Landmark House

Landmark House
View from Queen Street
General information
Architectural style	Art Deco, Neo-Gothic
Location	Auckland, New Zealand
Address	187–189 Queen Street
Coordinates	36°50′54″S174°45′55″E / 36.84824°S 174.76524°E / -36.84824; 174.76524
Completed	6 March 1930
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Wade and A. M. Bartley
Heritage New Zealand – Category 1
Designated	3 March 1987
Reference no.	4470

Landmark House is a neo-Gothic building located at 187–189 Queen Street in Auckland, New Zealand. ^[1] It was originally designed for the Auckland Electrical Power Board (AEPB) and constructed between 1928 and 1930. ^[2] The architects responsible for the design were Alva Bartley and Thomas Edward Norman (Norman) Wade. ^{[2] [3]}

History

The building was constructed in celebration of electricity superseding gas and coal as the predominant sources of energy in Auckland. ^[2] It was intentionally opened on the same day as the Department of Public Works opened Arapuni Dam. ^{[2] [4]}

At the time of its construction, it was one of the tallest buildings in Auckland. ^[2] Built in a bold and modern style, it was also the first building in Auckland to be floodlit ^[2] and was proclaimed to have one of the fastest elevators in the country. ^[2]

The building was originally eight stories high with a ninth floor added in 1933. ^{[2] [3]}

AEPB vacated the building in 1968, taking with them the panelled boardroom to their new headquarters in Nuffield Street, Newmarket. ^[2] The interior of the building was substantially altered during the 1980s to work with the surrounding buildings. ^[2] It was renovated again in 2000. ^{[2] [4]} Some original features of the lobby have been retained. ^{[2] [5]}

References

1. "Landmark House, Auckland". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand . New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
2. Jones, Martin (8 August 2001). "Landmark House". Heritage New Zealand . Retrieved 22 February 2025.
3. Shaw, Peter; Morrison, Robin (1991). New Zealand architecture: from polynesian beginnings to 1990. Auckland: Hodder & Stoughton. p. 108. ISBN   978-0-340-53320-8.
4. "Landmark site rare chance to share Auckland's heritage". The New Zealand Herald . 3 June 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
5. "Landmark House". CPRW Limited. Retrieved 22 February 2025.