Walker Co-partnership - 70 years of New Zealand History

The practice, founded by Lewis Maitland Howey Walker in 1932 has been privileged to be involved in a large proportion of major commissions: throughout New Zealand together with clients and developers to make considerate impact on our society.

A. LEWIS WALKER

"The Formative Years" 1928-1932
Palmer Crescent, Mission Bay

Having completed his final examination thesis for RIBA and with the experience of working under Sir Edwin Lutyens on the Imperial Delhi Government House, India, Lewis returned to New Zealand.

The demand for his all round draughting expertise lead to his working on the Auckland Railway Station and the Wellington Dominion Museum for Gummer & Ford and on the Auckland University College (Old Arts Building) and Smith & Caughey’s new block for R.A. Lippincott.

"Originality is a welcome gift, but for that, how uninteresting this world would be. Yet do not let originality govern your designs too much, for the primary purpose of the bridge is its use. When that purpose is fulfilled, then it is, that your originality can be applied."

"It is the purpose of man to advance to keep the world in motion; yet think wisely while you act."

• Lewis Walker Final Exam Thesis "The Bridge", July 1923

B. WALKER & MUSTON AANZIA REGISTERED ARCHITECTS

"The Prewar Years" 1932-1940 (14 staff)
Grey Buildings, Courthouse Lane, Auckland, C.I.

Initial commissions included 500 state houses and joinery factories for the NZ Government, the Whakatane paper mill, offices, flats and residences. Lewis Walker is adviser industrial maintenance to the NZ Government on Town Planning.
 

"Our clients have presented us with the most difficult and complex problems requiring skilled, rapid and most efficient service with full confidence in our ability to produce the most able solutions."

"We are pleased to state that we have retained their confidence and enhanced our position."

• Application to Rotorua District Council, 1938

Client Base:

• NZ Government
• Paper Mills Ltd., Whakatane

C. LEWIS WALKER, HILLARY & CO.

"The Post War Practice" 1944-1964
Dilworth House, Auckland

Lewis returned from military service as a major in the NZ Artillery, and completed commissions including the Auckland and North Shore Metropolitan fire stations, the Thames Hospital rebuild, the Thames Nurses Home, hotel, club and bar refurbishments for Dominion Breweries, theatres and factories.

Client Base:

• Central Properties Ltd.
• Dominion Breweries Ltd.
• NZ Metropolitan Fire Board
• Thames Hospital
• Wellesley Properties Ltd.

D. WALKER HILLARY & SWAN

"The Retail Revolution" 1964-1968 (15 staff)
Dilworth House, Auckland

1966 marked an era in NZ with the opening of its first retail shopping centre, Lynnmall.

More self contained community orientated locally supported and financed shopping centres followed Lynnmall as a revolution in New Zealand retail occurred in the 1960’s based on the American mall: Riccarton (Christchurch), Henderson Square (now West City, Auckland), and 1st Lynnmall (Auckland).

"Large sliding doors and "folding frontages" have proved popular at the one-stop community hub. They have created visual space and other continuity of shopping in the pleasant mall atmosphere."

• Newspaper article on opening of Coastlands Shopping Centre, 5 Nov. 1969

Client Base:

• Commercial Centres Ltd.
• Dominion Breweries Ltd.
• Hammerson Properties
• Masonic Lodge Trust

E. LEWIS WALKER AND GLOSSOP & CO.

"Retail Revolution Expansion" 1968-1971 (25 staff)
502 Achilles House, Customs Street East, Auckland

The increasing commercial & retail workload in Wellington demanded the setting up of separate offices there, while in Auckland, large scale offices for Guardian Assurance, IBM, NAC, Royal international Hotel, and Masonic Village work increased staff numbers to 20-25 persons.

"At Paraparaumu the transformation to a suburban residential area is practically complete. The process brought with it a demand for modern shopping and commercial facilities and the Coastlands development played a great part in providing these. The new extension is a further testimony to the success of the original project."

• Statement by member for Kapiti, Mr F.D. O'Flynn, QC,
Evening Post, 3 Oct. 1973

Client Base:

F. WALKER CO-PARTNERSHIP

"New Horizons" 1971-1984
502 Achilles House, Customs Street East, Auckland (1971-1979)
66 Symonds Street, Auckland (1979-1984)
Securitas House, 126 The Terrace 1, Wellington

"At Paraparaumu the transformation to a suburban residential area is practically complete. The process brought with it a demand for modern shopping and commercial facilities and the Coastlands development played a great part in providing these. the new extension is a further testimony to the success of the original project.

”To keep fully informed of contemporary design and building trends and requirements, the Partners of Walker Co-partnership regularly travel extensively overseas to study developments in other part so the world. Partners have recently visited Australia, United States of America, Great Britain, France, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, South Africa, and South America for this purpose."

• Walker Co-partnership brochure, 1974

Client Base:

G. WALKER CO-PARTNERSHIP LTD

"Boom & Bust" 1984-2001
84 Symonds Street, Auckland

The New Zealand building industry followed the ups and downs of an erratic stock market which crashed in 1987. During this time Walkers continued to have a wide client base enabling the practice to have ongoing projects despite the economic climate.

 

Client Base:

H. WALKER ARCHITECTS LTD

"New Landscapes" 2001-2005
48 Courthouse Lane, Chancery, Auckland

A new century, a changing market particularly with many New Zealand business districts converting to an increased residential use, less demand for concentrated office space as communication technology improved, saw new project genres being tackled for an increasingly varied client base.

 

Client Base: