkland surroundings was a rare example of the garden city approach to planning. The clean and straightforward style creates contrast with the gardens. The bas relief by sculptor James Gawn stands out on the simple white entrance porch, and there are three murals inside by the notable artist Leonard Mitchell.

It’s hard to imagine what it would have been like for the average Lower Hutt citizen to see such an aesthetically alien building proposed for an established public park in the 1950’s, but we can imagine how a spirit of renewal could be seen to be being embodied in the bold yetunpretentious style. The ‘living memorial’ character also serves to represent the civic contribution of the library as an act of continually honouring the country’s fallen soldiers, further justifying the building’s departure from the favoured styles of prior years.

Would we be able to so easily create a civic memorial statement today?