Locovisual

The Wellington Free Ambulance Building served as the headquarters for the Wellington Free Ambulance Service for 61 years. It has since been refurbished to become the St John’s Heineken Hotel, operating as a bar, theatre and venue for special events. The building is located along the waterfront of Wellington city. It was first opened in 1933 and designed by architect William Turnbull, who was given the task to provide a highly distinctive, modern and functional building. It is clear that this was achieved as the building survives as one of the finest, purpose-built Art Deco structures in the city.

The Art Deco style is well known for its clean, uncluttered lines, its simple features, as well as emphasis on the vertical aspects this is represented in the design of the Free Ambulance Building, through things such as the elongated windows and the vertical moulding and banding on the exterior of the building. Other significant characteristics of Art Deco include the use and abstraction of geometric shapes, this can be seen within the Free Ambulance Building as the original floor tiles in the interior of the building are a geometric design, also the style of the lamps and wall fittings inside can all be seen supporting the Art Deco style. The Art Deco style is also presented in the decorative detailing of the building, including the plaster panels and decorative capitals.

A combination of the characteristics of the Free Ambulance Building such as the architecture, its location and the history of the building and its use has resulted in a strong social value for the city. The building is still a significant landmark on the Wellington waterfront.

References

Wellington Free Ambulance. (2012). History of Wellington Free Ambulance. Retrieved from http://www.wfa.org.nz/history

Heritage Buildings. Retrieved from http://www.wellington.govt.nz/services/heritage/details.php?id=85&m=building&p=11