Bill Toomath, architect and former Head of School of Design
Bill Toomath headed the Wellington Polytechnic School of Design for ten years (1979-1989), and was a key player in the development of modernist architecture in New Zealand for over five decades.
In 1946, Mr Toomath jointly founded the Architectural Group in Auckland a collective renowned for their provocative pursuit of a specifically New Zealand form of architecture, with an emphasis on open plan, indoor-outdoor flow and honesty with materials.
For almost 35 years, from 1955, he had his own architectural practice in Wellington, specialising in educational and community buildings, including the award-winning Wellington Teachers College complex in Karori. He had a strong vision for central city development and helped save Wellington’s Old Town Hall and other heritage buildings.
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