The Art Deco Architect

When you think of Napier, you think Art Deco.
The buildings - a great many of which arise out of the ruins of the 1931 earthquake, have a look - as does the Marine Parade, a lot of which came about after the earthquake as well.
And there are a number of little spots that are special. One is the sundial - given to Napier by former Gisborne mayor James Robert Kirk who was impressed by the spirit of rehabilitation of the city.
The sundial - and a great many buildings are the work of James Augustus Louis Hay - who is the architect behind Napier’s “look”
Louis was born in Akaroa, Banks Peninsula on January 14, 1881 to James Hay and his wife Frances. The family moved to Napier in 1895 where Louis went to Napier Boys’ High and then joined the architectural firm of C T Natusch.
He shifted jobs a number of times before being employed by the Department of Lands and Survey in Invercargill.
By 1906 he had returned to Napier and within three years had set up his own firm. Initially most of his work was residential homes, often for wealthy landowners looking for grand villa-style homes.
In 1917 he joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and went to training at the Trentham Military Camp where a year later in September 1918 he married Margaret Ross McPherson. A member of the camp orchestra, he had stayed at the camp just long enough to avoid travelling on a troopship whose outbreak of influenza decimated the troops.
After the war he returned to Napier and his work. He was quickly becoming noticed for the quality of it.
He was working on the St Paul’s Presbyterian Church at the time of the great earthquake - it was destroyed.
But worse was to come for Louis, his beloved wife Margaret was seriously injured.
He became a member of the Napier Reconstruction Committee and established a group of architects to cope with the amount of work.
In particular he designed a number of reinforced concrete structures for the new look of the city, incorporating what were then the principles of earthquake resistant construction.
And he added the art deco touches.
His buildings include the AMP building, the beautiful National Tobacco Company building, the Hawke’s Bay Art Gallery and Museum and the Napier club among others.
Louis also had a plan for a Marine Parade entertainment centre and Albion Hotel that were never built.
But when former Gisborne mayor J R Kirk gifted Napier with a sundial it was designed by Louis.
There are quotes on the dial “Calamity is a Man’s True Touchstone,” “Smiles equal sunshine in helping folks along,” and “Serene I stand amidst the flowers to tell of the passing of the hours.”
As well as an architect Louis was a boat builder, oarsman, water skier and actor and a noted flautist who had once considered a musical career.
His figure was a familiar one in Napier - in summer he wore white suits, bow ties and a panama hat and was often accompanied by his fox terrier Spark.
His health deteriorated in the 40s and he died in Napier on February 4, 1948, and is buried at Park Island Cemetery.​