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Willis Street Strengthening/Renovation, Wellington, New Zealand by First Light Studio

Project name:
Willis Street Strengthening / Renovation
Architecture firm:
First Light Studio
Location:
Wellington, New Zealand
Photography:
David Hensel
Principal architect:
Ben Jagersma
Design team:
Ben Jagersma, Olly Syme, Luke Bryant
Collaborators:
Built area:
520 m² (including 30 m² deck)
Site area:
215 m² + 45 m² road reserve
Design year:
2017 - 2018
Completion year:
2020
Interior design:
Landscape:
Civil engineer:
Structural engineer:
Silvester Clark Consulting Engineers
Environmental & MEP:
Lighting:
Construction:
Supervision:
Visualization:
Tools used:
Material:
Historic brick & timber building with new concrete sheer walls and exposed structural steel
Budget:
Undisclosed
Client:
Private
Status:
Built
Typology:
Commercial › Office Building › Structural Strengthening & Commercial fit out

First Light Studio: Located between Wellington’s creative Cuba quarter and the central business district, 129 Willis Street was earthquake prone and ready for a refurbishment. Previously home to three small commercial tenants, the refurbished office transformed the dark, inefficiently laid-out space into a lofty, open plan work space, suited to the modern working environment.  A rooftop deck completes the space, providing a peaceful inner-city retreat from the busy street below. Creative engineering allowed us to retain the exposed sarking ceiling and brickwork, with minimal impact to downstairs stalwart Burger Liquor and the thriving Wellington hospitality scene.


By Liliana Alvarez

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