Former Van Staveren Building

• 1987 - 1987
• Proposal to build additional two floors. Permission denied.
• 1937 - 1937
• Construction

• 1937 - c.1980
• -1980sVan Staveren Brothers Ltd.
• 1964
• Sonata Laboratories -?Sonata Laboratories (ground floor
• 1977
• Honda Motorcycles -?Honda Motorcycles (ground floor
• 1991
• Commonsense Organics
• 1992
• Fujiyama Japanese Restaurant -presentFujiyama Japanese Restaurant (ground floor

Not assessed

Valma House is a four-storey commercial building designed in a simple, Moderne/ Art Deco style.

The building’s street façade is relatively symmetrical and is divided into five vertical bays. The two end bays (north and south) are relatively unadorned but feature unusual curved ‘fins’ at parapet level, and similar grilles and a curved canopy just above the ground floor windows. The north and south corners of the building feature a curious rounded ‘staff-bead’ detail that terminates at a square ‘box’ decoration – not unlike a horizontal triglyph on a Classical building. The central three bays of the building are notable for their distinctive Moderne streamlined banded spandrel panels. The central (3rd floor level) spandrel is inset with the words “VAN STAVEREN BROS LTD” in distinctive Art Deco lettering with a background of incised horizontal lines. The wall between the central bays forms vestigial pilasters and these are ‘capped’ with stylised capitals at parapet level.

The overall effect is that an otherwise utilitarian building has been transformed into one with considerable street presence - because of the use of a sparing palette of highly stylised Art Deco and Moderne motifs. Horizontality is further emphasized by the horizontal proportions of the glazing. The original steel windows are notable survivors and make a strong contribution to the aesthetic value of this building.

The ground floor was modified for restaurant use. The entrance to the upper floors retains a high level of authenticity and has significant heritage value. The interior, including the doors (and the lift door), and the extensive terrazzo finishes to floors and stairs are all untouched original fabric, typical of the time but now rare.

The secondary Lukes Lane façade is a pleasant utilitarian arrangement of large (original) steel windows set in a rendered concrete wall. A modern ‘K-brace’ exoskeleton has been added to part of this façade.

Reinforced concrete

The building has townscape value for the role it plays in defining the west side of lower Taranaki Street. Although its immediate neighbours are incompatible, it is seen in conjunction with period buildings on the other side of the street, including Manthel Motors and the former Taranaki Street Police Station. It stands on the corner of Lukes Lane, its façade to this narrow lane showing the regularity and simplicity of an industrial building, with no hint of anything but function.

• 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 former Van Staveren Building is a good representative example of a 1930s medium-sized commercial building that was designed in an attractive streamlined Moderne /Art Deco style. The building’s original stairwell and foyer remain extant and provide a good indication of the building’s original interior styling.

• 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?

  The building has townscape value for helping to define and add visual interest to lower Taranaki Street.

• Association

  Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation?

  The building has historical significance because of its association with the van Staveren brothers and as the head-office of their nationwide business as merchants. The van Staveren family were active in the Jewish community in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Herman van Staveren, (father of the van Staveren brothers) had arrived in Wellington in 1877 and was a local religious leader.

• Archaeological

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

  Central City archaeological site reference NZAA R27/270. The building is also located in an areas known to be associated with the Te Aro Pā.

• 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?

  Valma House has been in constant commercial use since its construction in 1937. For this reason, the building makes a significant contribution to a sense of place and continuity for downtown Wellington.

• 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 former Van Staveren Building retains a good level of authenticity. The interior has been changed multiple times, but the exterior, the stairwell, and the foyer are largely original and hold considerable heritage value for this reason.

• Representative

  Is the item a good example of the class it represents?

  The former Van Staveren Building is a very good representative of a commercial building constructed in the 1930s in the Moderne and Art Deco style.

• Importance

  Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?

  Valma House is important on a local level.

Not assessed

• Evening Post n.d. 1963
• Wellington City Council, Permit B16151, Valma Building, Part Plan at Ground Floor, as proposed, WCC Archive File 00056:185:B16151
• Wises New Zealand Post Office Directory Vol.2 1959
• Gregory, Matthew. ‘36-38 Taranaki Street, Valma House: Cultural Heritage Assessment and Conservation Plan’. Assignment prepared for ARCH 281: Heritage Conservation, Victoria University of Wellington, n.d.
• New Zealand Historic Places Trust, ‘Swan and Lavelle – Architectural Partnership’, accessed July 2013, at
• Wellington City Council. ‘Heritage Building – 36 Taranaki Street, Valma House.’ File No. 1041-06-TAR36 Vol. 1.

• Inventory Report

Not available