James Beard

 

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For American chef and food writer James Beard, see James Beard

For American musician and composer Jim Beard, see Jim Beard

James Albert Beard
Personal information
Name	James Albert Beard
Nationality	New Zealander
Birth date	1924
Birth place	New Zealand
Work
Significant buildings	Beard House PSIS Investment House Hannah Playhouse

James Albert "Jim" Beard is a significant Wellington architect and landscape architect. He was born in 1924 in Christchurch, New Zealand. A Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects since 1969 has in the past been closely involved in the institute at a national level. Including the Education Committee (1968-1970), Publications Committee (1965-1969), Journal Committee (1963-1964) and Library and Journal Committee (1964-1965)). He was the President of the Wellington Architectural Centre (1962), a Committee Member (1958-1960, 1982-1986), and is currently a life member. His service to the design community also included involvement with the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Designers, and the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects, of which he has been an Honorary Fellow since 1998.

Training and Education

Jim Beard trained in architecture at Auckland University, and was an early member of the Wellington Architectural Centre (formed in 1946). He worked for the Ministry of Works architectural office becoming a cadet supervisor in the late 1940s. He was actively involved with the Wellington Architectural Centre, particularly in the 1940s, 1950s and 1980s. After passing the Royal Town Planning Institute (London) examinations in Wellington (while working at the New Zealand Ministry of Works), he received a scholarship and went to M.I.T. to study city planning (1951-1952). Later at Harvard University he studied for a Masters in Landscape Architecture. In the 1960s he co-founded Gabites and Beard Registered Architects and Town Planning Consultants in Wellington and played an active role in the New Zealand Institute of Architects. In the late 1960s he returned to America to work as a Research Assistant (1967-1968) at the Harvard Graduate School of Design where he worked with Peter Hornbeck and Peter Jacobs co-producing Highway Esthetics: functional criteria for planing and design (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1968).

Private Architectural Practice

From 1971-1972 he was part of the architectural partnership Gabites, Toomath, Beard, Wilson & partners. Following this he formed James Beard & Co. In the 1980s he was responsible for the major repair, strengthening and restoration of the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace in Thorndon, including substantial conservation research (this material and documentation is deposited at the Alexander Turnbull Library), and was extensively involved in the recently formed New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architecture.

Beard has been involved in a range of buildings and landscape design. He is recognised for his residential work (especially the Beard House, Hauraki Street, Karori (1955), and apartment design in the 1960s), and two well-known inner city Wellington buildings: the Hannah Playhouse (1973) and P.S.I.S. Investment House (1976). He has been involved in significant landscape projects (e.g. the Te Marua Lakes Project, Kaitoke Regional Park). In addition his work is characterised as a multi-disciplinary practice, drawing on his skills in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture and town planning. He has also been involved in teaching architecture at a tertiary level at Auckland University, Wellington Technical College, Wellington Polytechnic and Victoria University of Wellington.

PSIS Investment House (both Stages 1 and 2 are visible here)

PSIS Investment House (Stage 2)

Hannah Playhouse

Influence and Significance

Jim Beard is a significant New Zealand architect. In his work at the Ministry of Works he influenced a generation of architects (including people such as Bill Alington). He is a rare example of a New Zealand architect undertaking postgraduate study at an overseas university, studying Town Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and then Landscape Architecture at Harvard University. He was hence one of the few qualified Town Planners and Landscape Architects working in New Zealand in the 1950s and 1960s. To appreciate this fully, it must be remembered that it was not until 1969 that Lincoln University established the Post Graduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture - the first full-time course in landscape architecture in Australasia.

Beard has also made a significant contribution to concrete apartment design in Wellington in the late 1950s and early 1960s, examples of which exist in Hamilton Rd, Hataitai, Tapiri St/William St, Hataitai, Brougham St, Mt Victoria, and Wellington Rd, Kilbirnie. These were exercises in providing both liveable modern homes and efficient planning, at a time when single unit detached dwellings were the norm. He is perhaps best known within architectural circles for his significant contribution to Wellington's inner city examples of Brutalist architecture, namely the Hannah Playhouse (1973) and PSIS Investment House (1976).

