Surrey S. Alleman architectural drawings

Surrey Sebastian Alleman was born 31 August 1901 in Kaponga, South Taranaki and attended New Plymouth Boys’ High School. He studied architecture under Professor Knight at Auckland University College in the mid-1920s before starting in practice in 1928.1 He was initially in sole practice during the late 1920s and 1930s at the BNZ Chambers on Swanson Street. Subsequently he worked in the various practices: Alleman & Land, Alleman Land & Verrall, Alleman Land & Heaney, Alleman Verrall Newnham & Partners, and Alleman Land Heaney Verrall & Partners until his retirement in 1967.2

Aged only 29, he was awarded the 1930 New Zealand Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal for his design of the Hampton Court apartment building on Wellesley Street West, Auckland.3 Another notable early design was the Garden Court flats on Tamaki Drive in Mission Bay completed in 1936. Alleman designed numerous family residences and small commercial and public buildings in the upper North Island. His design work emphasised efficient use of space, using modern materials to construct low maintenance buildings.

Alleman married Nancy Holm Biss in late March 1929 at St. Aidan’s Church, Remuera.4 Alleman was elected Chairman of the Auckland branch of New Zealand Institute of Architects.5 A 1947 pen-portrait in Home & Building mentioned his love of fishing along with his other hobbies of gardening and tennis.6 Alleman died on 17 April 1978.7

1. Architectural prize. (1931, February 18). New Zealand Herald. LXVIII, 20801, 12. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19310218.2.104 2. Surrey Sebastian Alleman [Clippings file] Fergus Sheppard Collection (MSS & Archives.Arch2017/1, file A424). Special Collections, University of Auckland Libraries and Learning Services, Auckland, NZ. 3. Architectural prize. (1931, February 18). New Zealand Herald. LXVIII, 20801, 12. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19310218.2.104 4. Weddings Alleman – Biss. (1929, April 1) New Zealand Herald, LXVI, 20218, 5. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19290401.2.8.8 5. Chances missed. (1939, November 30). Auckland Star, LXX, 283, 9. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19391130.2.94 6. Home and Building contributors. (1947). Home and Building, 10(1), 8. 7. GillyR. (2016, January 1). Surrey Sebastian Alleman. Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156595271/surrey-sebastion-alleman