Interview with Errol Care-Cottrell

Errol Care-Cottrell was born in Richmond in 1919. Recalls working for State Advances Corporation in Auckland in 1938 and doing part-time architectural study at Auckland University. Describes the outbreak of World War II and being in the infantry in the Middle East as a member of the 22nd Battalion in Egypt and Libya in 1941. Discusses being taken a prisoner of war (POW) by the Germans, spending time imprisoned in Benghazi and labouring as a POW in Italy, Germany and Czechoslovakia. Talks about his return to New Zealand, getting a rehabilitation bursary to finish his architectural study and working with Frank Anderson in Hamilton in the holidays. Describes qualifying as an architect and working for the Ministry of Works in Wellington, King, Cook and Dawson in Hamilton, and White, Leigh and de Lisle.

Explains his decision to set up his own practice, the architectural registration system, getting his first job, the process of being architect for a house and working with a client. Discusses function and aesthetics in a building. Talks about having staff and taking a business partner, Jerome Pickering, in 1977. Discusses buildings he has worked on including service stations, banks, schools and offices. Comments on changes to Hamilton city, draugtsmen calling themselves architects, being the Bay of Plenty chair for the New Zealand Institute of Architects and working for the Historic Places Trust to save some buildings. Mentions marrying in 1950.

Interviewer(s) - Jeff Downs

Accompanying material - List of architectural projects completed; post-interview notes

Quantity: 2 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3093.

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.