Hastings McLeod, Christchurch

I think this is the former State Fire and Accident Insurance Office in Christchurch now used mainly by the Real Estate company Hastings McLeod.

In any case, the State Fire and Accident Insurance Office (1933-34) was designed by Cecil Walter Wood and there are a few clues that this could be the same building.

The first is this magnificent stylised flame motif that appears below each window.

And the graduated red paintwork on the columns is somewhat flame-like and is perhaps a subtle reminder of the building's former use.

The doorway appears to have been changed with a porch added requiring one of the flames to be covered. The complex deco patterns (perhaps Maori inspired) on either side of the transom window are still visible.