Apartment Building

• unknown
• (original plans cannot be accessed)
• 1960
• 348-352 Oriental Parade, dwelling additions (00058:132:C6274)
• 2001
• 348 Oriental Parade, apartment conversion, with amendments (00078:882:74613)
• 2002
• 348 Oriental Parade, installation of hydraulic service pipework to level two - with amendment (00078:979:85241)
• 2002
• 348 Oriental Parade, apartment fit-out (00078:1110:83558)
• 2004
• 348 Oriental Parade, apartment fit-out, level 2 (00078:1614:112546)

• unknown
• Many people have lived in these apartments since the time of the buildings construction, among them some people of local or regional significance, for example, George Clinkard (1893-1970, a former secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, Elias Hyams (1875-1953, merchant and honorary consul of what was Czechoslovakia, and Sir William Hunt, farmers’ advocate and managing director of Wright Stephensons in the 1930s.

Not assessed

This apartment building consists of three storeys, disposed as a row of six garages on the ground floor and three apartments, two in the floors above the garages, and one as a modern penthouse. The original layout of three apartments is marked by the pediments on the front façade that were the front doors. The building capitalises on views across Oriental parade to the harbour and city, and the front façade has a complex arrangement of windows that are two, three, four, and five sashes wide. Wall surfaces are heavily textured stucco, contrasted with window surrounds and quoins at either end executed in plain plaster. Plaster wreaths decorate the wide bays of the top floor. The façade exhibits features that are typical of the time. Quoins, pediments, plinths, and wreaths have been combined in an unusual composition to create a building of architectural interest. It has townscape value for anchoring the impressive rows of buildings stretching around Oriental Parade.

The building is of masonry construction, generally plastered brick for the walls with a concrete beam and slab system for the first floor and roof. Exterior joinery including matching garage doors, are painted timber. Interior finishes are heart rimu joinery, fibrous plaster ceilings, and solid or sheet plaster walls.

348-352 is situated on Oriental Parade, to the left this building is flanked by a park made up of a number of mature trees and flaxes and that includes a walkway to Mt Victoria. To the right is 346 Oriental Parade, another apartment building.

This apartment building is of significant townscape value, with its façade providing texture and interest at the end of a long and varied row of buildings fronting Oriental Parade.

• 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?

  This apartment building is of architectural value as a competent design in the Classical manner, integrating provision for the increasingly popular motor car with a patterned and textured façade.

• 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 is of significant townscape value providing texture and interest at the end of a long and varied row of buildings fronting Oriental Parade.

• Association

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

  This building is associated with the development of Oriental Parade in the 1920s and as a representative of a range of apartment styles that were constructed in Wellington at this time. It is also associated with its architects, prominent Wellington firm Swan, Lawrence, and Swan.

• Archaeological

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

  This apartment building is situated in the NZAA Central City Archaeological Area R27/270. It is in an area that is known to have pre 1900 human activity associated with it.

• 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 apartment building contributes to the sense of place and continuity on Oriental Parade due to the retention of its original features and its long standing place on the street.

• 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?

  This building has had a number of alterations made, including the removal of original window fabric, the conversion of the main part of the building from three apartments to two, and the construction of a penthouse apartment. Its façade is of modest authenticity.

• Local Regional National International

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

  This is a locally important building, it is representative of the work of Swan, Lawrence, and Swan, has architectural value as a competent design in the Classical manner, its historic value, and its contribution to the streetscape and sense of place on Oriental Parade.

  
  

• Representative

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

  This building is a representative of the Inter War Free Classical tradition and is a representative design of the work of one of Wellington’s well known architectural firms.

Not assessed

• Kelly, Michael. ‘348-352 Oriental Parade’. Unpublished Heritage Assessment, prepared for Wellington City Council, 2001.
• Wellington City Council, ‘Wellington Architects,’ Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings (Wellington City Council, 2001), Appendix III.
• ‘Advertisements’, Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 124, 26 May 1926, Page 3
• ‘Advertisements’, Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 125, 27 May 1926, Page 3
• 1960 348-352 Oriental Parade, dwelling additions (00058:132:C6274)
• 2001 348 Oriental Parade, apartment conversion, with amendments(00078:882:74613)
• 2002 348 Oriental Parade, installation of hydraulic service pipework to level two - with amendment (00078:979:85241)
• 2002 348 Oriental Parade, apartment fit-out (00078:1110:83558)
• 2004 348 Oriental Parade, apartment fit-out, level 2 (00078:1614:112546)

• Inventory Report

Not available