b'gold standardI n a city that lost so much to the 2011 earthquakes,In1981,HeritageNewZealandregisteredthe itbringsgreatsatisfactiontosharestoriesofbuilding as a Category 2 structure. However, it suffered those who have championed the conservation ofsignificant damage in the Canterbury earthquakes. In salvageablebuildingsespeciallyprojectsthatnot2016, the buildings previous owners petitioned to haveonly have significance to Christchurch but also to thethe status changedand succeeded. Many worried country as a whole. that this move to lift protections meant the structures Sittingonthewesternedgeofthetkarodays were numbered. But luckily, to the communitys Precinct,thePublicTrustBuildingfirstopenedinelation, Box 112 purchased it soon after and set about 1925. Its principal faade was designed to representrestoring the building inside and out with the help of permanence, stability and security. Though its paredThree Sixty Architecture.down, neoclassical style was common internationallyIt was an exciting experience to work on a building for similar government buildings at the time, what setslike this, and its always humbling to work on another it apart was that it was one of iconic architect Cecilarchitectswork,saysThreeSixtyArchitectures Woods first large commercial projects, making it anDeanCowell,wholedtheproject.Itcreatesthe important part of the countrys heritage. challengetomakethebuildingbetterthanitwas before we were involved.Afterfivelongyears,theprojectisexpectedto reach full completion any day nowbut the journey H o y to get there hasnt been straightforward. This heritage ist r building is now a rare survivor of its type in the central city and has been carefully and meticulously conserved and restored, says Dean.Over the decades the building has been subjected to various alterations, and not all of them were considerate of its heritage. And while it sustained much damage in the earthquakes, it wasnt irreparableit just needed the right owners and to be approached with Reseneopposite: The Public Trust Buildings lobby wows withWan Whitea new staircase, custom designed light fixture and terrazzo floor. Its high contrast paint palette in the of Resene Wan White walls trimmed withReseneResene Jaguar only adds to its dramatic remaking ambiance as these elements catch andJaguarreflect the accent lighting. Image byJason Mann, www.jasonmann.co.nz.left: Designed by Nightworks Studio (www.nightworksstudio.com), the striking bespoke light fixture was inspired by the dots and dashes of Morse code and adopted material elements drawn from the buildings original construction. Image by Sarah Old and new work hand-in-handRowlands, www.sarahrowlands.co.nz.to breathe life back into one ofright: Dean says that a language of window and door joinery was developed to delineate tenancy spaces based on the rhythm and Christchurchs architectural gems. proportions of the original fenestration. Images by Jason Mann.18 blackwhitemag.com blackwhitemag.com 19'