His work on the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace is also significant as a contribution to New Zealand's national cultural heritage. This work has included various reports and research work. The unpublished material is held within the Alexander Turnbull Library Manuscripts Collections. Published material on this work includes: Beard, James Mansfield Precinct (Wellington [N.Z.]: New Zealand Heritage and Conservation Trust and the Wellington Heritage and Conservation Trust, [2005]). Katherine Mansfield Birthplace received a New Zealand Tourism Award in 1994.

Jim has constantly contributed to New Zealand architecture and landscape design and architecture, as well as town planning from the beginning of his career to the present day, both as a professional and as an astute and committed commentator in institute and organisational publications such as: New Zealand Architect/Architecture New Zealand, The Landscape, Cuttings, and Off Centre. He has given service to organisations such as the Wellington Architectural Centre, the New Zealand Institute of Architects, the New Zealand Institute of Landscape Designers, and founded the Wellington Heritage and Conservation Trust as part of his efforts to lobby for a better built environment. As Michael Jones has noted "Beard has exerted a sustained influence on late 1960s attitudes to the landscape – as a regular commentator on national and civic policy and action." (Jones "Professional recognition" p. 9.)

His work, in particular the Hannah Playhouse, is also deemed to have national significance as it is represented in the Drawings, Photographs and Manuscripts Collections at the Alexander Turnbull Library at the National Library in Wellington. In addition both the libraries at the Schools of Architecture at University of Auckland, and Victoria University hold collections of Beard's writings on Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Town Planning. The Hannah Playhouse used by Downstage Theatre is also recognised with its inclusion in the Wellington City Council Heritage Building Inventory, and his and Al Gabites' 1965 proposed "Precinct Planning for Wellington" was exhibited in "Unbuilt Wellington," 12 August-5 November 1989, Wellington City Art Gallery.

External Link

• A Theatre to seat 800 (etext of 1948 article)

References

"Christchurch New Town Hall and Civic Centre Competition." NZIA Journal. 33.10 (1966): 292-325.

"Concrete Block Home Has Holiday Appeal: An Architect-Designed Home Form the NZIA Wellington Branch." Post [Wellington]. 17 Apr. 1972: 23.

"Family House: Simple Post and Beam Construction." Home and Building. XXII.1(1959): 38-41.

"Investment House Wellington." NZIA Journal. 35.11(1968): 346-51.

"New BNZ Glass-in Site Plan." Evening Post [Wellington]. 9 Oct. 1986: 15.

"NZIA-Resene NZ Awards for Architecture 2006: Enduring Awards." Architecture New Zealand. 3(2006): 59.

"Post Office Stores and Workshops Taita." NZIA Journal. 35.3(1969): 90-93.

Beard, James Albert. The 1889 New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Building. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: Open Space Society, 1992.

---. "Anthony Treadwell." Architecture New Zealand. 1(2004): 12.

---. "Arboreta and Ecosystems." OSSMOSIS. June(2006): 1-5.

---. "At Sea with the Six C's." OSSMOSIS. Aug.(2004): 1-6.

---. "Balderdash and Flapdoodle." Planning Quarterly. 114(1994): 3.

---. "Beauty, Technology, Biological Process." OSSMOSIS. June(2005): 1-4.

---. "Beyond the Box." Architecture New Zealand. July/Aug.(2005): 74-76.

---. "The Bobs and Cycles." OSSMOSIS. Nov.(1994): 1-86.

---. "Clubs, Shebangs and Warrens." New Zealand Architect. 5(1985): 21-26.

---. Conservation. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: New Zealand Heritage and Conservation Trust, and Wellington Heritage and Conservation Trust, 1995.

