360 Tuam St
2017
Situated in a semi-industrial part of Tuam Street in central Ōtautahi sits a 1967 office building, complete with two vast storerooms, one built concurrently and the other in the 1920s. Jill and James Bradley could see that the premises, originally designed by Warren and Mahoney, was something special, but over the years it had become tired and shabby, and the 2010-11 Canterbury earthquakes had left it structurally unsound.
The pair had the vision and commitment to restore and enhance it, doing most of the labour of the refurbishment themselves. Salvaging all they could, the restored version celebrates those cornerstones of Aotearoa’s own brand of modernism; the concrete block and native rimu timber.
The resulting space celebrates its 60s heritage, with rimu panelling and bannisters, and open spaces that are lit up by the large windows that stretch the length of the rectangle box.
While it isn’t heritage-listed, 360 Tuam St is a special part of Christchurch’s architectural history. After the earthquakes, countless buildings like this one were lost, making this lovingly restored 60s gem even more precious.
Clients: James and Jill Bradley
Field Studio core design team: Andrew Just, Amiria Kiddle, Nick Sargent
Geotechnical engineer: Nick Traylen
Fire & structural engineer: Barry Knowles
Photography: Jonny Knopp