Dismay at state of library
Architecture enthusiasts are dismayed by the state of decay that has befallen a distinctive former National Library branch.
The building on Tremaine Ave in Palmerston North has stood empty since the National Library centralised its services in Auckland and closed the branch in 2015.
It is now owned by the Department of Internal Affairs and is in the care of Crown agency Land Information New Zealand while being processed for potential resale.
Architecture fan Tony Reddrop is appalled the building has been left to languish.
‘‘It’s in a style that used to be considered ugly ... but I think it’s an amazing bit of New Zealand architecture,’’ he said.
One of his colleagues visited it recently only to look through the windows and see fallen ceiling panels and large pools of rainwater.
The former library was built in the neo-brutalist style, a school of architecture that focused on angular concrete buildings. The carvings on the sectioned concrete panels that clad the old library branch was one of the distinctive features that made it unique and interesting. Reddrop said the building should be preserved for future generations, instead of being demolished due to neglect.
The Palmerston North City Council has posted notices at the building’s entrances, dated July 3, declaring it a dangerous and insanitary building under the Building Act 2004.
Council chief customer experience officer Chris Dhyrberg said until proper repair, maintenance and clean-up work was carried out, the building was unsuitable for occupation.
The council wouldn’t take further action unless the building deteriorated to a point where it could collapse and injure people or damage property nearby.
Should that occur, the council would cordon the building off to keep people at a safe distance.
If Land Information didn’t repair or demolish the building, the council could take it to court, he said. Manawatu¯ Heritage Properties Ltd owner Ben Millar started his company to rescue old buildings that were worth preserving, but weren’t listed as heritage buildings or didn’t receive enough funding to properly maintain them.
He considered buying the old library branch two years ago because it was already in a bad state, but Land Information was still processing the property. ‘‘Once a building loses its use, it quite often goes downhill quickly and fixing ends up costing too much. So they get demolished.’’
Millar said it was a shame. Neobrutalism was popular in the 1970s when the former National Library branch was built, but there were now few buildings in that style being preserved.
‘‘It’s not a style that is as well liked as the Victorian buildings people think of when they think heritage buildings.
‘‘They’re not that old, so people don’t appreciate them as [architectural] heritage yet.’’
A Land Information spokesperson said a team was sent to check the building and assess the damage, after Stuff raised the public’s concerns last week.
Contractors then made temporary repairs to the ceiling and cleared out the flooding on Wednesday. There appeared to be a leak in the drainage system, which allowed water to get inside the ceiling space and cause several ceiling panels to collapse.
The Crown agency was looking into longer-term options for repairs.