---. The Draft Wellington Regional Landscape Plan. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: New Zealand Heritage and Conservation Trust, and Wellington Heritage and Conservation Trust, 1996.

---. "Factories in National Parks." OSSMOSIS. July(2006).

---. "Fundamentalist Values Boondockery." OSSMOSIS. Feb.(2004): 1-10.

---. "Helmut Einhorn 1911-1988." Architecture New Zealand. July/Aug.(1988): 14.

---. "An Historical Perspective." Home and Building. 4(1982): 73.

---, ed. Housing Competition Buller Grove: Assessors Report. Lower Hutt: New Zealand Institute of Architects in association with Lower Hutt Civic Corporation, 1976.

---. "Human Consumers, Externalities, Pollutions." OSSMOSIS. 60(2006): 1-4.

---. "Humans, Humanism, Humanists." OSSMOSIS. June(1999): 1-7.

---. "Hunter Building Victoria University of Wellington." New Zealand Architect. 2(1978): 3.

---. "Lambton Common." OSSMOSIS. Aug.(1997): 1-11.

---. "Mansfield Conservation Precinct." OSSMOSIS. 61(2007): 1-9.

---. Mansfield Precinct. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: New Zealand Heritage and Conservation Trust, and Wellington Heritage and Conservation Trust, 2005.

---. "Mansfield Precinct Economics." OSSMOSIS. 63(2007): 1-12.

---. Moutpihi Village. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: New Zealand Heritage and Conservation Trust, and Wellington Heritage and Conservation Trust, 1995.

---. "Mui Potu Conservation 2004: The Ongoing Protection of the Biological Process of Abel Tasman Point Peninsula, Wainui Estuary, Golden Bay." OSSMOSIS. February(2003): 1-26.

---. "Obituary." Architecture New Zealand. Jan./Feb.(1988): 28.

---. One Window Houses. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: Wellington Heritage and Conservation Trust, 1994.

---. "Our Lady of the Star of the Sea." OSSMOSIS. 65(2007): 1-12.

---. "Planning for Leisure." NZIA Journal. 37.6(1970): 188-89.

---. "Planning Open Spaces and High Rise Development in Wellington." NZIA Journal. 36.10(1969): 316-19.

---. Police Headquarters - a Pretty Police Park for Waring Taylor Street. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: Open Space Society, 1991.

---. "Principles in Redevelopment." New Zealand Architect. 4(1987): 63,69.

---. Regional Park Asunder Blunder. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: Wellington Heritage and Conservation Trust, 1994.

---. "Resource Management Jottings." OSSMOSIS. Dec.(1997): 1-5.

---. Resource Management, Design and Planning. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: Open Space Society, 1992.

---. "Scapes, Sustainability and Survivals." OSSMOSIS. Feb.(1999): 1-3.

---. Site Analysis and Appraisals. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: James Beard Architects Planning Consultants Landscape Architects, 1990.

---. Social Concern and the Architectural Centre, Wellington. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: New Zealand Heritage and Conservation Trust, and Wellington Heritage and Conservation Trust, 1997.

---. "Some Notes on Development and Building Control." NZIA Journal. 4(1980): 13-19.

---. Some Notes on the Regulatory Pitfalls of Building Conservation. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: Open Space Society, 1990.

---. Some Planning Issues. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: Open Space Society, 1992.

---. "St Jerome's Aedicule." OSSMOSIS. 64(2007): 1-8.

---. State Highway Two and Kaitoke Regional Park. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: Wellington Heritage and Conservation Trust, 1994.

---. Symbols and National Museums. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: Open Space Society, 1990.

---. "An Unbuilt 1980 Office Block." OSSMOSIS. July(2005): 1-3.

---. "Wellington Inner City Bypass." OSSMOSIS. July(1998): 1-15.

---. The Wellington Bypass Road and the Waterfront Race. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: Open Space Society, 1993.

