Victoria Mansions facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Victoria Mansions |
|
|---|---|
Victoria Mansions following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake
|
|
| General information | |
| Type | Residential apartments |
| Architectural style | Art Deco architecture |
| Location | Corner Victoria, Salisbury and Montreal Sts, Christchurch Central City |
| Address | 91 Victoria Street Christchurch |
| Coordinates | 43°31′30″S 172°37′51″E / 43.524939°S 172.630818°E |
| Construction started | 1935 |
| Completed | 1936 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 5 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Heathcote Helmore |
| Reference #: | 3142 |
Victoria Mansions is a special old building in central Christchurch, New Zealand. It's a residential building, meaning people live there in apartments. It's also a "Category II heritage building," which means it's important to New Zealand's history and culture.
Contents
Building History and Design
Victoria Mansions was designed by a famous architect named Heathcote Helmore. He started working on the design in 1931. At that time, a style called Art Deco was very popular. This style uses geometric shapes and sleek lines.
Building Begins
In March 1935, a company called Victoria Mansions Limited was created. Their goal was to build these apartments. They planned to spend about NZ£2,800 to buy the land. The building itself was expected to cost around NZ£18,000.
The building is located right next to the Victoria Clock Tower. It has streets on three sides: Salisbury Street, Montreal Street, and Victoria Street.
Apartments and Shops
Construction of Victoria Mansions began in June 1935. The building has five floors, and each floor has five apartments. There is also one apartment on the very top, making a total of 21 apartments.
A small restaurant was also part of the building, facing Victoria Street. There were also garages next to the restaurant. The apartments were ready for people to move into in May 1936.
Earthquake Damage and Future Plans
Victoria Mansions was damaged during the big 2011 Christchurch earthquake in February 2011. After the earthquake, the building was empty for a long time. The restaurant next to it had to be taken down because of the damage.
Good news came in 2020! It was announced that the building will be fixed up and made new again. They also plan to add a fifth floor. This new floor will have two fancy apartments called penthouses on the roof.
Notable Residents
Over the years, many people have lived in Victoria Mansions. One well-known person was Henry Cotterill. He was a lawyer and lived there starting in 1936.
