Many architects have memories of Miles especially those in Christchurch. My first encounter was 1990 in my final year of Architecture. I was trying to get an appointment to interview him for my Thesis titled "Christchurch Architects from the late 1950's to early 1970's and their use of concrete block". I had interviewed all the architects I thought were important including of course Peter Beavan who gave me plenty of great stories. Interviewing Miles was essential but I never got my appointment. I did get to talk to him briefly on the phone. I remember being really nervous and this was not helped when he made a statement that Auckland had never cared about Christchurch and Christchurch Architecture. I explained that in my own small way my thesis was an attempt to write that wrong. Luckily the Warren & Mahoney Architects book had been published the previous year. The work of the hashtag#christchurchschool as the architects of the time were know would appear in a number of publications as Mid-Century Modern became fashionable.
The first time I meet him proper was during the hashtag#NZIAcanterburybranch initiatives following the Canterbury Earth Quake. He was ready to rebuild the city which he had such a large hand in building. Miles, Jasper van der Lingen and myself presented the Branches submission to the CCC hearings. We understood each would get 15 minutes but instead the Mayor limited us to 15 minutes total. Miles could not believe what was happening but he was able to make a few key points in his 5 minutes. The fact that New Zealand's leading architect was being treated in such a way was emblematic of how the profession was treated during this time.
Before ever meeting Miles I was aware of his buildings. As a child my parents would take us to shows at the Chch Town Hall. My first impression was delight at the crushed aggregate panels of the facade, angled out at the base and extending across the ground. I could not help walk across these to touch the rough exterior. Next came the crush of people at the entry with it's low ceiling. This short constriction was followed by a release into a grand space with a ceiling higher than any building I had been in, full of light from the 70's light fittings reflecting off the Takaka marble. The wide grand stairs were another delight and my small hand caressed the polished Meranti handrail. One final restriction at the theatre door and then the final reveal of the james hay theatre or Auditorium the angled acoustic panels giving plenty to look at before the show itself. What a sense of occassion.
My other favourite buildings are the hare wood crematorium even though I visit on sad occasions and college house which I only discovered during my thesis.
The fact all three have survived the EQ gives some consolation to the loss of so many other great buildings.
What a legacy you have left us Miles, go well.