---. The Wellington Motorway Southern Extension - for Whom? OSSMOSIS. Wellington: Open Space Society, 1991.

---. The Wellington Saint James Theatre, Chaste, or Chaste Away. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: Open Space Society, 1990.

---. The Wellington Town Belt Restored. OSSMOSIS. Wellington: New Zealand Heritage and Conservation Trust, and Wellington Heritage and Conservation Trust, 1996.

---. The Wellington Town Hall Conservation - Who Cares? OSSMOSIS. Wellington: Open Space Society, 1991.

---. "The Wellington Waterfront - An "Ongoing Situation"." Home and Building. Feb./Mar.(1984): 71,73.

---. "Wellingtons Worst Buildings." OSSMOSIS. 62(2007): 1-3.

---. Westport Chambers, Saved or Oil Slicked? OSSMOSIS. Wellington: Open Space Society, 1991.

Beard, James Albert, and Sandy Beath. "A Bit O'culture or a Better Cup of Coffee." Home and Building. Aug./Sep.(1983): 25.

Bonny, Stephanie, and Marilyn Reynolds. Living with 50 Architects: A New Zealand Perspective. Auckland: Cassell, 1980.

Clark, Justine, and Paul Walker. Looking for the Local: Architecture and the New Zealand Modern. Wellington: VUP, 2000.

Dudding, Michael. A Final Formality: Three Modernist Pavilion Houses of the Early 1960s. "...about as austere as a Dior gown...": New Zealand architecture the 1960s: a one day symposium. Ed. Christine McCarthy. Wellington: VUW, 2005. 7-11.

---. “A Useful Exercise: The context, content, and practical application of W H Alington’s ‘ Thesis on the Theory of Architectural Design’.” Thesis. VUW, 2005.

---. W H Alington Oral History Project. Wellington: Oral History Centre, ATL, 2007.

Gabites and Beard. Precinct Planning for Wellington 1965. Wellington: Greater Wellington and Hutt Valley Retailers Association, 1965.

Gatley, Julia. "’The Project': Town Planning in Wellington to 1972." 5th Australian Urban History/Planning History Conference. Adelaide: University of South Australia, 2000.

---. "The Wellington CBD Replanned: Wgtn 196X." "...about as austere as a Dior gown...": New Zealand architecture the 1960s: a one day symposium. Ed. Christine McCarthy. Wellington: VUW, 2005. 17-25.

Hannah, Dorita. "Architecture as Stage." Exquisite Apart: 100 Years of Architecture in New Zealand. Ed. Charles Walker. Auckland: Balasoglou Books, 2005. 182-93.

Hodgson, Terence. Looking at the Architecture of New Zealand. Wellington: Grantham House, 1990.

James Beard and Company. Hannah Playhouse Wellington. Wellington: Hannah Playhouse Trust, 1970.

Jones, Michael. "Professional Recognition: James Beard." Landscape New Zealand. Sep./Oct.(1998): 9-11.

Kernohan, David. Wellington's New Buildings: A Photographic Guide to New Buildings in Central Wellington. Wellington: VUP, 1989.

Lochhead, Ian. "Unbuilt Sixties: The Unsuccessful Entries in the Christchurch Town Hall Competition." "...about as austere as a Dior gown...": New Zealand architecture the1960s: a one day symposium. Ed. Christine McCarthy. Wellington: VUW, 2005. 42-47.

McCarthy, Christine. "High Modern." Architecture New Zealand. Mar./Apr.(2006): 65-69.

Murphy, Lyn. "Centre Keeps Watch on Capital." Evening Post [Wellington]. 20 Aug. 1991: 15.

Staffan, Jan. "Interview with James Beard." Early Architectural Centre Oral History Project. Wellington: Oral History Centre, ATL, 2001.

Walker, Charles, ed. Exquisite Apart: 100 Years of Architecture in New Zealand. Auckland: Balasoglou Books, 2005.

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