Holden's Buildings, Hastings

Hastings on New Zealand's North Island suffered greatly during the 1931 earthquake which also greatly affected the nearby town of Napier.

Much of Hastings was rebuilt in Spanish Mission or Art Deco style.

Holden's Buildings from 1934 is a fine Art Deco example. It was deigned by Albert Garnett and carries the year of construction in a beautiful Art Deco styled plaque.

The corner fo the buildings bears the name 'Nutter' and is therefore known as Nutter's Corner.

EK Building, Hastings

While Napier has claimed the title of "Art Deco City", nearby Hastings highlights it stock of Spanish Mission buildings. Hastings, however has it's share of deco, including this shop on a city centre corner.

The building has been flatten across the corner to provide a doorway with simple stepped decoration above.

I've called it the EK Building because those initials are incorporated into a panel on the side of the shop above the verandah. This panel is very decorative compared to the rest of the building where, in the main, the decoration consists of horizontal lines and simple decoration cut into the top of the wall.

The other decorative item is this stylised floral element sitting up roofline.

Dominion Restaurant, Hastings

The New Zealand town of Hastings, like the surrounding area and neighbouring town of Napier, suffered a lot of damage and loss of life during the 1931 earthquake and a major effort was required in the following years to rebuild the city.
The Dominion Restaurant was built in 1935 by Edward Anscombe & Associates and now operates as a fish and chip shop.
A lot of Hastings was rebuilt in Spanish Mission style but as you can see, the Dominion, is pure Art Deco.
The asymetrical windows either side of the entrance, curved on one side and stepped and angled on the other provide a great point of interest while the whole facade is drawn together by the green tiles and zig zag design below the windows.
It was closed when I visited Hastings but even time I look at this picture I wonder whether they have a nice booth where I can snuggle in with a huge plate of fish & chips.