T & G Building, Napier
The T & G Building, completed in 1936 for the Temperance and General Mutual Life Assurance Society, is an example of the vertical Art Deco style that became increasingly common during the mid-1930s. It was designed by the architectural partnership of Atkinson and Mitchell and is characterised by a stepped tower that rises above the surrounding streets, establishing a noticeable presence in Napier鈥檚 post-earthquake reconstruction.
The building鈥檚 design incorporates clean lines, a symmetrical front elevation, and decorative geometric elements, illustrating the progression from the softer, curved forms of early Art Deco towards a more streamlined and vertical orientation. At the centre, the tower鈥攆inished with a copper dome鈥攕erved both practical and decorative purposes, originally containing a clock and a water tank. The light-coloured plaster exterior is complemented by the contrast of shadows created by fluted pilasters and recessed window bays, adding visual variation to the overall appearance.
Constructed during the years following the 1931 Hawke鈥檚 Bay earthquake, the T & G Building represented an addition to the city鈥檚 commercial area in keeping with the broader rebuilding programme of the time. When built, it was among the taller structures in Napier, and its scale, location, and design ensured that it would be noticed in the urban environment, with its form and details reflecting the architectural preferences of the period.
The building鈥檚 design incorporates clean lines, a symmetrical front elevation, and decorative geometric elements, illustrating the progression from the softer, curved forms of early Art Deco towards a more streamlined and vertical orientation. At the centre, the tower鈥攆inished with a copper dome鈥攕erved both practical and decorative purposes, originally containing a clock and a water tank. The light-coloured plaster exterior is complemented by the contrast of shadows created by fluted pilasters and recessed window bays, adding visual variation to the overall appearance.
Constructed during the years following the 1931 Hawke鈥檚 Bay earthquake, the T & G Building represented an addition to the city鈥檚 commercial area in keeping with the broader rebuilding programme of the time. When built, it was among the taller structures in Napier, and its scale, location, and design ensured that it would be noticed in the urban environment, with its form and details reflecting the architectural preferences of the period.
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T & G Building on Map
Sight Name: T & G Building
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