New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 30/12 | Page 62

Project
76-78 Victoria Street
Spice Paragon Bar & Restaurant

Location:
Christchurch

Architect:
MAP Architects 2010 Ltd

LOOKING SHARP
Contemporary commercial buildings find a new expression in the Christchurch rebuild,
while catering to the needs of the people – in more ways than one

Traditionally, High Street buildings have
provided retail facilities at street level, with
commercial tenancies on the upper floors. It’s a
formula that hasn’t changed in centuries, but the
Christchurch rebuild is providing opportunities for
developers and designers to literally think outside
the square, as this project shows.
The building, at 76-78 Victoria Street, replaces a
1950s block that was abandoned following the first
Christchurch earthquake in September 2010. The

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owners, Andy and Trish MacFarlane, commissioned
MAP Architects to design the new building almost
immediately, says architect Simon Elvidge.
“This is a very high visibility triangular site, at the
junction of two main streets, and the owners were
keen to maximise this exposure,” he says. “We
designed the building to have a transparent ground
floor to promote an engaging retail frontage – the
Spice Paragon restaurant has subsequently taken
the tenancy.”

These pages:Corten steel fins
define the northwest exterior of
this new Christchurch building,
designed by MAP Architects.
The building, at 76-78 Victoria
Street, accommodates offices
on the upper level and the Spice
Paragon restaurant on the ground
floor.