Tibor Donner

Tibor Karoly Donner (19 September 1907 – 11 March 1993) was an Austro–Hungarian born New Zealand architect, who was the chief architect for the Auckland City Council from 1947 to 1967.

Personal life Donner was born in Szabadka, Austria-Hungary (now known as Subotica and part of Serbia), on 19 September 1907. He was the second child of Ladislaus Cornel Donner, an engineer, and Maria Donner née Kovats de Dalnok. He and his brother Cornel were brought up in the Lutheran faith of their father, and his sister Klara in the mother's Roman Catholic faith.

The family immigrated to New Zealand in 1927 aboard the SS Rimutaka. Donner studied architecture at Auckland University College and from 1935 until 1937 worked privately in the profession. In 1938 he joined the Public Works Department. He remained with the department until 1947 when he established the architectural office at the Auckland City Council. He was the council's chief architect until his retirement in 1967.

Donner married Margaret Bennett in 1934. The couple had one child, a daughter also called Margaret. Tibor Donner died at Auckland on 11 March 1993, survived by his wife and his daughter. His work left an enduring legacy to the people of Auckland.

Design

Donner's designs incorporated styles from North and South America which were often reflective of high modernism. Although they were influenced by international architectural trends, their usage of local materials also gave them a distinctly New Zealand flavour. Notable structures by Donner include Auckland's Savage Memorial (1941), Avondale Military Hospital – later converted into the high school (1943), Khyber pump station (1947), Parnell Baths (1951–54) and the Auckland City Council's Administration Buildings (1954–60). They reflect the confidence of Auckland during its rapid expansion in the postwar era.

List of works

Public buildings Year Building Location 1937 Newmarket Post Office [formerly located at 180 Broadway, Newmarket – demolished in 1999] 1941 Michael Joseph Savage Memorial 1943 Avondale Military Hospital (now Avondale College) 1947 Khyber Pump Station 1951 Auckland City Council Housing Developments [various locations in Freemans Bay and Parnell]1951–54 Parnell Baths 1953–57 Vehicle Testing Station [formerly located at 285 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn – now demolished] 1954–60 Administration Building (Greys Ave) 1958 Auckland Centennial Memorial (Auckland Domain) 1959–61 Pioneer Women’s & Ellen Melville Memorial Hall (now the Ellen Melville Centre) 1960–61 Pt Erin Baths 1961–64 Victoria St Parking Building 1966 Glen Innes Public Library 1970 Green Bay Kindergarten

Houses Aside from his work for the Auckland City Council and the Public Works Department, Donner also designed several houses in the hills around Titirangi. His former house is located in Kohu Road, but he also designed several others in the surrounding area for his friends.