Commercial Building

• 1904
• Building permit issued – Applicant: John Wood, Owner: T. Young, Architect: Penty and Blake 6030
• 1908
• Building addition - construction of fourth shop
• 1996
• Demolition of building – retention of façade 25773

• unknown
• Not assessed

Not assessed

This building (or at least the Courtenay Place Façade) is two-storey and Edwardian Baroque in design style. The three pediments on the front façade, which break the line of the cornice, are supported on pairs of fluted pilasters. Between the pilasters are the windows which are framed by Gibbs surrounds. The windows have moulded architraves, and keystones, and three have rusticated surrounds and are framed by Ionic pilasters, with pediments of triangular and segmental shapes. A dog toothed moulding runs the length of the façade below a moulded cornice.

The building has been added to – the easternmost three-quarters of the building is the original section and housed three shops. In 1908 Penty and Blake designed the matching addition containing a fourth shop at the western end with three windows on the first floor.

The two-storey early/original façade has been incorporated into a larger six-storey apartment block that has little architectural or aesthetic value. In 2007 the building appeared on an Architecture Centre list of the ten worst buildings in Wellington.

The building was originally constructed with masonry walls, timber floors and roof, and a cast iron verandah, the majority of which is now gone.

The two-storey façade at 120 Courtenay Place retains some design and architectural value and contributes to the Courtenay Place streetscape. The reduction of the Edwardian commercial building to little more than a façade, and the construction of a large and clumsy apartment building directly behind it, have a negative impact on the Courtenay Place streetscape.

• Architectural

  Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?

  120-126 Cuba Street façade is the remnant of a row of Edwardian Baroque shop/dwellings that is a good representative example of the style. This façade has been incorporated into a larger six-storey apartment block that has little architectural or aesthetic value.

• Group

  Is the item part of a group of buildings, structures, or sites that taken together have coherence because of their age, history, style, scale, materials, or use?

  The Edwardian Baroque façade has some group value with the Classical commercial buildings in the nearby Courtenay Place Heritage Area, and for its stylistic similarity to the St James Theatre, its near neighbour on Courtenay Place.

• Townscape

  Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

  The reduction of this Edwardian commercial building to little more than a façade to a large apartment building with little aesthetic or architectural value has a negative impact on the Courtenay Place streetscape.

• Association

  Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation?

  This building was designed by the prominent architectural firm of Penty and Blake.

• Association

  : Is the item associated with an important historic event, theme, pattern, phase, or activity?

  This building is associated with the early social and economic history of Wellington, helping to tell the story of Wellington’s development. The building, while originally a retail premises, has for many years housed restaurants and cafes – with the Shanghai restaurant being something of a Wellington institution. This is an important element of Courtenay Place’s development as the entertainment district. 

• Archaeological

  Does the item have archaeological value for its ability to provide scientific information about past human activity?

  This building is included in the NZAA Central City Archaeological area R27/270.

• Identity Sense Of Place Continuity

  Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?

  The Edwardian façade has some value for its contribution to the sense of place and continuity of the Courtenay Place Streetscape.

• Authentic

  Does the item have authenticity or integrity because it retains significant fabric from the time of its construction or from later periods when important additions or modifications were carried out?

  Although the majority of this building has been demolished to make way for new apartments, the façade retains authenticity of materials, design, and craftsmanship.

• Local

  Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?

  This building is important at a local level for the contribution that it makes to the Courtenay Place streetscape. The Edwardian Baroque façade is a lively composition and is in a reasonably authentic condition. 

• Representative

  Is the item a good example of the class it represents?

  This building is a good example of the Edwardian Baroque style, designed by a prominent Wellington architectural firm. It is representative of the style that was prominent at the time of its construction and is consistent with the other buildings on Courtenay Place.

Not assessed

• Wellington City Council. ‘120-126 Courtenay Place, Shanghai Restaurant’. Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 1995. Wellington City Council. 1995.
• Wellington City Council. ‘120-126 Courtenay Place, Shanghai Restaurant’. Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001. Wellington City Council. 2001.
• 00053-108-6030
• Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1257, 12 October 1911, Page 6
• Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 52, 29 August 1929, Page 8
• Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 76, 23 August 1912, Page 5

• Inventory Record
• 1904 plans

Not available