Lopdell House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lopdell House |
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Lopdell House following recent earthquake strengthening and renovation
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| Former names | Hotel Titirangi, Frank Lopdell House, Waitemata City Arts and Cultural Centre |
| General information | |
| Type | Arts Centre |
| Architectural style | Spanish Mission |
| Address | 418 Titirangi Rd, Titirangi, Auckland |
| Coordinates | 36°56′17″S 174°39′20″E / 36.9381888°S 174.6555459°E |
| Current tenants | Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery (offices), Titirangi Community Arts Council (Upstairs Art Gallery), Titirangi Theatre, McCahon House |
| Completed | 1930 |
| Renovated | 2012–2014 |
| Owner | Auckland Council |
| Landlord | Lopdell Trust |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Swanson Read Bloomfield |
Lopdell House is a special building in Titirangi, Auckland, New Zealand. It's part of the Lopdell Precinct, which is a lively arts center. This building has a long history, starting as a hotel in 1930.
Over the years, it has been many things: a school for deaf children, a training center for teachers, and now, a hub for arts and culture. Next to Lopdell House, you can see a statue of Henry Atkinson, who helped found Titirangi.
Contents
Building Design and Style
Lopdell House was designed by architects Messrs. Bloomfield, Owen, and Morgan. One of the main architects was William Swanson Read Bloomfield. He was born in Gisborne and was the first qualified New Zealand architect with Māori heritage. He studied architecture in England, Europe, and the USA.
The building was designed in a Spanish Mission style. This style often features white walls, red tile roofs, and arches. When it opened as a hotel, it was quite modern for its time.
Hotel Features
The hotel was built to host over 60 guests. It had central heating and hot and cold water in every room. Five of the 24 bedrooms even had their own private bathrooms. All the rooms were carpeted, which was a luxury back then.
The building also had:
- Tea-rooms
- Two shops
- A post office
- A roof garden
- A garage
The main room on the ground floor was a large tearoom and cabaret. It could fit 200 people! There was also a dining room on the first floor. The cabaret had a special dance floor that was laid on rubber buffers, making it bouncy for dancing. A cool feature was the "Wireless and Talking Machine," which could play music or talks in the cabaret, roof garden, and all the hallways at the same time.
In 1935, some changes were made. A new lounge was added to the roof, and the tearoom and dining room were made bigger. One of the shops was turned into a private dining room.
Lopdell House as a Hotel
The idea for Hotel Titirangi began in 1928. A company called Hotel Titirangi Ltd was set up to buy land and build a modern hotel. They wanted to attract tourists and day-trippers from Auckland to Titirangi. The area was popular because many roads led to it, making it a gateway to beaches and parks.
People thought the hotel would make Titirangi as famous as other holiday spots. Building the hotel cost about 20,000 pounds. It was expected to be ready by mid-1930.
Grand Opening
Hotel Titirangi officially opened on 20 November 1930. The opening ceremony was led by Gordon Coates, a former Prime Minister. Almost 300 people attended the special evening ball.
However, the hotel faced challenges. It never got a license to sell alcohol, earning it the nickname 'the pub with no beer'. This made it hard to attract many customers, and most of its business came from the restaurant and tea rooms.
In 1939, a new owner took over the lease and changed the building's name to the Titirangi Country Club. It was meant to be a private club for members, offering things like tennis courts and ping pong.
Lopdell House as a School for the Deaf
In June 1942, the government bought Hotel Titirangi. It was turned into a residential school for deaf children. Over 60 students moved in by September 1942, even while renovations were still happening.
The school had playing fields where the War Memorial Hall and Library are now. In 1947, a small post office was built next to Lopdell House. In 1960, the school moved to a new, specially built location in Glen Eden.
Lopdell House as a Teacher Training Centre
After being a school for the deaf, the building was used by the Department of Education. It became a place for teachers to get extra training. In 1960, it was renamed Lopdell House in honor of Frank Lopdell, a former Superintendent of Education who had passed away that year.
It was the first residential center in New Zealand where teachers could stay and take week-long training courses. Music courses for primary school teachers were very popular. One course taught up to 35 teachers to play simple songs on different instruments in just two days! This was seen as a big step forward in how music was taught.
Lopdell House Society and Arts Centre
Lopdell House was empty in 1982, then bought by the local council. In 1985, the Lopdell House Society started leasing it. The Titirangi Drama club (now Titirangi Theatre) also leased a part of the building for their performances. Titirangi Theatre is still active today.
On 19 November 1986, the Lopdell House Society reopened the building as the Waitemata City Arts Centre. Later, it became the Waitakere Arts and Cultural Centre, and then simply Lopdell House. Offices were rented out on the top floor, and a restaurant even operated on the rooftop for a while.
By 1990, a community art gallery was set up on the first floor. This became known as the Upstairs Art Gallery. The Lopdell House Society managed the main gallery on the ground floor, which was called Lopdell House Gallery from 1994. They managed the building until a big renovation started in 2012.
In 2014, the Lopdell House Society changed its name to Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery, or Te Uru. "Te Uru" means the wind from the west in the language of the local Māori tribe, Te Kawerau ā Maki.
Lopdell Precinct Development
In 2002, a group called the Lopdell House Arts Development Trust was formed. They worked with the council to plan a big upgrade for the building. By 2006, plans were approved, and a new trust, the Lopdell House Development Trust, was set up to lead the project.
The major renovation cost about $20 million. Most of the money came from the Auckland Council, with extra funds from other community groups.
Renovation and Reopening
Construction started in 2012. All the groups using the building moved out. The project involved:
- Making Lopdell House stronger against earthquakes.
- Restoring the building to its original look.
- Adding a brand new, modern art gallery building next door.
As part of the restoration, the outside of Lopdell House was painted white again, which was its original color. Before this, it had been khaki green and even salmon pink! The architects also removed additions from the roof that were built in 1935 and the 1980s. This brought back the original rooftop terrace.
The renovation of Lopdell House was finished, and the building reopened on Saturday, 1 March 2014. The new contemporary gallery, Te Uru, opened to the public on Saturday, 1 November 2014.
