Hallenstein Brothers Building (Former)

• 1920
• Building Constructed (00053:203:11197)
• 1943
• Reinstate earthquake damage – strengthen concrete columns (00056:286:B22906)
• 1962
• Mezzanine floor erected (00058:249:C11068)
• 1966
• Existing steel windows were replaced with timber frames and sashes (00058:450:C19317)
• 1996
• Dwelling alterations (00061:162:15199)
• 1996
• WCC Heritage Fund awarded the owners $2,500.00 towards retiling the ground floor façade
• 1999
• Add new deck to façade facing Ghuznee Street Add new deck to façade facing Ghuznee Street (SR55444)

• 1920 - 1967
• Hallensteins Brothers, clothiers (Stones, 1920, 1925, 1935, 1940, 1945, Wises 1950-51, 1955, 1961-62, 68, 1971-72)
• 1967 - 1995
• Krazy Rick’s Emporium (RP Gordon Ltd (Wises1975, 1980, 1985, 1990).
• 1996 - 2006
• Krazy Lounge
• 2006 - 2011
• Ernestos

Not assessed

The building is two and a half storeys tall with a very high parapet and notably retains much of its original shop frontage at street level including the stained-glass top-light with the “HB” logo worked in to the design.

The building is designed in a transitional style in which residual Classical elements have been almost entirely stylised, and functional requirements - such as adequate lighting of the factory on the first floor - have taken precedence. The piers on the ends of the building, and in the centre of the Ghuznee Street facade, have been treated as shallow pilasters which rise over a plain entablature and terminate in stylised beam ends. The stepped parapet is similarly reated in shallow squared boxwork and moulded infill. The sensible steel window joinery matches the profiles of the building.

The construction is reinforced-concrete columns and beams, with brick masonry infill walls, on reinforced-concrete piles and foundations. Floor joists and roof trusses are timber.

This building occupies a prominent corner site at the intersection of Cuba and Ghuznee Street. 132 Cuba Street relates to its neighbouring buildings in both scale and form, and acts as a unifying element of the corner of Cuba and Ghuznee streets.

132 Cuba Street, together with the opposite 141-143 Cuba Street, defines the northern entrance to this block of Cuba Street. No. 132 and no. 141-143 are a pair of Stripped Classical buildings in similar scale, pattern and colour but of quite different periods. Rouge is a more modest and earlier masonry building (completed in 1913) which has a contemporary mansard-roofed addition taking it to three stories.

• 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?

  132 Cuba Street is an unusual two-and-a-half storey factory/shop built in a transitional style. It is notable for its highly stylised Classical decorative elements – particularly the extremely tall parapet / entablature, and for the fine early/original shop-fronts that features a row of stained glass top-lights with the HB logo.

• 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?

  This building is part of a group of historic commercial buildings which contribute to the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

• 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?

  132 Cuba Street occupies a prominent corner site at the intersection of Cuba and Ghuznee Street. The building relates to its neighbouring buildings in both scale and form, and acts as a unifying element of the corner of Cuba and Ghuznee streets.

• Association

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

  This building is associated with, and contains evidence of, the Hallenstein Brothers New Zealand Clothing Company enterprise. It was designed for this purpose and it operated as a Hallenstein Brothers store for almost 50 years.

• Archaeological

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

  The building is located in the Central City archaeological site reference NZAA R27/270.

• 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 historic commercial buildings which contribute to the sense of place and continuity of the Cuba Street 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 façade of this building remains largely intact with a significant amount of original building fabric, despite modifications and the addition of a balcony.

• Local Regional National International

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

  The building is of local importance, as it contributes to the Cuba Street Heritage Area.

• Representative

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

  This building is representative of the architecture and history found on Cuba Street.

Not assessed

• Beard, Tom. “Karked it,” WellUrban, August 11, 2006, accessed October 8 2012,
• Evans, Beverly. “Christchurch City Library - Church register cards - Surname – WELLS”, December 8, 2004,
• Kelly, Michael, and Russell Murray, Cuba Street Heritage Area Report (Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006), 25.
• McBride, Kerry. “Cuba St café to close down,” Dominion Post, November 11, 2011, accessed October 9, 2012,
• McSaveney, Eileen. “Historic earthquakes - The 1942 Wairarapa earthquakes”, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated March 2, 2009, accessed September 20, 2012,
• Parry, Gordon. “Hallenstein, Bendix – Biography”, in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated July 4 2012, accessed May 18, 2012,
• Schouten, Hank. “A trader who loved a bargain,” Dominion Post, September 20, 2010, accessed October 9, 2012,
• Wellington City Council, “132 Cuba Street,” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. (Wellington City Council, 2001), CUBA 17.
• Wellington City Council, Cuba Street Heritage Area spreadsheet (block 4). (Wellington City Council: Unpublished report, prepared for Plan Change 48, 2006).
• Archives: “132 Cuba Street, reinstatement of earthquake damage”, August 30, 1943, 00056:286:B22906, Wellington City Archives.
• Archives: “Heritage building - Krazy Lounge - 132 Cuba Street Kings Lounge Ltd Krazy Ricks Building,” 1041-06-CUB132 vol. 1, Wellington City Council Records.
• Newspapers: “Messrs. Hallenstein Bros. Clothing Establishment” Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 117, 19 May 1877, Page 2
• Newspapers: Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 77, 28 September 1910, Page 2
• Newspapers: Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12549, 2 September 1911, Page 4
• Newspapers: Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12827, 29 July 1912, Page 4
• Newspapers: Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13404, 11 June 1914, Page 3
• Newspapers: “Sixth Reinforcements,” Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13762, 14 August 1915, Page 8
• Newspapers: “Architects and War,” Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 130, 29 November 1917, Page 8
• Newspapers: “For Gallantry,” Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 149, 21 December 1917, Page 7
• Newspapers: Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 48, 26 February 1920, Page 9
• Newspapers: Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 118, 19 May 1920, Page 3
• Newspapers: Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 146, 17 December 1921, Page 8
• Newspapers: “Unregistered Architect,” Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 213, 8 September 1928, Page 20
• Newspapers: Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 121, 1 December 1928, Page 5
• Newspapers: “A New Theatre,” Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 31, 5 August 1929, Page 4
• Newspapers: Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 60, 11 March 1944, Page 6

• Inventory Report
• 1920 plans
• 1943 plans

Not available