Why is this place significant?

Why is this place Category 1 / Category 2?

This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1993. The following text is from the original Historic Place Assessment Under Section 23 Criteria report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. ARCHITECTURAL: Original Design Messenger, Griffiths and Taylor's plans of St Aubyn Chambers are dated September 1927 and it is presumed that the building was constructed a short time later. The plans show a two storied building with a service station at ground floor level and residential accommodation at first floor level. The ground floor is shown as only partially closed in, allowing two lanes of drive through traffic under cover. The remainder of the ground floor was later closed in and is largely glazed. From the information supplied with the Registration Proposal Form, it is not clear whether the building was built with two stories and a third added later, or whether the original plans were amended to incorporate a third floor. The front facade of the building is continuous about the curving intersection of St Aubyn Street and Queen Street The unusual plan of the building was a direct response to the shape of the corner site (Lot 1 DP 4787). Stripped Classical in style the facade is regulated by a series of piers with abstract capitals raised above the parapet. The piers allude to a giant order. Between the piers are recessed spandrels and groups of three (in one case two) identical windows. Simplified pilasters flank either side of each window, though only those at the upper level have capitals . The timber casement windows have 6 pane fanlights above. Above the capitals is a geometric frieze (above the second floor windows) and the parapet which bears the words "ST AUBYN CHAMBERS" in relief. Alterations: 1975 Converted to motel (plan dated 20 Feb 1975). First Floor plan shows two 2 bedroom units with kitchen, bathroom and separate lounge. 1982 Converted to offices (plans dated 26/5/82 & 17/6/82). Service station enclosed providing retail/commercial spaces The interior was virtually gutted. 1998 Converted back into apartments on all floors containing six units in total (building consent granted 18/2/97). Numerous alterations the most significant including: timber windows replaced with aluminium, two false columns to flank main entrance, new aluminium doors with leadlights and harditex exterior at main entrance, retail area on ground floor converted to apartments set back with small garden/porch area, existing windows in the first and last two bays of the first and second floors removed and patio installed. The last alterations can be considered as returning the building to the original use as apartments for the upper floors. However, some exterior modification and increase in density (i.e. two units per floor rather than the original spacious singular apartment) have been the price. It is likely, considering the building was not listed on the district scheme (so resource consent was not required for the recent alterations in 1997), that had the building been registered by the Trust the recent conversion to apartments could have been better designed and be less intrusive to the original design. The Architects: Francis John Messenger was a New Plymouth architect. He practised from the 1890s until his death in 1945 and was responsible for a number of prominent buildings in Taranaki which cover a variety of building types. His work includes the verandah (1909) of New Plymouth's White Hart Hotel (1886, Cat I), extensions to St Mary's Church (Cat I), Shoe Store Building, 58 Rata Street (1910, Cat II), Inglewood Town Hall by Percival & Messenger (1913, Cat II), St Andrew's Anglican Church, Rata Street by Messenger, Griffiths & Taylor (1922-23, Cat II), the Cenotaph opposite St Aubyn Chambers (1924, Cat II) and the Taranaki Savings Bank Building, 89 Devon Street by Messenger, Griffiths and Taylor (1929-30, Cat II). The Shoe Store Building and Inglewood Town Hall are typical of Edwardian Free Classicism and St Aubyn Chambers is considerably more innovative than these earlier buildings. That St Andrew's Anglican Church of 1922-23 and the Taranaki Savings Bank Building of 1929-30 were also designed by Messenger, Griffiths and Taylor suggests the three were in partnership for a number of years. St Andrew's Church has been described as early Norman in style, while the Taranaki Savings Bank Building incorporates a number of Classical elements in a non-traditional fashion. Nothing is known of either Griffiths or Taylor. Similar Buildings: Other Stripped Classical commercial buildings in New Plymouth include: - King's Building (designed by Gummer and Ford), 42 Devon Street West (1926-27, Cat II).This building was built by Messrs Jones and Sandford, the partnership for whom St Aubyn Chambers was built Like St Aubyn Chambers, King's Building has had ground floor alterations, and nothing is known of its interior. - The Mayfair Cinema, New Plymouth (date not known, Cat II). This building has a vertical emphasis with a raised parapet above the entrance. The designer is not known and nor is the condition of its interior. - National Bank, 41 Devon Street West, New Plymouth (1939, Cat II). This building has recessed spandrel panels, an angled corner and an Art Deco frieze, and has been described as a striking and dignified design. St Aubyn Chambers differs from the above examples in that it has a curving front facade. This element is, however, consistent with classical precedent. The curved facade became part of the architectural language of the late Art Deco Moderne era c. 1930-40. There are a number of examples of curved facades throughout New Zealand and in contrast St Aubyn Chambers can be said to look provincial and stilted. This is primarily because the handling of the stylistic elements on the facade is academic; the curve is divided into eight classical bays defined by piers instead of being one smooth continuous curve. The building is therefore perhaps best regarded as being a transitional design coming between the Beaux Arts Classicism of the previous one hundred years, and the new daring Art Deco aesthetic Which, in 1927, was just being formulated in Europe and America. In addition, the building is worthy of registration as a result of its contribution to the genre of Stripped Classical architecture in New Plymouth. Context: St Aubyn Chambers forms part of the wider historical and cultural landscape of urban New Plymouth. It relates to the nearby Hookers Building, Arnold H White Building and the former RSA Building, which are described by R Prichard as "three other buildings in the block with character and style". None of these is classified. St Aubyn Chambers forms the backdrop of Frank Messenger's Cenotaph (1924, Cat 11) on the comer of St Aubyn and Queen Streets. TECHNOLOGICAL: St Aubyn Chambers is the first all-reinforced concrete building in New Plymouth and one of the first in New Zealand. It has a reinforced beam structure (New Plymouth Central Business District Heritage Study, Cochran, Stewart and Associates and Kennan 1995).

Other Information

A copy of the original 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 1993. The following text is from the original Historic Place Assessment Under Section 23 Criteria report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration.