George Guido Schwartz

George Guido Schwartz (1853–1926) was a New Zealand architect. Schwartz was born in Hamburg and studied there and in Stuttgart before practising in various cities around western Germany. Schwartz came to New Zealand to follow his brother but struggled to obtain work and worked as an actuary until 1896, when he started a full-time architectural career that lasted until his death in 1926. Schwartz mostly designed domestic and commercial premises and several of his surviving works are scheduled with the Wellington City Council and Heritage New Zealand.

Early life

George Guido Schwartz was born in the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg in 1853. Schwartz studied architecture in Hamburg and Stuttgart and in 1871 articled to Theo Necker.[1] With Necker he worked in Hamburg, Wiesbaden, Frankfurt, Saarbrucken, and Stuttgart.[2]

New Zealand

In 1878 Schwartz came to New Zealand aboard the Lanarkshire. Schwartz' brother had made the voyage earlier and worked as an account and actuary for the Government Life Insurance Company. Schwartz initially worked in Wellington but by 1885 he was working as a draughtsman in Christchurch. Architectural work was hard to come by and Schwartz worked as an actuary for the Government Life Insurance company, he remained with the company until 1896 to return to architecture. Schwartz mainly designed commercial and residential properties in the wider Wellington region. Schwartz designed many homes in the Queen Anne style. Schwartz practised architecture up until his death in 1926.[1][2]

Schwartz was a founding member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects and served as the first vice-president. In 1912 Schwartz became a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects,[1] with the support of Alfred Atkins, Roger Bacon, and Frederick de Jersey Clere.[2]

Personal life

Schwartz married his wife in 1883 and had two daughters.[1]

Schwartz was an avid musician and played the French horn and was a member of the Wellington Orchestral Society. Schwartz owned a yacht, the Waiwetu, which he used for racing. Schwartz was a Freemason.[1]

List of works

Name Date Image Note Ref
United Fruit Company Building 1887 Registered as a category 2 building and as part of the Lambton Quay Historic Area with Heritage New Zealand [3]
Lazule 1896 Registered with Heritage New Zealand as part of the Cuba Street Historic Area [4]
2–8 Footscray Avenue 1896 Registered with Heritage New Zealand as the Footscray Avenue Historic Area [5]
6 Stafford Street 1897 Scheduled with the Wellington City Council [6]
292 Tinakori Road 1897 Scheduled with the Wellington City Council [7]
Empire Hotel 1897 [8]
Carlton Hotel c.1900 [8]
11 Brougham Street 1900 [8]
Donisthorpe 1906 Scheduled with the Wellington City Council [9]
Barker and Pollock building 1920 Registered with Heritage New Zealand as part of the Cuba Street Historic Area [10]
Temuka Courthouse 1900 Attributed to Schwartz by Peter Richardson but most sources consider it a different architect's work. Registered as a category 2 building with Heritage New Zealand [11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Mew, G.; Humphris, Adrian (October 2014). Raupo to Deco. pp. 97–98. ISBN 978-1-927242-56-8.
  2. ^ a b c "Guido Schwartz". Wellington City Heritage.
  3. ^ "Equitable Building and Investment Co. Building". Wellington City Heritage.
  4. ^ "Shop and Dwelling". Wellington City Heritage.
  5. ^ "Houses". Wellington City Heritage.
  6. ^ "House". Wellington City Heritage.
  7. ^ "House". Wellington City Heritage.
  8. ^ a b c "Off Brougham" (PDF). Mount Victoria Historial Society News. No. 49. May 2009.
  9. ^ "Donisthorpe". Wellington City Council.
  10. ^ "Commercial Building". Wellington City Heritage.
  11. ^ A McEwan (12 July 2017). TIMARU DISTRICT COUNCIL HISTORIC HERITAGE ITEM RECORD FORM (PDF) (Report). Timaru District Council.
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