Commercial Building

• unknown
• Various alterations have been made to the building over time.
• 1902
• Construction (00053:81:4713)
• 1930
• Verandah (00056:116:B10519)
• 1945
• Damage by earthquake (00009:2145:50/1054/417)
• 1946
• Earthquake repairs (to the rear wall only) (00056:316:B24822)
• 1956
• Shop alterations for City Meat Co. (00056:545:B40158)
• 1963
• Alterations including new staircase and external doors (create butcher shop) (B40158, 00058:311:C13527)
• 1966
• Extension to connect with 116 Cuba Street, building alterations - offices (00058:458:C19675)
• 1977
• Butcher shop facilities at rear of property (00058:1125:C48636)
• 1985
• Alter shop window (00059:0:D1501)
• 1989
• Convert 1st floor to flat (00059:355:E19245)
• 1994
• Seismic strengthening, refurbish butcher shop (00060:142:5223)
• 1996
• Parapet ‘restored’ (WC Records 1041-06-CUB118)

• 1910 - 1916
• Diamond Confectionery Company (Stones 1910-11, 1915-16)
• 1920 - 1925
• Herbert Stanbridge, fruiterer and confectioner (Stones 1920, 1925)
• 1927 - 1930
• Victor Brownson, jeweller
• 1935 - 1962
• City Meat Company Ltd (Stones 1935, 1940, 1945, Wises 1950-51, 1955, 1961-62)
• 1967 - 1980
• Gear Meat Company (Stones 1967-68, 1971-72, 1975, 1980)
• 1990
• Steiner's Butchery (Wises 1990)
• 1985
• Not Listed
• 1995
• Cuba Mall Butchery. “For a number of years now the Cuba Mall Butchery has occupied the shop at street level”.
• 1998 - 2012
• Iko Iko gift store

Not assessed

118 Cuba Street is a two storey Edwardian commercial building with a well proportioned façade that features a restrained palette of Classical details and decoration. The building was originally constructed as a simple two storey shop-residence built on a narrow inner city site. The shopfront and verandah on the ground floor have been remodelled and the shopfront is a good facsimile of a traditional design. The triangular pediment at the parapet is also a modern alteration added in the late 1990s. Although the addition of this faux-heritage element is confusing, it does have some charm and now lends the building something of the appearance of a small Greek temple.

The original decorative scheme for the façade consists of four regular Ionic pilasters that stand on small pedestals, and this group of columns are critical to the success of the modern pediment above. The frieze above has a decorative strip of moulded festoons, with a dentilled cornice above. The parapet consists of shallow piers tied together by string courses. The three first-floor windows are double-hung, with square heads. Although this is a small building, the architect has shown his usual skill in getting the proportions right and not overdoing the Classical vocabulary. This building makes a distinctive contribution, although on a small scale, to the Cuba Street precinct.

The current vibrant, sky-blue colour scheme, the retro mosaic tiled panels at ground floor level, and the verandah signage all contribute to the character of this carefully crafted Edwardian commercial building.

The construction is load-bearing brick masonry on concrete foundations and piles. Floor joists and roof trusses are timber. The roof is clad in corrugated iron.

This building (no. 116) and its neighbour (no. 118) are a pair of Edwardian neo-Classical buildings. This pair of buildings makes a strong contribution to the architectural, streetscape and heritage values of the block. Next to no. 116 is the Left Bank – an extension to Cuba Mall.

To the south of no. 118, the next pair of buildings are modern and do not contribute to the heritage or streetscape values of the block – the pastel-coloured concrete block Hallensteins building, and the Tattoo City building. The tallest building on the block, adjoining Tattoo City, is no. 126, a tall four-storey building constructed in 1907. At the southern end of the block is the former Gear Meat building, constructed in 1896. Both of these buildings make important contributions to the architectural, heritage and streetscape qualities of the block.

• 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?

  This two storey Edwardian commercial building has a well proportioned façade that features a restrained palette of Classical details and decoration.

• 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?

  This building can be read, along with 116 Cuba Street, as a pair of Edwardian neo-Classical buildings. This pair of buildings makes a strong contribution to the architectural, streetscape and heritage values of the block.

  This building is part of a group of Edwardian commercial buildings on Cuba Street which contributes positively to the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

  
  

• Association

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

  This building has historic value for its association with the notable Wellington architect John Swan. 

• Association

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

  This building is associated with the strong growth and development of Cuba Street during the Edwardian period, which resulted in the building of many fine commercial buildings.

• Archaeological

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

  It is known that there has been pre-1900 human activity on the site; hence this site has potential archaeological value.

• 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?

  This building is part of a group of Edwardian commercial buildings on Cuba Street which contribute to the sense of place and continuity of the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

• 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?

  The first floor façade of this building remains largely intact with a high level of original detailing, despite modifications to the shop front and the addition of a pediment.

• Local Regional National International

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

  This building is of local importance, as it contributes to the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

• Representative

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

  The building is representative of the architecture and history found in Cuba Street.

Not assessed

• Stones 1910-11, 1915-16
• WC Records, 1041-06-CUB118
• Wellington City Council, Cuba Street Heritage Area spreadsheet (blocks 1-3). (Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006).
• Wellington.co.nz
• Historic Places Trust, “Swan, John Sydney”, Professional Biographies. Accessed 18 June 2012.
• Wellington City Council, “118 Cuba Street”, Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. (Wellington City Council, 2001), CUBA 11.
• Wellington City Council, 1995 Heritage Inventory
• Michael Kelly and Russell Murray, Cuba Street Heritage Area Report. (Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006).
• Newspapers: Evening Post, Volume LXIII, Issue 16, 20 January 1902, Page 7
• Newspapers: Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 145, 16 December 1920, Page 5
• Newspapers: Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 99, 24 October 1927, Page 2
• Newspapers: Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 125, 23 November 1927, Page 4
• Newspapers: Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 112, 8 November 1930, Page 16
• John S Swan, “118 Cuba Street, shop and dwelling”, 05 March 1902, 00053:81:4713, Wellington City Archives.

• Inventory Report
• 1902 plans

Not available