Armson, Collins and Harman
| Company type | Architectural firm |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architecture |
| Founded | 1870 |
| Founder | William Barnett Armson |
| Defunct | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Christchurch , New Zealand |
| Products | Architectural design services |
Armson, Collins and Harman was an architectural practice based in New Zealand, originally established by William Barnett Armson (1832/3–1883). Following Armson's passing, the firm was managed by two of his protégés: John James Collins (1855–1933) and Richard Dacre Harman (1859–1927).
History
Recognized as one of the longest-standing architectural firms in New Zealand, Armson, Collins and Harman was founded by Armson in 1870 and grew to become a leading architectural enterprise in early Christchurch. Upon Armson's death, the firm was taken over by J.J. Collins, who four years later formed a partnership with Harman, another architect trained under Armson. Notably, Collins and Harman are believed to be the first architects in Christchurch who were born, educated, and trained within New Zealand.
In 1903, John Goddard Collins (1886–1973) entered the firm. The company adopted the name Collins and Harman in 1928. Subsequently, John Kempthorne Collins (1916–1983), son of J.G. Collins, joined the team. Eventually, the business operated as Collins Architects Ltd until its closure in 1993.
Works
Several commercial structures designed by the firm in Timaru, Christchurch, and Lyttelton remained intact prior to the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Among their significant projects is the Strange and Co's building located at High and Lichfield Streets in Christchurch, constructed for a company established in 1863. Other key works include the Christchurch Press Building (1909), Nazareth House (1909), the Curator’s House within the Botanic Gardens (1919), the former Canterbury College Students Union (Dux de Lux) (1927), the Nurses Memorial Chapel at Christchurch Public Hospital (1927), and the Sign of the Takahe (1934/36).
The firm was also responsible for designing notable private residences such as Blue Cliffs Station Homestead (1889); Te Koraha in Merivale—which hosted the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall during their 1901 visit; homes for G. H. Rhodes in Claremont, Timaru; R. H. Rhodes at Bluecliffs; G. E. Rhodes at Meadowbank; H. D. Buchanan at Little River; and Longbeach House for John Grigg.
The archival collection of the firm, which was gifted to the Macmillan Brown Library, gained recognition in 2018 when it was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Aotearoa New Zealand Ngā Mahara o te Ao register.