Athenic Building

• 1922
• Built. (00055:7:A659)
• 1923
• Additional storey, cost £2,000. (00055:16:A1552)
• 1934
• Sign erected. (00056:146:B13125)
• 1939
• Shops remodelled. (00056:234:B19659)
• 1955
• Shop alterations. (00056:506:B37917)
• 1972
• Building additions and alterations. (00058:808:C36238)
• 1999
• Construction of tenancy wall and strengthening of hole in floor. (00078:260:54597)
• 1999
• Office kitchen renovated to comply with requirements of unregistered eating kitchen. (00078:220:52224)
• 2005
• Alterations to ground floor shop. (00078:2212:125369)
• 2006
• Restaurant additions and alterations. (00078:2188:145208)
• 2007
• Dwelling additions and alterations, level 2. (00078:1988:163597)
• 2007
• Restaurant additions and alterations. (00078:2094:161407)
• 2009
• Amended head and sill details to level 4 exterior windows. (00078:2861:170341)

• 1924
• Selznick Pictures , NZ Film
• 1925
• Selznick Pictures Ltd, Universal Pictures Corp, Premier (First) National Pictures
• 1941
• NZR Booking Office , W. Warner, Joseph Vinsen (cinematography supplies) , Jason F Ewen, taylor , Ted Edward (novelties) ,Jenkins & Co Ltd, EM (soft goods) , De Forest Phn films NZ
• 1948 - 1949
• Zip Heaters Ltd , Sutherland & Wilkinson (motor engineer)
• 1952
• Regal Quick Lunch, NZR Booking Office , Jenkins & Co Ltd (soft goods) , Murray Hurdle, (cinematography supplies) , Apex Films Ltd ,Scammell & Eglington (motion picture supplies) , FJ Ewen, tlr, De Forest Phn films NZ Ltd.
• 1961
• Regal Sponge Kitchen, Warner Linotype service printers, Jason F Ewen (taylor) ,Service Federation of NZ Industries Ltd, Jenkins & Co Ltd EM (manufacturers of ladies and staff wear), Gisbourne Garmets, Delahunt Modelling School , Scammell & Eglington, motion picture engineers, Andrea Theatrette , Martin McNeil & Co Ltd (electrical appliances)
• 1967 - 1968
• Regal Sponge Kitchen, Delahunt School of Modelling ,Jenkins & Co Ltd EM, clothing manufacturer , Gisbourne Garments Ltd , Andrea Theatrette Film Services, Warner Linotype serv, printers, Edward H. King (ladies wear manufacturers)
• 1975
• Jimmy James Studio Ballroom Dancing ,LV Martin & Son, NZBC Engineering Services, Cheeryn Lee Coiffures
• 1977
• Jimmy James Studio, Ballroom Dancing, LV Martin & Son, NZBC Engineering Services
• 1980
• Jennifer’s Patisserie, LV Matin and Sons Ltd, NZBC Engineering Services
• 1995
• International Correspondence School , Jennifer’s Patisserie, UFS Pharmacy, Wellington Savage Club

Not assessed

The Athenic Building is a tall four-storeyed concrete construction of elegant vertical proportions constructed fully in reinforced concrete walls, floors, columns and beams.

Its street façade is symmetrically arranged about a narrow central bay and features pilasters rising the full height to a pediment, with the intervening spaces divided between bands of windows and decorated spandrel panels. Period lettering appropriately fills three of the spandrel panels with the date and name of the building. The decorative motifs on the pilasters and the spandrels are precursors to the elaborate geometric details that became popular with the Art Deco style. This is a particularly early example of the style that was named in 1925 for the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industrials Modernes held in Paris in that year, but that had evolved gradually in the early 2othC from a mix of influences including Art Nouveau and Cubism.

While shop fronts and the verandah of the Athenic Building have been altered, and the top floor window casements modified slightly, the facade is otherwise in its original form. For all its originality and oddity the building is well proportioned, has a decorative interest and contributes to the townscape of the area.

Brick structure, cement render, steel and timber window joinery.

The Athenic Building is located in a block of buildings on the south side of Courtenay Place. This section of Courtenay Place is characterised by its continuous line of buildings between Cambridge Terrace and Tory Street which emphasise the original survey line. The buildings are diverse in age and nature (particularly heights) but, despite some particularly intrusive modern buildings, have a high streetscape quality which contributes significantly to the heritage value and character of Courtenay Place as a whole.

