Wikipedia:Today's featured article/May 6, 2005



Francis Petre was a prominent New Zealand-born architect based in Dunedin. Before his time, 19th-century New Zealand architecture was dominated by an almost institutionalized Gothic revival style used by the British Empire for its far-flung colonies. One of the first of New Zealand's native-born architects, Petre played an important part in guiding it towards the brighter Palladian and Renaissance&mdash;southern European styles&mdash; which were more suited to New Zealand's climate than the gloomier Gothic. Able to work competently in a wide diversity of architectural styles, he was also notable for his pioneering work in concrete development and construction. He designed numerous public and private buildings, many of which are still standing in and around Dunedin. He is chiefly remembered for the monumental Roman Catholic cathedrals of Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, which survive today as testimony to his talent and architectural expertise.

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