The unique character of the Ascot Street/Glenbervie Terrace area was recognised in the mid 1970s when the City Council rezoned it Residential E. This zoning controls the height, scale and character of any new building so as not to detract from the existing streetscape and is the first attempt in New Zealand to preserve an area of historical and architectural significance. The present owners took an active part in the campaign to save this area.
List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
1438
Date Entered
28th June 1990
Date of Effect
28th June 1990
City/District Council
Wellington City
Region
Wellington Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes the land described as Lot 2 DP 51292 (RT WN22A/812), Wellington Land District and the building known as The Wedge thereon. The outbuilding on the north boundary is not included in the extent.
Legal description
Lot 2 DP 51292 (RT WN22A/812), Wellington Land District
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
1438
Date Entered
28th June 1990
Date of Effect
28th June 1990
City/District Council
Wellington City
Region
Wellington Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes the land described as Lot 2 DP 51292 (RT WN22A/812), Wellington Land District and the building known as The Wedge thereon. The outbuilding on the north boundary is not included in the extent.
Legal description
Lot 2 DP 51292 (RT WN22A/812), Wellington Land District
Why is this place significant?
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. The Wedge is one of the better known houses in the Thorndon 'E' zone. This conservation area was the subject of an early preservation battle and the present owners were prominent in that campaign.
Physical Significance
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY: The Wedge is an important example of a regional building type peculiar to Wellington, that of the tall, narrow timber house built on a small section and designed in response to the steep topography and the lack of inner city land. The Wedge is a prominent building of the nationally important, Wellington City Council designated Residential E zone. Tall, narrow and built to the Glenbervie Terrace boundary on three sides it is unusual in that it has three street facades all of which have glazing and decorative gables. The Wedge is a clever architectural solution to a difficult problem, showing ingenuity and resourcefulness in suburban design.
Why is this place significant?
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. The Wedge is one of the better known houses in the Thorndon 'E' zone. This conservation area was the subject of an early preservation battle and the present owners were prominent in that campaign.
Physical Significance
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY: The Wedge is an important example of a regional building type peculiar to Wellington, that of the tall, narrow timber house built on a small section and designed in response to the steep topography and the lack of inner city land. The Wedge is a prominent building of the nationally important, Wellington City Council designated Residential E zone. Tall, narrow and built to the Glenbervie Terrace boundary on three sides it is unusual in that it has three street facades all of which have glazing and decorative gables. The Wedge is a clever architectural solution to a difficult problem, showing ingenuity and resourcefulness in suburban design.
Construction Professional
Name
Bennie, James
Type
Architect
Biography
Bennie was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, immigrated to New Zealand in 1880 and settled in Brunnertown near Greymouth. In the early 1890s he attended the Working Men's College in Melbourne, Australia, where he studied under artist and architect Thomas Searell. On completion of his studies he returned to Greymouth and set up in practice as an architect. In 1902 Bennie moved to Wellington and went into practice with E C Farr before establishing his own practice in 1905. Some of Bennie's designs include the Albermarle Hotel, Wellington (1905), the Carnegie Library at Levin (1910), the Karori Methodist Church (1912), and the Oriental Bay Tea Kiosk (1912, demolished 1978). He designed a number of theatres including Kings (1910), Queens (1916), the Crown (1916) and Paramount (1917), all in Wellington and was also responsible for the design of many houses including the Wedge, Glenbervie Terrace (1906) and Bennie house, Salamanca road (1907) both in Wellington. He also had an interest in prefabricated house design. Bennie was an inaugural member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, founded in 1905, and was later elected a Fellow. He retired in 1935 and his son Malcolm took over the Wellington practice. [Source: an advertisment in the Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 58, 5 September 1902, Page 7 confirms that Bennie entered into partnership with E C Farr on 14 August 1902].
Construction Details
Start Year
1906
Type
Original Construction
Construction Materials
Timber framing and sheathing; mass concrete retaining wall to west elevation and concrete piles elsewhere; corrugated iron roof.
