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Hawke's Bay Wine Country
Tourism Association
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Art Deco & Spanish Mission
Art Deco
Napier is known as the Art Deco city, so it’s not surprising that locals and visitors alike can be spotted sporting Art Deco garb. Although this usually occurs in February when Napier celebrates during the Brebner Print Art Deco Weekend, it could in fact happen anytime, especially when “Bertie” is out and about. Bertie is the face of and ambassador for Art Deco and often pops up during the Art Deco Trust guided walks around the many fine examples of Art Deco architecture. Art Deco revelry is not only confined to summer, newly launched Deco Decanted weekend in June proving very popular.
Napier was redesigned in the Art Deco style after the devastating Hawke’s Bay earthquake in 1931. Nowhere else can you see such a variety and concentration of buildings in Art Deco style. The unique style reflects the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Chicago School in the buildings of local architect Louis Hay with some incorporating Maori culture in their motifs and features. Buildings not to be missed include the National Tobacco Company in Ahuriri, The Daliy Telegraph Building, residential homes of Marewa and Taradale’s McDonald’s McDeco, one of only two Art Deco McDonald’s in the world. There are many informative Art Deco tours, most conducted by the Art Deco Trust. Walking tours leave from the Napier i-SITE on Marine Parade every morning at 10am and afternoon tours leave the Art Deco shop in Tennyson Street, next to the Clive Square Gardens at 2pm. Or, if you want to see the sights at your own pace, grab one of several available Art Deco Tour booklets and go exploring. Tours have the option of taking you through downtown Napier, through the suburbs of Marewa and Taradale, on to Hastings and Havelock North.
Hastings has some Art Deco buildings of note but its most significant buildings were redesigned to a Spanish Mission theme after the 1931 earthquake.
Spanish Mission
Spanish Mission architecture sets the scene for the relaxed lifestyle associated with Hastings and Hawke’s Bay.
Like Napier, Hastings was severely damaged in the 1931 earthquake with many buildings flattened. Afterwards architects and city planners went about rebuilding in a Spanish Mission theme with a mix of Art Deco. The Spanish Mission style came from California, USA where Spanish missionaries had created an indigenous, adobe version of their native Spanish architecture (baroque or renaissance) and in the 1920s and 1930s this style spread to New World countries like Australia and New Zealand. Some fine examples of this architecture include the Methodist Church, which was the only church constructed in Hawke’s Bay after the earthquake in a contemporary style. Across from the Methodist Church is the Hawke’s Bay Opera House designed by Henri Eli White in 1915. The façade is a richly ornamented, baroque interpretation of the Spanish Mission style. Also not to be missed is the old Dominion Restaurant in Heretaunga Street. This is the only shop front remaining which features an asymmetrical layout fashionable in the mid 1930s.
The jewel in Hastings architectural crown is the Westerman’s building, opposite the Hastings Clock Tower in the inner city. It is Spanish Mission from its renaissance phase with rich wall classical details. The building is hard to miss as it now houses the Hastings i-SITE Visitor Centre. While at the information centre grab the Heritage of Hastings brochure, which provides a map of the many Spanish Mission and Art Deco buildings. Each Saturday over the Summer, guided walks are held giving an amazing view of the fantastic Spanish Mission and Art Deco architecture of Hastings City along with information about Hastings history. Walks leave at 11am and take approx. 1hour and 30 minutes. Bookings must be made from the Hastings i-site Visitor Centre.
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