J. Louis Salmond
Encyclopedia
James Louis Salmond was an English-born architect active in New Zealand
in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of his buildings remain, particularly in Otago
. He established a practice carried on by his son and grandson into the 21st century.
in 1868 the son of the Reverend Dr William Salmond he emigrated as a child with his family when his father was appointed the first Professor of Theology at the Theological Hall in Dunedin
. He attended Otago Boys' High School
and was articled to R.A. Lawson. Through that association he met the artist George O'Brien
in 1888 and left an impression of him. He went into practice on his own account but later formed a partnership with Lawson when the latter returned to Dunedin in 1900. The practice later became Salmond and Vanes.
Salmond designed more than twenty churches in Otago including the Presbyterian churches at Roslyn, Kaikorai and Waikouaiti
. He also designed the terrace houses on upper Stuart Street
and Moray Place
in Dunedin, the Bristol Piano Company building and the Queen's Buildings, both on Princes Street
and the first Dental School building for the University of Otago
(now part of its Clocktower complex
). He was also responsible for work on Knox College
and designed the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva
, Fiji
. There were also many domestic commissions.
Salmond's work is sober and solid. He used several of the revived styles current at the time, including the Gothic
, the Classical
and the Baroque
, the latter in the Bristol Piano Company building. What his buildings lack in flamboyance they make up in good proportions, sound construction and dignity. Salmond's son Arthur Louis Salmond (1906-1994) went into partnership with him. James Louis Salmond died in 1950. A number of his close relations had distinguished careers, some in Law and Theology. His grandson John Louis Salmond (1940-2008) carried on the practice until 2008.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of his buildings remain, particularly in Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
. He established a practice carried on by his son and grandson into the 21st century.
Life
Born in North ShieldsNorth Shields
North Shields is a town on the north bank of the River Tyne, in the metropolitan borough of North Tyneside, in North East England...
in 1868 the son of the Reverend Dr William Salmond he emigrated as a child with his family when his father was appointed the first Professor of Theology at the Theological Hall in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
. He attended Otago Boys' High School
Otago Boys' High School
Otago Boys' High School is one of New Zealand's oldest boys' secondary schools, located in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. It was founded on 3 August 1863 and moved to its present site in 1885. The main building was designed by Robert Lawson and is regarded as one of the finest Gothic revival...
and was articled to R.A. Lawson. Through that association he met the artist George O'Brien
George O'Brien (painter)
George O'Brien was an engineer of aristocratic background who turned to art in 19th century Australasia, dying in poverty but leaving a body of remarkable work.-Biography:...
in 1888 and left an impression of him. He went into practice on his own account but later formed a partnership with Lawson when the latter returned to Dunedin in 1900. The practice later became Salmond and Vanes.
Waikouaiti
Waikouaiti is a small town in East Otago, New Zealand, within the city limits of Dunedin. The town is close to the coast and the mouth of the Waikouaiti River....
. He also designed the terrace houses on upper Stuart Street
Stuart Street, Dunedin
Stuart Street is one of the main streets of Dunedin, New Zealand. As with many of Dunedin's streets, it is named after a main street in Edinburgh, Scotland....
and Moray Place
Moray Place, Dunedin
Moray Place is an octagonal street which surrounds the city centre of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. The street is intersected by Stuart Street , Princes Street and George Street...
in Dunedin, the Bristol Piano Company building and the Queen's Buildings, both on Princes Street
Princes Street, Dunedin
Princes Street is a major street in Dunedin, the second largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. It runs south-southwest for two kilometres from The Octagon in the city centre to the Oval sports ground, close to the city's Southern Cemetery...
and the first Dental School building for the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
(now part of its Clocktower complex
University of Otago Clocktower complex
The University of Otago Clocktower complex is a group of architecturally and historically significant buildings in the centre of the University of Otago campus. Founded in Dunedin, New Zealand, in 1869, the University of Otago was the expression of the province's Scottish founders' commitment to...
). He was also responsible for work on Knox College
Knox College, Otago
Knox College is a privately run residential college affiliated to the University of Otago in New Zealand, providing accommodation for primarily first and second year students, with a smaller number of postgraduates. The college is set in an landscaped site in Opoho on the opposite side of the...
and designed the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. There were also many domestic commissions.
Salmond's work is sober and solid. He used several of the revived styles current at the time, including the Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
, the Classical
Classical architecture
Classical architecture is a mode of architecture employing vocabulary derived in part from the Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, enriched by classicizing architectural practice in Europe since the Renaissance...
and the Baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
, the latter in the Bristol Piano Company building. What his buildings lack in flamboyance they make up in good proportions, sound construction and dignity. Salmond's son Arthur Louis Salmond (1906-1994) went into partnership with him. James Louis Salmond died in 1950. A number of his close relations had distinguished careers, some in Law and Theology. His grandson John Louis Salmond (1940-2008) carried on the practice until 2008.
Sources
- Entwisle, Peter, William Mathew Hodgkins & his Circle, Dunedin Public Art Gallery,Dunedin, 1984.
- Knight, Hardwicke & Wales, Niel, Buildings of Dunedin, John McIndoe Limited, Dunedin, 1988.
- Otago Daily Times, Dunedin, 1861-.
- Salmond, AJ, Knox College Conservation Plan 2004, Salmond Anderson Ltd, Dunedin, 2003, pp. 13-14.