THE HOTEL WINDSOR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 144, 12 March 1908, Page 10

THE HOTEL WINDSOR.

* AN IMPOSING. STRUCTURE,

Tho now private, family hotel hi' Willis .Street, which will be known as . tho Hotel Windsor, forms a striking addition to t!io large of handsome. arid' imposing structures'which have been .'erected in'Wel-lington-during'the past few years.' This fine building, of which tbo stylo is French Renaissance, is constructed of brick, and contains fivo stories. It is surmounted' by a dome, from tho windows of /which a sjileridid view of tho harbour and city may be obtained. "Tho new building, which cotains over 100 rooms, was commenced in September; 1906, and the lessees, Messrs:-W. N. Boulton (late manager of the Grand Hotel) and G/ Edwards (lato of tho Palaco Hotel) expect it to be'.ready in about a fortnight. Tlis principal^measuremerits of tho Hotel Windsor aro as follows:— Frontage,'94ft;; depth, 106 ft.; height to base of dome,' 85ft.; height to top of dome, 112 ft. ' -The ground .floor is dividwf into business premises,' comprising an auction'room, and three up-to-dato shops. 'On tho right of the main entranco is tho office and passenger lift; and on the left lounges'and settees. Tho first flat, to which leads a fino broad stairway, is devoted principally to dining rooms. 1 Facing Willis Street is a largo luncheon buffet, 94ft. x 25ft.; in which afternoon,tea will also be served; on tho,right is the guests' dining room,, which measures 40ft. "'x' 22ft.," and on thejeft is an English grill and supper room; 40ft. x 24ft., where patrons may cliooso .what they like and see it cooked, also a private dining room. • These rooms aro extremely bright and attractive? the-, ceilings boing finished in stuccolino, and tho colouring being very artistic. Fronting this floor, upon which there Are. also a number of bedrooms, is a promenade which should bo in great request, as also should/be tho roof garden. On each of the other floors will bo found up-to-date writing, dnawing. and smoking rooms. The bedrooms and suites of rooms aro all commodious, well ventilated, and well lighted; indeed, there is 'rioti a room in, the , whole - building in _which artificial light is required in the aay time. No expense* has been-spared in comieotion with 'tho lavatories, 'bathrooms (including one of Jenkins and Mack's needle baths), and sanitary arrangemonts. The kitchen: is situated on the fourth floor, at the rear of tho residential portion of tho hotel. It is' fitted with the most up-to-date appliances, including ..a 10ft. range with four ovons and a stoam cooker (both'manufactured by . Messrs.. Luko and Sons) and asteani boiler for supplying hot water. 'Alongside "is'a laundry fitted with a steam drying press. Lifts connect with tho various flows, so that:guost-s may, if they so deeiro, have thofr meals served in their private apartments.' Every precaution, has been taken to erisuro ■tho prevention of'an'outbreak of fire. ; Ornamental iron balconies _havo been provided on tho front of tho building, and there are 'also .'escapes at tho back arid in tho walls; 1 and on each floor a fireproof passago runs from tho front to tho back through tho contro of'tho building. All the walls aro of concreto,' and tho. passago ways aro unusually roomy. ' Tho architect for tho now hotel, which will cost £27,500, was Mr. J. C. Mnddison, F.R.1.8.A.-;-' and Mr. T. I. Yourolle was draughtsman. Tho ibiiilding was erected . under tho supervision of Mr. Campbell Colquhoun by' Messrs. J. Trovor and Son, t-lio main contractors. Tho sub-contractors wore:' —Painting and decorating, Georgo Jackson and Co.; lead ' lighting and stained glass, work, Smith and Smith; plumbing,.Jenkins a.nd 'Mack; 'electric;installation; "Turnbuil and Jones; ceilings in dining rooms, Mr. W. CarrolL