Masonic Hotel, Napier
The Masonic Hotel was rebuilt in 1932, designed by Wellington architect W. J. Prowse, after the original structure was destroyed. The new building embodies the wave of Art Deco reconstruction that followed the disaster, symbolizing Napier鈥檚 communal resilience and commitment to modernity.
Prowse鈥檚 design is celebrated for its composed symmetry and subtle refinement. The exterior remains largely unchanged, featuring a simple, symmetrical form, enlivened by a charming upper-story wooden pergola overlooking the ocean and the bold 鈥淢ASONIC鈥� lettering in Red Deco-style capitals proudly displayed on the entrance canopy. This restrained elegance perfectly exemplifies the Art Deco aesthetic: clean lines, functional design, and tasteful ornamentation.
Today, the Masonic Hotel endures as more than a historic building鈥攊t鈥檚 a piece of Napier鈥檚 architectural narrative, continuing to welcome guests in a beautifully preserved setting. With 43 uniquely styled rooms and suites, the hotel offers both contemporary comfort and a direct dive into the past.
Prowse鈥檚 design is celebrated for its composed symmetry and subtle refinement. The exterior remains largely unchanged, featuring a simple, symmetrical form, enlivened by a charming upper-story wooden pergola overlooking the ocean and the bold 鈥淢ASONIC鈥� lettering in Red Deco-style capitals proudly displayed on the entrance canopy. This restrained elegance perfectly exemplifies the Art Deco aesthetic: clean lines, functional design, and tasteful ornamentation.
Today, the Masonic Hotel endures as more than a historic building鈥攊t鈥檚 a piece of Napier鈥檚 architectural narrative, continuing to welcome guests in a beautifully preserved setting. With 43 uniquely styled rooms and suites, the hotel offers both contemporary comfort and a direct dive into the past.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Napier. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Masonic Hotel on Map
Sight Name: Masonic Hotel
Sight Location: Napier, New Zealand (See walking tours in Napier)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Napier, New Zealand (See walking tours in Napier)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Napier, New Zealand
Create Your Own Walk in Napier
Creating your own self-guided walk in Napier is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Napier Art Deco Architecture Walk
Napier鈥檚 Art Deco architecture is the city鈥檚 most defining feature, drawing visitors from around the world to admire its vibrant facades and geometric elegance. After the devastating 1931 earthquake flattened much of the city, Napier was rapidly rebuilt in the architectural style of the day鈥擜rt Deco. The result is a remarkably cohesive urban landscape filled with zigzags, sunbursts,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles
Napier Introduction Walking Tour
Napier sits on the eastern edge of New Zealand鈥檚 North Island, where the Pacific rolls in and the streets look like they gracefully ride the waves. Long before colonial maps, this was Ahuriri to the M膩ori, the island鈥檚 first inhabitants. In the 1800s it took the name Napier, after British soldier Sir Charles Napier, and grew into a thriving port and farming hub. Victorian and Edwardian... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles