Cultural Significance

Social Significance or Value The Commercial Building Façade has social value. It represents characteristics that demonstrate the way of life of central city shopping and how it has changed over time. Retention of the heritage façade, a time when many historic buildings – not least in the CBD – were demolished has been much celebrated in the community. Evidence of strong support for retention and strengthening is demonstrated through owner effort and commitment and the significant financial contribution made by private, public and governmental organisations. The Commercial Building Façade is a much hailed success story as part of a new retail and hospitality complex on the site, in the context of the loss of considerable heritage in Christchurch.

Historic Significance

Historical Significance or Value The Commercial Building Façade has historical significance. The façade is a tangible reminder of the large retail department stores that once formed a significant part of lower High Street and specifically points to the site’s continuous use by noted furniture retailers since it was built in 1910. A J Whites and McKenzie and Willis are two of Christchurch’s best known furniture retailers, both family firms that traded in the city for well over 100 years. The building was recognised at the time of its construction as changing the face of this part of Christchurch, especially with its modern methods of displaying goods with its large plate glass windows fronting the street. The more recent dramatic changes to the building tell the remarkable story of the drastic events and unprecedented rapid change due to the Canterbury Earthquakes of 2010-11 and considerable efforts to retain and incorporate original fabric at a time when many historic buildings were demolished altogether, especially in the Christchurch CBD.

Physical Significance

Aesthetic Significance or Value The Commercial Building Façade has aesthetic value. In addition to having a pleasing visual appearance, it also elicits an emotional response as a survivor of the Canterbury earthquakes of 2010-2011. There would have been a real sense of loss that would have occurred if it had been destroyed. This is demonstrated by the extensive efforts made to retain the façade, at considerable financial cost. Significant donations and grants were made by private, public and governmental organisations, as well as owner commitment, all of which ensured the retention of the façade within the new development complex. Architectural Significance or Value The Commercial Building Façade has architectural value. It is noted for its Edwardian classical design by the well-known architectural firm of the England Brothers. Even when the entire building was standing, it was the façade that was the most intrinsically important physical element of the historic place. Despite the changes behind, the façade itself continues to form a noteworthy part of the cityscape and provides a visual continuity of proportion, scale, use of materials, relationship of solid to void, colour and texture. The large plate glass windows, noted at the time of construction in 1910 as being a modern approach for selling and displaying goods, remain a key element to the building’s frontage. The façade has craftsmanship value, particularly in the use of a stone veneer, including carved decorative reliefs and leaded windows. The Commercial Building Façade retention tells a story of heritage improvisation in the Christchurch Rebuild.

Detail Of Assessed Criteria

(a) The extent to which the place reflects important or representative aspects of New Zealand history The Commercial Building Façade is a tangible reminder of central city department store shopping, which was at its heyday in New Zealand city centres through much of the twentieth century. During that time, it was customary for those living in the suburbs to shop at department and other inner city stores, both during week days and, as an occasion, on Friday nights. The A J White’s (later McKenzie and Willis) furniture and furnishings store was a key player as a central city shopping drawcard. The damage, partial collapse and subsequent demolition of the rear of the Office Building (McKenzie and Willis) while retaining the strengthened façade into a newly built complex behind is a response brought about by the Canterbury Earthquakes of 2010-11, a major event in New Zealand’s history as a seismically active landscape. (b) The association of the place with events, persons, or ideas of importance in New Zealand history The history of the Commercial Building Façade is associated with well-established and respected business owners, A J and Eliza White, and later Joseph Willis and R S McKenzie, as well as the accomplished architectural firm of England Brothers. It is also associated with the major events of the Canterbury Earthquakes (2010-11). (e) The community association with, or public esteem for, the place The profile of the Commercial Building Façade and the architectural solution to retain, strengthen and restore it as the street-presenting face of a new complex behind, has been raised in the light of loss of many historic buildings through damage and demolition during the Canterbury Earthquakes. The façade was saved as a result of the combined and extensive efforts by the owner, public and government. The owners of the building received a Christchurch Civic Trust award in 2017, recognising that they had overcome obstacles in a courageous project to retain the heritage façade and streetscape. Summary of Significance or Values The Commercial Building Façade has significance as a central city commercial heritage survivor following the dramatic total loss of many of Canterbury’s historic buildings due to the 2010-11 Canterbury Earthquakes. It demonstrates a solution that allowed the retention and strengthening of the street frontage following severe quake damage to the building and has been celebrated by the community for this. It is considered to meet the threshold for entry on the New Zealand Heritage List as a Category 2 historic place.