2024 Wellington Architecture Awards Winner
Erskine Chapel
The Category 1-listed French Gothic chapel is a sentinel of older times. Located in the core of the former Erskine college building, the chapel’s interior is of great significance. The architects took a contemporary approach to the west façade and entrance – a minimalist intervention bandages the scar left by the removal of the old earthquake-prone main block. Major steel structural upgrades are semi unapologetic on the outside, but subtly integrated inside. A new roof allows the original brick-ribbed ceiling to remain intact and has been restored by master plasterers. Aside from steel, tonnes of high-strength grout was poured into the existing façade – a colossal strengthening effort to preserve the envelope. The chapel is located on the first level, where the restoration reaches a full crescendo of white arched ceilings lit by stained glass. No effort was spared to return the interiors to their original beauty, despite a decade of severe neglect. All project stakeholders should be proud of their contribution to this iconic building.
- Practice
- Common Ltd and archifact-architecture & conservation limited
- Category
- Heritage
- Location
- Wellington
