The Domain Wintergardens, located in the Auckland Domain, Parnell, is registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT) under Category I Heritage site, which is listed as “…places of special or outstanding historical or cultural heritage significance or value.”
History
1916: The Wintergarden started construction after World War I, using funds from the Auckland Exhibition (1913-14), and other local benefactors, the most significant being Sir George Elliot, the chairman of the Bank of New Zealand.
1921: Designed by William Henry Gummer from Gummer and Ford, the Temperate House was first opened.
1927-28: The Tropical House and Courtyard was added.
1928: The Wintergardens was completed and open to the public.
1929-30: Fernery was added to one side of the gardens.
1945: Added neoclassical statues around the gardens.
1954: Modification of the sunken pond in the courtyard.
1993-94: Reconstruction & renvoation of the Wintergardens.
Though the gardens are listed as a heritage, they were considered to play a part of the park’s gentrification, initially seen as frequently visited by “undesirables.”
Design
The garden was created to celebrate the success of the Auckland Exhibition (aka Industrial, Agricultural, and Mining Exhibition) which was held at the same site. They were designed with the consideration of growing and maintaining plants through the winter months. There are two glasshouses with an ornate courtyard between the two, which includes a sunken pond in the centre. From an aerial view, the glasshouses create symmetry in the space. There is a Fernery situated on one side of the gardens, where it is naturally designed by plants as opposed to the garden itself.
The garden demonstrates early 20th century garden design, demonstrating an attitude to the natural world during that period, including the interest of “unfamiliar” flora during the European colonial expansion. The gardens also hold significance for representing the the change of flora approach in the 1920s, emphasising New Zealand flora.
Glasshouse
Temperate/Cool House: holds exotic and potted plants.
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Tropical House: holds “permanent” plants, e.g. banana tree and ravanela. Often heated at the average of 28 °C
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Courtyard
Sunken Pond
Statues
Fernery
Designers
William Gummer – architect.
- Born in Auckland, New Zealand (1884-1966)
- Studied architecture at the Royal Academy of Arts in London
- Worked with Edwin Lutyens, who had a lasting impression on Gummer and his work, with abstract form and emerging classification
- Gummer had a skill of manipulating stripped classical forms, using limited high quality materials and structural innovation
- He had a talent for devising complex, yet clear plans
- Gummer embodies abstract ideals in public monuments by combining traditional architectural elements within a framework of severe formal geometry
- A traditionalist who could respond to contemporary architecture
Edwin Lutyens – architect.
- Born in Kensington, London, England (1869-1944)
- Studied architecture at South Kensington School of Art in London
- Known for his Arts & Crafts style. He was known to adapt traditional architectural style to his era.
- “Conventional classicism”
- Often designed for the following: houses, gardens, public buildings, memorials
- Often worked with Gertrude Jekyll with gardens, where he would design the garden grounds, landscaping, structures.
Gertrude Jekyll – artist, writer, horticulturist, craftsman.
- Born in Mayfair, London, England (1843-1932)
- Studied at South Kensington School of Art in London
- Developed an interest in gardens during school, but did not pursue horticulture until she developed myopia (blindness)
- Inspired by Arts & Crafts style, she believed in understanding the beauty of the natural landscape.
- Myopia forced Jekyll to halt her artistic and craft activities, but she used her blindness as an advantage when researching and designing the plants for gardens, when working with Lutyens. Her artistic ability and concept of colours were evident in her garden designs, as her myopia saw flowers as colourful blurs.
AUT Spatial Design 