Modernist gem under the hammer

Epitomising the best of post-war modernist architecture, a superbly-preserved building will be auctioned in Napier next month as part of Bayleys' latest national Total Property portfolio campaign.

Affectionately referred to as the Red Cross Building, the building at 138 Tennyson St in the heart of Napier's Art Deco Quarter was built in 1952 for the well known humanitarian organisation. From a design perspective, it provided a refreshing departure from the overtly decorative Art Deco and Spanish Mission architecture that characterised Napier in the wake of the 1931 earthquake.

Marketing agents Marnie Adams and Randall Wulff of Bayleys Auckland, in conjunction with Eoin Carty, Bayleys Hawkes Bay, are marketing the property for its now Auckland-based owners, architect Stas Louca and designer Leslie Renfrew.

It will be auctioned at Bayleys Napier offices in the Daily Telegraph building on March 12.

The British couple bought the Guy Natusch-designed Napier building for their own use. "It is a cleverly-designed building, and we are still amazed that something like this can be found in New Zealand," says Renfrew.

"It is an unusual building and it remains important to the people of Napier emotionally. We understand it was built with funds left over after the post-quake rebuilding and the simple, imaginative concrete structure reflects the solidity and comfort that people were seeking.

"The budget at the time of construction two decades after the quake would have been large so it was a gift to the people of Hawke's Bay - both as headquarters for the Red Cross and a place where the community could gather."

The building is showcased in the recently-released book, Long Live the Modern - New Zealand's New Architecture 1904-1984, which examines how international design ideas were pursued and adapted to New Zealand.

The 348.5sq m freehold building is on 541sq m of flat land opposite the Napier City Council car parking building and near the Municipal Theatre.

"Tennyson St is one of Napier's main feeder routes carrying a high volume of traffic to and from the city centre and forms the core of Napier's Art Deco Quarter, which is being considered for Unesco World Heritage designation," says Carty.

The building enjoys significant foot traffic, with the Art Deco Trust and shop across the road and the theatre lane alongside, leading to busy Emerson St with its boutique-style retail offerings.

"The tourist Art Deco Walk is virtually a must-do for visitors to Napier, and this building - while not Art Deco by design or era - draws special attention from passers-by," says Carty.

The building has a distinctive frontage and is in two parts - a smaller space built to the street with a canopy out over the footpath and the hall/gallery area, set back from the street.

Its facade comprises a regular grid of deeply recessed square windows with the dark-maroon ceramic tiles contrasted against white painted brick.

The building will be sold with vacant possession but in recent times has been used as a gallery, performance hall, restaurant and offices. Native timber flooring, modern lighting, exceptional passive acoustics and climate control suit it for multiple uses.

"The interior has been simply and beautifully upgraded to create a glamorous, private and relaxed creative space," Adams says.

"An opera singer visiting from San Francisco was recently completely fascinated by the quality of sound achievable in this building.

"It certainly has potential to be a quality artistic space or a function venue of national importance, and we believe it to be unique amongst facilities currently on offer in the area and in New Zealand as a whole.

"A myriad of usage possibilities include a performance space, wedding venue, restaurant or high-end retail space, " Adams says. The property is not listed on heritage registers and there is scope for more levels to be added, with resource consent in place for a two-storey extension.

The current owners intended to set up an architectural/design practice and work out of the building, but their planned permanent move to Hawkes Bay didn't come to fruition.

They had envisaged offices on the upper level and retaining the main floor as a venue, gallery and champagne bar - all in context with the surrounding urban environment.