New Lynn’s Ceramic House, the former home of Crown Lynn pottery, is one of 11 places that will be added to Auckland’s heritage schedule following today’s Planning and Policy Committee (previously the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee).
Chair of the committee, Councillor Richard Hills, says heritage plays an important role in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s identity.
“Auckland’s heritage schedule contains places that help tell the story of Tāmaki Makaurau. It includes buildings, cultural landscapes, archaeological sites, gardens and notable trees.
“Though built not that long ago, Ceramic House is an important and quirky expression of New Lynn’s ceramics industry when it was at its peak in the 1960s. It’s one of two places in the area remaining from that time. The other is Ambrico Kiln, which is also on the heritage schedule.”
Ceramic House was built for Consolidated Brick and Pipe Investments, best known for the Crown Lynn pottery brand. It was built in 1969, when Crown Lynn pottery could be found in around 60% of New Zealand households. Displaying the versatility of the company’s products was part of the brief for the building. They feature throughout – from ceramic door handles and toilet roll holders, to the reinforced brick walls.
Noel Reardon, Manager of Heritage at Auckland Council says Ceramic House is a reminder of New Lynn’s pottery production. Not only that, but it was also designed by a notable architect and is an intact example of building design being influenced by technology.
“Ceramic House is one of renowned architect Neville Price’s works, recognisable for its unique three-storey dodecagon (12-sided) shape. It was built especially to house a new computer.”
“Computers in were much, much bigger in the 1960s than they are today. Price was asked to design the entire building so it could fit the new computer, which took up a whole room. It’s one of the first ‘computer buildings’ in Tāmaki Makaurau and a rare example of when computers defined the form and function of a building,” he says.
The completion of Ceramic House marked an exciting point in Neville Price’s career. He went on to be commissioned to build commercial and residential buildings across the city and, at one point, had the biggest architecture firm in New Zealand. His best-known work is the iconic West Plaza at 1 Albert Street in central Auckland, completed in 1974.
Ceramic House has been added to the heritage schedule following a public nomination received in 2019. It falls within Category A on the schedule, recognised for its outstanding heritage significance.
For more information on Ceramic House and the other places added to the heritage schedule at today’s committee meeting, please visit the Auckland Council website.
Auckland Heritage Festival takes place from 28 September – 13 October. Find out more on OurAuckland.
