Built in 1935 on Franklin Road, Ponsonby, the complex is significant as an early example of Functionalist-influenced apartments.
The flats are also significant as a visually notable design by the 20th Century architect Horace Massey. Born in 1895 he had come to the attention early on the pages of ‘Progress’ after winning design competitions both here and in Britain where he went after the war to continue training. When he returned to New Zealand he was full of progressive ideas about architecture, but the 1920s were a difficult period in which to introduce them so he had to make do with publishing his concepts in essay form while establishing himself as a fashionable designer of Arts and Crafts style homes. Although he was 42 years old when the economic revival arrived and even though surrounded by the best and brightest of the recent crop of graduates, he went on to design some of the more innovative buildings of the late 1930s. He was commissioned to design The Gloucester Court Flats by Annie and Thomas Buxton who were prominent members of the Catholic community in Auckland and who had owned the site since 1905. Annie was a foundation member of the Women’s Catholic League, while Thomas was president of the Auckland Trotting Club at the time that the flats were erected. They also owned several popular hotels.
Massey and his architectural partner, George Tole, had a close relationship with the Catholic community and as a result received a large number of commissions, the most noteworthy being St Michael’s Church in Remuera which was awarded a Gold Medal by the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 1933. In the period that he designed the Gloucester Court Flats, Massey had his own practice and designed many important buildings including the impressive apartment complex, Cintra flats which was the first Modernist building in Auckland to receive another NZIA Gold Medal a year later. All three buildings appear to have been designed in 1935. Consequently Massey gained
a reputation as as a progressive architect who was influential in introducing the Modern Movement’s ideals to Auckland.
Gloucester Court Flats is not as radical in design as Cintra, but as with Cintra it could be described as ‘practical for modern living’. Both were designed as straightforward architectural solutions to inner city apartment living that demanded concise interior planning at which Massey excelled. Massey was influenced by progressive American house design and believed in ‘the labour-saving house’ in which a bright, easily worked kitchen full of labour-saving devices would be pride of any housewife. He was convinced the hub of a household should be a feature rather than hidden away. In 1950 he was awarded an NZIA Bronze Medal for the design of his own home.
The Gloucester Court Flats has had few recorded alterations and the external facade remains the same as when it was initially designed. The building retains its aesthetic importance , making a significant contribution to the historic neighbourhood of Ponsonby Road and Franklin Road. (DEIRDRE ROELANTS)