Queen Victoria Building, or QVB, is its name now, but residents and other Aucklanders still tend to refer to the building on the corner of Queen and Victoria Sts as the Whitcoulls building -- or even the Santa building.
In fact the paperwork that allowed levels three to six to be converted to apartments notes that the giant Santa with the notorious beckoning finger has the right to rise and grace the building every year come Christmas time.
Whatever you choose to call it, QVB is loaded with character, says apartment owner Matt Jones, whose 63sq m unit is on a corner on the third level of the iconic landmark.
"It's a nice big space and the main windows are facing north."
There are about 55 apartments in the building and he bought his from another owner who had bought several "a long time ago" off the plans.
There's a lot to like about these character apartments, says Matt. The high studs, the natural light that comes flooding in the original wood and steel windows and, of course, the location.
Matt's makeover has included a spruce-up, painting the walls in Resene Sea Fog and the ceilings in Resene Alabaster. The kitchen has been modernised and appliances include oven, benchtop elements, dishwasher and fridge-freezer. The bathroom (with laundry) has also been freshened and updated with modern fixtures and fittings, lighting has been updated and in the study a mezzanine sleeping loft allows this space to be multi-purpose. "It could be a place for guests; say your mum wants to stay the night or a mate has been out on the town. Or it could even be a child's bedroom with the study underneath the sleeping loft, which I have had architecturally designed. That is the exciting part of this apartment. And it will change its use.
Image 1 of 4: Prepare for a special guest come Christmas.
"Using a small room like that just as a permanent bedroom is a waste of space, so the study will be set below it. We call it a one-bedroom apartment plus study."
Another special feature is the apartment having windows on three sides, a definite bonus says Matt.
And, of course, the locality, in the old quarter of town, near High St.
"The apartment is quiet yet you are in the city centre."
It will definitely appeal to a professional couple, he says, commenting on the growth in the owner-occupier status of the other apartments in this building, moving away from what were investor-owned rented apartments.
He says another plus is having commercial tenants such as Farmers in the building, as they contribute to the payment of the body corp fees, including work which allowed the building's outside canopy to be replaced
"The body corp is run by Crockers.
"It's good to have a professional building manager," says Matt.
