Untitled [Lecture Hall Frieze]

1957

Guy Ngan

Lost - destroyed

Type

  • Frieze

Medium

  • Concrete

Dimensions

  • Approx. 457 m²

Guy Ngan, 'Untitled [Lecture Hall Frieze]' (1957), University of Canterbury, Ōtautahi Christchuch

Source: 'Mushroom Building, School of Engineering, University of Canterbury by Cecil'. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

1957–2011

Lecture Hall exterior, Engineering School, University of Canterbury, Ilam Campus, Ōtepoti Christchurch

Artists
Associated Artwork Person(s)
Associated Artwork Organisation(s)

Description

The University of Canterbury School of Engineering’s Lecture Hall was completed during Guy Ngan’s time as an employee of the Ministry of Works (under Gordon Wilson), where he advised on how public art might be incorporated into architectural design.

Fondly referred to as the ‘Mushroom’ due to its appearance, the iconic lecture theatre was one of the first buildings to appear on the Ilam campus. The design is attributed to emigre architect Helmut Einhorn. It was added to and modified several times during the years, and its copper roof gradually aged to verdigris.

The building was damaged in a major earthquake in Canterbury on 22 February 2011. The decision was made to demolish the building and Ngan’s mural along with it.