b"over the rainbowdays did not impede creativity. I have obviously acquired a lotsubsequent owners. I loved that the new (and younger) body of knowledge over the last 50 years, but that early creativitycorporateforParkMewscamebacktomerecentlyforthe is now compromised by profligate regulations and consentingoriginal colours, which they wanted to restore.difficulties. The Park Mews could not be built today. There is farSeveralofouroldhouses,includingthewell-knownDes too much box ticking. Britten house in Seatoun, have been similarly repainted.You have taken quite a number of graduate and intern architectsAre there any other past projects you would revisit if you had under your wing over the years. What is your favourite part aboutthe opportunity? What changes or additions might you make if mentoring budding architects and designers? you were unencumbered by the constraints of budget, clients, I have employed many graduate students over the years. Sadly,neighbours or council?there is a bit of a pattern where once they become registeredTherearegrowthandchangeproposalsforparticular architects, they leave to pursue their own careers. I did the sameprojects that I would dearly like to continue involvement with thing myself at Calder Fowler in Wellington, so I cant blame them.particularly Whakatne Airport (1974), which not only has My mentoring is just to encourage lateral thinking, questionenduring architecture, but it is the only Category 1 historic entrenched rules and regulations and introduce joy and surpriseplace by a living architect. We like receiving client instructions as fundamental requirements of design. Feedback I get fromand responding to them.those I keep in contact with is all positive and hopefully I haveA quick story: Last year, a lady rang us after having heard that been influential. we were good at residential work. She accepted my invitation to visit the office. After 10 minutes of looking at photographs of Youve said before that you plan to continue working until yourcompletedhousesanddrawingsofcurrentprojects,shesaid, very last day, but that until then, you want to spend more timeMr Walker, do you design anything normal? Thats a good beginning travelling and cross some things off your bucket list. What havefor my book, as I was secretly flattered by being considered different.been some of your travel highlights? Big budgets are nice, of course, because restraint of finance At the age of 80 years, I am now recalibrating my life. I enjoy traveldoes affect what you can build. But the quality of the design is and have four children and seven grandchildren in Australia. Myalways more important than the cost per square metre.first overseas trip was to Expo 70 in Japan. Japanese metabolismIf you could wave a magic wand that would grant you more time struckachordwithmethehonestlyoftheexpressionofWhat sort of process do you go through when youre selectingin a day, what would you do with those extra hours?verticalcirculation,structure,services,claddingsandfinishescolours for your projects? For example, how did you go aboutI would read, travel, meet more people and go to more movies.being composed as an orchestrated whole rather than buryingpicking the original Resene colours for the Park Mews exterioror hiding these elements is fundamental to where I am now at. which I understand have been reinstated with the refresh? If you could go back in time to give young Roger one piece of I travel beyond Australia to experience cities and settlementsI think colour is fundamental to design. Billy Connolly looked meadvice, what would it be and why?rather than lie in the sun. The only Pacific island I have visited isup when he drove past the Park Mews on one of his stand-upTake care of yourself, dont get stressed, stay calm and maintain Tonga, and thats because we have a project there. tours of New Zealand. He told me something I wont forget: somea better work/life balance.people think that black and white are colours.In the last few years, youve been able to revisit the design of aColour is expressive. As a child of Hamilton, to me, a stand- What do you like about Resene?couple of your past projects including incorporating an additionalone detached house sits in a garden. As the Park Mews doesI like Resene for, in no particular order, their passion for their to your 1987 Wadestown house and giving your 1974 Park Mewsnot have a garden, its circular porthole windows are abstractedproduct, their amazing range of colours, their product innovation, development in Haitaitai a fresh colour scheme. What were thoseflowers, in a more subdued main background. If we take the lessonstheir back-up for us architects and the fact that they are a New experiences like in terms of coming back to something decadesof Mother Nature, large surface areas such as the ground and theZealand company.later after youve inevitably evolved so much as a designer, andsky are background. The smaller details in the overall environment,My favourite Resene colours are the ones that work together as a person? such as cars and peoples clothing, should be brighter to keep all warm and subdued background colours with more intense and The 150 or so projects I have designed over the last 50 yearsin balance. Similarly, a fixed wall should be less colourful than thecolourful secondary elements. This philosophy applies to both are my babies. New owners often contact me. My office likes toentry door (which also moves, giving added excitement). interiors and exteriors. do additions or alteration to these. The continuity is important,Colour also expresses function (through warmth, coolness, especiallyiftheoriginaldesignhasbeencompromisedbyetc) so I would recommend avoiding red in hospitals. To see more of Roger's portfolio, visit www.rogerwalker.co.nz. blackwhitemag.com 53"