St James Apartments

This unique development threw a lifeline to a 125-year-old Category B Historic building that had been left to decline for decades. In neo-classical style, it was completed in 1900 and designed by Architects John Mitchell and Robert Watt. The striking façade has been painstakingly restored, with the addition of extensive seismic strengthening and four modern, three-bedroom apartments carefully inserted into the historic fabric. Decorative interior details were retained and preserved, now celebrated in the final outcome. The stained-glass windows and decorative bracing were refurbished and the wide Kauri boards that used to line the ceiling have become incredible feature floorboards. Resurrecting a derelict building on a prominent corner, this project is a testament to the importance of renovation and restoration, bringing new life to Auckland’s Architectural Heritage and giving these precious buildings a new purpose in the modern world.