Beaven, Peter Jamieson, 1925-2012
Dates
- Existence: 1925 - 2012
Biography
Peter Jamieson Beaven, born Christchurch, New Zealand, 1925, died Blenheim, 2012. Beaven began study at Auckland University College’s School of Architecture in 1943 before war service interrupted. He continued his study from 1946, and registered as an associate of the NZIA in 1951. In Christchurch he worked in G. W. Griffiths architectural offices and the Public Works Department. In 1952 he set up an architectural partnership with Robert Heaney in Timaru designing domestic buildings and woolstores for Wright Stephenson. He returned to Christchurch in 1957 and established his own practice, later in partnership with Burwell Hunt. Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s he worked on a number of significant projects such as Lyttelton Road Tunnel Authority Administration Building, the Manchester Unity Building, and the QEII stadium for the 1974 Commonwealth Games. From 1975 Beaven worked in London, returning to Christchurch in 1984, where he continued to work on commercial buildings and domestic dwellings, including high density housing. In addition to his architectural practice he published on the history of New Zealand architecture and was a regular contributor to Architecture New Zealand. Beaven received the New Zealand Institute of Architect’s Gold Medal for his lifetime contribution to architecture in 2003.
Citation:
Ian J. Lochhead. 'Beaven, Peter Jamieson', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 2022. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/6b12/beaven-peter-jamieson (accessed 13 May 2025) Peter Jamieson BeavenFound in 8 Collections and/or Records:
Abbot and Baird Office Building Additions, 1964
Plans for additions to the office building of Abbot and Baird on Victoria Street. Includes exterior elevations, interior floor plans and techical drawings.
Created by Architect Peter Beaven.
Also includes a folder of specifications.
Canterbury Terminating Building Society, 1958-1959
Plans for Canterbury Terminating Building Society building at 159 Manchester Street on the corner with High Street. Includes exterior drawings and elevations, interior floor plans and those relating to the penthouse area, caretaker's residence, partition details, toilets, shop frontage, roof spaces, window designs and stairways.
Created by Architects B J Ager and Peter Beaven in association.
City Art Gallery, 1987
Plans for a proposed City Art Gallery in the Old Government Buildings in Cathedral Square with frontage to Worcester Street. Includes exterior elevations and interior floor plans.
Created by Architect Peter Beaven.
Grand Hotel Alterations, 1959-1960
Alterations to the Grand Hotel at 135 Cashel Street for The Herbert Shoe Company Ltd. Includes interior floor plans and technical drawings including a staircase plan.
Created by Architect Peter Beaven.
Includes sheets of correspondence relating to amendments to specifications.
Manchester Unity Building, 1964
Plans for the Manchester Unity Building on the corner of Manchester Street and Worcester Street. Includes a site plan, exterior elevations, interior floor plans and technical drawings.
Created by Architect Peter Beaven.
Also includes a folder of specifications.
R A Robertson Office Building, 1961-1962
Plans for a new office building for R A Robertson on Cashel Street. Includes exterior elevations, interior floor plans and technical drawings.
Created by Architect Peter Beaven.
Also includes a set of specifications.
Warners Redevelopment, 1998-1999
Plans for the development of Warners at 50 Cathedral Square. Includes site sketches, site plans, landscaping plans, exterior elevations and interior floor plans.
Created by Architect Peter Beaven.