Imi Porsolt

Imric (Imi) Porsolt was a gifted modernist architect whose Jewish heritage necessitated his emigration from Czechoslovakia to New Zealand in 1939. Porsolt was quick to engage in the contemporary art and architecture scenes in New Zealand. He had a huge influence on this country through his term teaching at the Auckland School of Architecture and longstanding role as art critic for the Auckland Star.

Shortly after arriving, Porsolt designed Auckland's Broadcasting House in Durham Street West which opened in 1941. It was one of New Zealand's first modernist buildings of significance. It featured a facade of horizontal window bands with an entrance highlighted by a sculptural, cantilevered stairwell. The building also boasted an impressive radio theatre for live performances. Unfortunately it was demolished in 1990.

Alongside his architectural endeavours, Porsolt also designed a small amount of furniture for himself and selected clients. His work was included in the 1952 Art and Design Exhibition at Western Springs alongside other exhibitors such as Michael Brett, John Crichton, Group Architects and Ernst Plischke.

Today, Porsolt's work is considered some of the best in New Zealand. His 1962 'Pollard House' was ranked number 23 in 'Top 50 Homes', an article by Douglas Lloyd Jenkins and Bill McKay, published in the magazine Home and Entertaining. Pollard House is described as "one of the finest pole houses in the New Zealand bush, showing an appreciation of the new environment and an ability to use it in a sensitive way".