Project hailed as a ‘landmark’

Press, 19 July 1989, Page 53

Project hailed as a ‘landmark’

The. rebirth of; a nineteenth century school building intO ia prestigious complex of 7 ,22 multilevel luxury* apartments' won local' architects ' Sheppard and Rout a prize Un the New Zealand Institute of Architects Pilkington Awards this year. Amongst the praise, the history of the building is a salient factor that should be considered when judging the delicacy and commitment required in the project. Cranmer Court was originally the Christchurch Normal School which was opened for pupils in April 1878. . . , ' Designed in “doctrinaire” Gothic by architect Samual parr* ■ - ' ' . - \ r - * '*f. -

the building bristled with the features beloved -of the key figure in the ■Gothic revival, A. W.MPugin. -7/’ "■'■■■7 7'77 Gables, spires, lanterns 7 arid chimneys are the decorative hallmarks of this style. The building fulfilled its original intention” as a teaching facility until 1954. It was then turned into the secondary department of the Christchurch Teachers’ College until the college moved to Ham in : ;..1970. The building then fell vacant for a decade and appeared doomed to demolition until the Inner City Residents Association

i i asked Sheppard and Rout to ’ prepare, a study for its proposed rescue..,S As the,'Restoration and conver- = siori . process gathered speed a decision was made to respect the over-all integrity of the original building. Only the inner north-facing walls were removed to permit the entry of more sun to the apartments. The work has taken over seven years to complete but the project is now widely hailed as a restoration landmark in New Zealand. The completion of the first stage was also marked by the building winning a Civic Trust Environmental Award.