Interview with Vic Procuta

Vic Procuta was born in Lithuania in 1929. Describes how his father was an army officer and his mother a dressmaker. Discusses the role of his grandparents in his upbringing. Talks about living in the old city of Vilnius and his love of its architecture. Describes the political `benevolent dictatorship' of the 1930s in Lithuania. Discusses the effect on the country of being between Germany and Russia. Recalls the German occupation while he was in high school and the German retreat from the Russians in 1944. Describes how his family left Vilnius in a convoy with other army families, crossed into Germany, saw the bombardment of Dresden, and went to Speigelau on the German-Czechoslovak border. Mentions that his father left and was later returned to the family with tuberculosis and died. Describes being taken over by American troops in 1945.

Describes the acceptance of his family for immigration to New Zealand in 1947 and being sent to the Pahiatua camp. Discusses their three months there before being sent to Dunedin, working in a clothing factory and as a draughtsman for the Otago Education Board. Comments on Dunedin. Describes assistance from architects John Fathers and Ted McCoy and advice to go to the School of Architecture rather than undertake long-term extramural study. Describes the family's move to Auckland. Mentions Vernon Brown, a lecturer at the School of Architecture.

Discusses moving to Whangarei after studying architecture and working for Ray Woolford and Ron Smith. Describes returning to Auckland and working with Steve Vilicich on restaurant alterations in 1957-1958. Mentions the Clevelands Hotel. Describes abandoning his architectural thesis. Mentions Professor Dick Toy. Talks about moving to Hamilton and doing hospital design for Frank Gillman and David Sayers, briefly working for the South Auckland Education Board then moving to the United States. Describes living in Wisconsin and resitting exams to qualify for architectural registration. Comments on the United States in the 1960s. Describes the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, his impact and his personality. Talks about the family's decision to return to New Zealand in 1967 for financial reasons, the need to get a re-entry permit and settling in Wanganui.

Describes shifting to Hamilton and working for the South Auckland Education Board. Discusses his lack of practical knowledge and assistance given by Noel Earls. Discusses the Building Code used by the Education Board. Recalls his work on secondary schools. Recalls working with Warwick Kellaway on the open plan concept of classrooms at Deanwell and its wider application. Describes the use of relocatable classrooms and their flexibility. Comments on the industrial growth of Turangi, Tokoroa and Putaruru, the need for extra classrooms and being flooded with work in the 1970s and 1980s.

Discusses the Waikato-Bay of Plenty branch of the New Zealand Institute of Architects and some of their conferences. Talks about Hamilton architects and their failure to speak up more against the Council. Mentions some of the architects' wives as being more actively involved. Comments on the failure to utilise the river in town planning. Describes the work of Warwick Kellaway in preserving local architecture. Comments on the design work of Doug Angus and Bernie Ray (Rae). Mentions working with Steve Mrkusic and others in Five Plus One Architects when the Education Boards were disbanded in 1989. Describes going into business on his own. Comments on the expectations of clients. Mentions some of the local women architects including Laura Kellaway, Ros Empson, Jane-Lee Smith and Wendy Moody.

Interviewer(s) - Laura Kellaway

Quantity: 5 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 5 Hours Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3105.

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

Alternative form available: Listening copies OHLC-005558 - OHLC-005562