62 | ARCHITECTURE Foster and Melville: The Marion - Te Aro Retro-fitting project creates vibrant space T Kelly Deeks An award winning retrofitting project by Wellington’s Foster + Melville Architects (FMA) has captured the practice’s vision to improve life through architecture that enables change, without costing the future. The Marion, now a vibrant and animated urban hostel on Marion Street, has been created out of what was a somewhat dilapidated factory building and an adjoining villa. Former FMA associate and project lead architect Sam Brown says the project was an interesting one, partly due to the fact that while Marion Street contains a number of heritage listed buildings and historic places, the Marion isn’t one of them. “We thought this was an oddity, given its prominence on the street and the unique nature of the building,” Sam says. “When we started on the design process, we decided we would treat it as though it was a listed building. “From an architectural point of view, we would give it its merit and preserve it.” The project began with a sole focus on the three storey, concrete Aspro factory, one of New Zealand’s first aspirin factories, whose use has changed over the years between being residential, retail, and commercial space. While the design was underway, FMA’s client purchased the villa next door, bringing a whole new historical slant to the project. “This is your traditional villa, smack bang in the middle of a commercial area,” Sam says. “Over the course of its life, it had been a clergy house, then had a big change to a commercial property as a steel merchant, then it went back to being a residential address. The previous owner told us a few stories, like how Marion Street used to be the local hang out for Wellington sex workers, and they used to congregate in her backyard and she would give them cups of coffee. It has certainly had a chequered past.” FMA Architects got to work on further development of the design, and on bringing together the large, heavy, brick and concrete building with the light timber structure beside it. A front porch was added to the villa, and this would serve as the entrance to the Marion, into the front of house and the communal kitchen, with manager’s apartment on the upper level. From the reception area, the journey through the Marion continues through a hole cut into the side of the Aspro Building, into three levels of dorm rooms and up to a deck on the roof, a mirror of the front porch which helps to tie the two buildings together. So much of the original buildings has been retained and is proudly displayed. “There is no shame in keeping the existing construction. All of the bricks are on display throughout the Marion, and in the upper levels, all the roof trusses are exposed.” FMA won the hospitality category of the New Zealand Institute of Architects 2020 Wellington Architecture Awards for the Marion, as well as a Resene Total Colour Award. The Aspro Building has been given a new lease of life. The original meek mint colour of the Aspro building was upscaled to a mature and dominant green, while the villa’s tepid yellow with purple trim was taken back to white with green accents. “It is definitely animated,” Sam says. “Beforehand, the buildings were pretty dilapidated, and even Marion Street before we did this development was pretty dilapidated in general. “I don’t think this project was the catalyst, but it has definitely helped with a lot of life being brought into the area and a lot more development either being undertaken or being planned. “It’s good to see you can bring people back into a space, and it’s not just dead space.” “When we started on the design process, we decided we would treat it as though it was a listed building.” • Installation (Fire Alarm & Sprinkler) • Maintenance (Testing & Remedial) • Compliance (Form 12A and BWOF) • Technical Support (Fault Finding) • 24/7 On-call (Attending Fire-calls) 0800 ASK LSS www.lss.co.nz info@lss.co.nz Leading manufacturer of timber fire door and window solutions throughout NZ. sales@nzfiredoors.co.nz www.nzfiredoors.co.nz
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