At first glance there is nothing awe inspiring or eye
catching about the Southern Community Laboratories (SCL). Its settled in the
ever evolving main street of Dunedin that countless people pass by who never
take a second thought as to what this modernist building retains. It was
designed by Dunedin architect Fraser Oakley Pinfold and built on February the
17th 1965.
Looking at it from the street, it is understandable why people do
not take a second glace and marvel at its form. The miss match between the SCL’s
bright banners on the windows, the bushes and the Plunket House entrance that
over hangs all come together in some ugly portrait. |
| Taken opposite Rob Roy dairy |
But this building should not be judge by its cover for if
you walk round to the rear you are greeted with a familiar modernist design that’s
pleasant on the eyes and clean in its form. This is what people should see when
they make their daily commutes to and from town. No element back there seems
to fight for more attention than the other, they all work together in a well
framed grid of stone, concrete, glass and steel.
 |
| The rear of the building with car park |
Walking around to its north side you are greeted with the
same piece of architectural candy. Except this side has two air tunnels that
scale the top side of the wall like a “pair of caterpillars hanging by the
train tracks” (thanks Leigh).
Viewing it from newly found angles I began to favorite this side of the building above all the others as it made me feel something I didn’t feel with the rest of the building. A strange love perhaps? Or maybe it was more of a helpless feeling as if I was falling into the deep blue sky. Whatever it was, I am interested to discover more of this weird concrete relationship…
By Chris Clapham
I like this building. It's quite plain, but has an almost Japanese simplicity to it. I liked it even better when it had an authentic stylish 1960s interior on the ground floor, but alas it has been 'updated'.
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