Notable Features
The unique wedge shaped plan
Construction Professional
Name
Bennie, James
Type
Architect
Biography
Bennie was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, immigrated to New Zealand in 1880 and settled in Brunnertown near Greymouth. In the early 1890s he attended the Working Men's College in Melbourne, Australia, where he studied under artist and architect Thomas Searell. On completion of his studies he returned to Greymouth and set up in practice as an architect. In 1902 Bennie moved to Wellington and went into practice with E C Farr before establishing his own practice in 1905. Some of Bennie's designs include the Albermarle Hotel, Wellington (1905), the Carnegie Library at Levin (1910), the Karori Methodist Church (1912), and the Oriental Bay Tea Kiosk (1912, demolished 1978). He designed a number of theatres including Kings (1910), Queens (1916), the Crown (1916) and Paramount (1917), all in Wellington and was also responsible for the design of many houses including the Wedge, Glenbervie Terrace (1906) and Bennie house, Salamanca road (1907) both in Wellington. He also had an interest in prefabricated house design. Bennie was an inaugural member of the New Zealand Institute of Architects, founded in 1905, and was later elected a Fellow. He retired in 1935 and his son Malcolm took over the Wellington practice. [Source: an advertisment in the Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 58, 5 September 1902, Page 7 confirms that Bennie entered into partnership with E C Farr on 14 August 1902].
Construction Details
Start Year
1906
Type
Original Construction
Construction Materials
Timber framing and sheathing; mass concrete retaining wall to west elevation and concrete piles elsewhere; corrugated iron roof.
Notable Features
The unique wedge shaped plan
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: This Edwardian house is wedge shaped. It is built to the boundary on the east, south and west sides and has been cleverly planned to fit the small, steep, irregular site. Originally two storeyed it has had a third storey incorporated in the basement. Architectural detailing is typical of the period with rusticated weatherboards, corner cover boards, double hung sash windows, decorated gables and porches. MODIFICATIONS: Minor modifications only up to 1969. Since then the present owners have upgraded the building and made the following structural changes: Wall between original kitchen and dining room removed Verandah added on north elevation Basement dug out to form new landing, workshop and studio
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: This Edwardian house is wedge shaped. It is built to the boundary on the east, south and west sides and has been cleverly planned to fit the small, steep, irregular site. Originally two storeyed it has had a third storey incorporated in the basement. Architectural detailing is typical of the period with rusticated weatherboards, corner cover boards, double hung sash windows, decorated gables and porches. MODIFICATIONS: Minor modifications only up to 1969. Since then the present owners have upgraded the building and made the following structural changes: Wall between original kitchen and dining room removed Verandah added on north elevation Basement dug out to form new landing, workshop and studio
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
19th December 1989
Information Sources
New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT)
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
Porter, 1979
Frances Porter (ed.), Historic Buildings of New Zealand: North Island, Auckland, 1979
Cochran, 1987
Chris Cochran, Proposal for Classification, Buildings Classification Committee Report. July 1987
Wellington City History Newspaper Articles
Wellington City History Newspaper Articles
Other Information
A copy of this report is available from the NZHPT Central Region office Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions. This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
19th December 1989
Information Sources
New Zealand Historic Places Trust (NZHPT)
New Zealand Historic Places Trust
Porter, 1979
Frances Porter (ed.), Historic Buildings of New Zealand: North Island, Auckland, 1979
Cochran, 1987
Chris Cochran, Proposal for Classification, Buildings Classification Committee Report. July 1987
Wellington City History Newspaper Articles
Wellington City History Newspaper Articles
Other Information
A copy of this report is available from the NZHPT Central Region office Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions. This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration.
Current Usages
Uses: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
Former Usages
General Usage: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
Current Usages
Uses: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
Former Usages
General Usage: Accommodation
Specific Usage: House
