In celebration of 80-years of activity and advocacy for design the Architectural Centre, in collaboration with GCUR, Small Bore Books and and Aotearoa Festival of Design, Whanganui, is proud to announce the release of ‘Design Review: a partial archive.’
Between 1947 and 1953 the Architectural Centre in Wellington published New Zealand’s first design magazine. Covering many topics from Greek vases to urban sprawl, the Design Review was notable for its own innovative graphic design. Developed primarily by E. Mervyn Taylor, the publication also featuring artworks by Juliet Peters, John Drawbridge and Geoff Nees, among others.
This (first) partial archive focuses on the free-standing houses featured in the magazine. In particular, those included in the 1953 special issue ‘Your New House.’ This was the Design Review’s response to the government’s ‘Conference on Housing’.
The exhibition, at Lockett Gallery, features some of the most striking cover designs. Editions of these, framed or unframed, will be available for sale alongside ‘Design Review: a partial archive.’ After covering costs, proceeds will a be used to support ongoing activities of the Centre.
If you can’t make it to Whanganui, there will be a follow-up exhibition in Wellington tbc. If you would like to support the Centre and purchase books or posters email <arch@architecture.org.nz>.
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