The two storeyed brick building at 1-4/210 St Asaph Street in central Christchurch was constructed in 1904-5 for R. Buchanan & Sons, who operated the City Foundry, and has historical and social significance as a rare reminder of the heavy industry formerly in this area of the city. It has architectural and aesthetic significance as an industrial building designed by the Christchurch architect William V Wilson, and is one of a small number of Edwardian industrial buildings remaining in the central city.

Scottish born Robert Buchanan (1847-1913) came to New Zealand in 1870 under engagement to J Anderson & Company’s Canterbury Foundry. By 1879 Buchanan had branched out on his own and opened the City Foundry on St Asaph Street, specialising in ornamental ironwork. In 1904-5 the original foundry buildings were demolished and replaced with the new premises, a large brick building containing office, show room, pattern and dressing shop, and at the back, running right through to Martin (now Welles) Street was a moulding shop. Designed by architect, William V Wilson, and built by contractors, Graham and Greig, the building was begun in 1904 and completed in 1905.

The two storeyed building is constructed mainly of brick, with Oamaru stone detailing for the parapet, keystones and horizontal banding. The parapet has the words ‘ESTAD 1878, R. BUCHANAN & SONS CITY FOUNDRY, BUILT 1904’ inscribed. Immediately to the west is the slightly taller P. & D. Duncan Building, also a former foundry which was constructed only a year before the Buchanan building, in similar materials and style.

Robert Buchanan was a firm advocate for local industry and involved with the Canterbury Industrial Association, New Zealand Ironmasters’ Association, Canterbury Employers’ Association and the Chamber of Commerce. After his death in 1913, management of the company was taken over by his son Charles. In 1976 the firm shifted to Maces Road in Bromley and the building was redeveloped as a restaurant in 1978. In 1979 the building was purchased by the Cotter family of Te Wharau Investments Limited. By the early 1990s it was used as a night club. In 1995 the Cotters had the building strengthened and converted into retail space on the ground floor and three apartments on the first floor, to complement similar work done on the adjoining P. & D. Duncan Building.