DSDN171 - Blog 5 - Locovisual

Prudential Assurance Building

The First World War had major effects on the world in the 1920s and the formation of Art Deco was a cultural, social and political manifestation of these effects. It wasn’t till the great depression of the 1930s was nearing its end that the New Zealand government began instigating new styling’s of Art Deco projects around the country. Built in 1935 the Prudential Assurance Building became the forefront of this movement and is now classed as a “Category II, Heritage Building” (Wellington City Council Heritage Inventory, 2012).

Plans for the building where drawn up by Melbourne architecture firm “Hennessy and Hennessy in association with local architects Gray Young Morton and Young” (WCCHI, 2012). Construction on the building started in 1934 as the British insurance firm Prudential Assurance’s new New Zealand head office, following the demolition of its previous Auckland office in 1934. To this day Prudential Assurance still owns and occupies the building, but are operating under a new name. The interior of the building has drastically changed from its original design, leaving only a few authentic oak banisters and marble floors in the stairwells. The exterior, however remains untouched as a definitive salute to the firm presence of Art Deco in Wellington.

The building’s distinct appearance has been what has kept it aesthetically relevant throughout the development of Wellington's CBD. The structure of the building consists of reinforced concrete, and a harmonious veneer of Benedict stone. Once we begin to dissect the buildings visual arrangement, the Art Deco influence behind its creation is evident. The frame and foundation of the building is almost entirely square with is four facades being strikingly similar in symmetry and ornament. The rhythm of the rectangular windows and the way they bisect the horizontal pediments and Parapets are reflective of art deco’s restrictive style, reminiscent of neoclassical architecture and its golden rule of thirds. The way the design of the building “rejects any natural rhythm and flower inspired by designs of the Art Nouveau style, in favour of a more masculine geometric style (Gallager, 2000) is also intrinsic to Art Deco.

Sources:

Wellington City Council Heritage Inventory. (2012). Heritage building search. Retrieved From: http://www.wellington.govt.nz/
Kelly, M. (1961) Heritage trail: art deco: Wellington's 1930s buildings. (2nd ed). Wellington City Council, Wellington: NZ.
Wilson, J. (1996) Zeal and crusade : The modern movement in Wellington (1st ed) . Te Whaiora Press, Christchurch: NZ
Gallager, F. (2000) Christie's Art Deco: Introduction. Pavilion, Shepherdstown, VW.