• Architectural

  Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?

  The Athenic Building is an example of the transition period between Classical and Art Deco architectural styles, and is notable for its elegant proportions. The decorative motifs on the pilasters and the spandrels are precursors to the elaborate geometric details that became popular with the Art Deco style.

• Group

  Is the item part of a group of buildings, structures, or sites that taken together have coherence because of their age, history, style, scale, materials, or use?

  The building is part of an important group of heritage buildings which together form the Courtenay Place Heritage Area. Although most of the buildings were constructed in the first half of the 20th century, there are significant differences in age and style among some of the buildings in this group.

• Townscape

  Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

  This building contributes positively to the character and townscape of Courtenay Place.

• Association

  Is the item associated with an important historic event, theme, pattern, phase, or activity?

  This building was built as part of the rapid commercial development of Courtenay Place in the decades before the Depression. 
  
  
  
  The building was home to a number of organisations and businesses associated with the film industry in New Zealand, most notably – in the 1920s – the local agencies of American production companies.

• Archaeological

  Does the item have archaeological value for its ability to provide scientific information about past human activity?

  There was pre-1900 human activity on this site. Although some of the sites have been altered by rebuilding or landscaping or sub-divisional change, there is archaeological value in the site.

• Identity Sense Of Place Continuity

  Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?

  This building is part of a group of commercial buildings in Courtenay Place which contribute to the sense of place and continuity of the Courtenay Place Heritage Area.

• Authentic

  Does the item have authenticity or integrity because it retains significant fabric from the time of its construction or from later periods when important additions or modifications were carried out?

  The materials, appearance and workmanship of the façade of this 1922 building and its 1923 addition are largely authentic.

Not assessed

• CTWN11/222, Land Information New Zealand
• CTWN672/64, Land Information New Zealand
• Kelly, Michael and Russell Murray, Courtenay Place Heritage Area Report. Welllington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006.
• Stones Directory 1925 and 1935.
• Wellington City Council, Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 1995. Wellington City Council, 1995.
• Wellington City Council, Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. Wellington City Council, 2001.
• Wises Directories: 1924, 1941, 1948/9, 1952, 1961/2, 1967/8, 1975, 1980, 1995.
• “Courtenay-Place: Meeting Of Area Association”, Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 73, 28 March 1922, Page 8.
• “47-49 Courtenay Place, shops”, October 12, 1922, 00055:7:A659, Wellington City Archives.
• “47 Courtenay Place, additional storey”, June 13, 1923, 00055:16:A1552, Wellington City Archives.
• “47 Courtenay Place, erect sign”, May 21, 1934, 00056:146:B13125, Wellington City Archives.
• “45-47 Courtenay Place, remodel shops”, August 17, 1939, 00056:234:B19659, Wellington City Archives.
• “47 Courtenay Place, building additions and alterations”, September 14, 1972, 00058:808:C36238, Wellington City Archives.
• “47 Courtenay Place, building alterations – partitions”, September 27, 1972, 00058:810:C36322, Wellington City Archives.
• “55 Courtenay Place [45 Courtenay Place], additions and alterations”, 1999, 00078:260:54597, Wellington City Archives.
• “55 Courtenay Place [45 Courtenay Place], amendment”, 1999, 00078:339:57151, Wellington City Archives.
• “45-47 Courtenay Place, additions and alterations”, April 13, 1999, 00078:220:52224, Wellington City Archives.
• “45-47 Courtenay Place, alterations to ground floor shop”, 2005, 00078:2212:125369, Wellington City Archives.
• “45 Courtenay Place, restaurant additions and alterations”, 2006, 00078:2188:145208, Wellington City Archives.
• “45 Courtenay Place, dwelling additions and alterations, level 2”, 2007, 00078:1988:163597, Wellington City Archives.
• “45 Courtenay Place, restaurant additions and alterations”, 2007, 00078:2094:161407, Wellington City Archives.
• “45 Courtenay Place, Amended Plan#1 - Commercial - Athenic Building - Amended head and sill details to level 4 exterior windows”, 2009, 00078:2861:170341, Wellington City Archives.
• “45-47 Courtenay Place, shop alterations”, May 17, 1955, 00056:506:B37917, Wellington City Archives.

• Inventory Report
• 1922 specifications and plans
• 1923 specifications and plans

Not available