1 Albert Street, Auckland

1 Albert Street
Former namesWest Plaza
General information
Architectural styleModernism
Location1 Albert Street, Auckland, New Zealand
Completed1974
Height74 metres (243 ft)
Technical details
Floor count20
Design and construction
ArchitectNeville Price

1 Albert Street, previously known as West Plaza, is a high-rise commercial building in Auckland, New Zealand, demonstrating the influence of 20th-century modernism in that country. Completed in 1974, the building was designed by architect Neville Price, and reflects the nautical environment of downtown Auckland.[1]

History

West Plaza was designed by Neville Price under the Price Adams Dodd Partnership in 1970 and building work was completed in 1974.[2][3] At the time, it greatly contrasted with other buildings in downtown Auckland, such as its neighbouring Victorian-style Customs House.[1][4] It received a mostly positive reception and was viewed as, "a big part of Auckland's architectural evolution from a big town to a more elegant and sophisticated city".[1] However, the building was criticised for too closely resembling Gio Ponti's Pirelli Tower in Milan, with which it shares many design features.[3][5]

Modernism in New Zealand took off in the 1950s and 1960s during the post-WWII economic boom.[6] Neville Price's West Plaza reflected the tenets of the modern movement while also responding to its local, physical environment.[5]

Architecture

The high-rise building stands at 74 metres (243 ft). As of 2024, it is listed as the 34th tallest building in Auckland and the 55th tallest building in New Zealand.

Structurally, the building consists of a podium, which forms the ground floor entrance area.[5] Reinforced concrete columns at the building's perimeter, reinforced concrete beams supporting each floor, and a vertical core located at the rear façade, result in floor plates free of interior columns.[5]

Sitting above the podium, a notable feature of the building are concrete scoops, which collect rain and deflect down draughts.[1] Vertical concrete fins rise above the concrete scoops.[5]

Many design features of West Plaza respond to and interact with its environment. The building's thin, oval form aligns with its narrow corner site.[3] Its sculptural emulation of a vertical foil reflects its maritime surroundings and the vertical slats evoke masts, representing the notion of Auckland as the 'City of Sails'.[1][3]

Renovation

Agile Engineering re-developed West Plaza between 2019 and 2020.[7]

Ignite Architects were approached in 2022 to renovate the building, to meet evolving workplace requirements.[2] The firm worked alongside Neville Price to maintain the original design vision.[8] The renovations saw the main entrance move to Fanshawe Street to attract more foot traffic.[1] The podium was also a main focus, with its open areas that curve out against the street equipped with timber decking and slatted banquettes, recalling the maritime aspects of Price's original design.[1]

Recognition

The building's features earned it the title of the 'Crown Jewel of Auckland'.[8]

In 2005, the building received an Enduring Architecture Award in the New Zealand Institute of Architects national awards.[3][9] In 2023, at the Property Council New Zealand's Property Industry Awards, the renovated building was judged the winner in the commercial office property category.[10] Also in 2023, it received a bronze award in the repurposed spaces / adaptive reuse category of the Designers Institute of New Zealand's Best Awards.[11]

  • View from lower Albert Street
  • Side profile
  • Wingfoil shape seen from corner of Customs and Albert Streets
  • Podiums on view
  • Wingfoil shape seen from a little further up Albert Street

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Channelling that '70s' vibe". Architecture Now. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b "1 Albert Street - Ignite Architects". www.ignitearchitects.com. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e Gatley, Julia, ed. (2009). Long live the modern: New Zealand's new architecture, 1904-1984 (reprint ed.). Auckland: Auckland University Press. ISBN 978-1-86940-415-4.
  4. ^ Press (6 April 1974). "The old and new in Auckland. At left is the Victorian-style Customs House, and close to it is the partly-completed, 240ft, 20-storey West Plaza, designed by the architect, Neville Price". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  5. ^ a b c d e Haarhoff, E. J. (2006). Guide to the architecture of central Auckland (2nd ed.). Auckland, N.Z: Balasoglou Books. ISBN 978-0-9582625-6-9.
  6. ^ Architects (www.nzia.co.nz), NZ Institute of. "The story up to now". NZ Institute of Architects (www.nzia.co.nz). Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  7. ^ "West Plaza, 1 Albert St". Engineering Consultants NZ. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  8. ^ a b Architects (www.nzia.co.nz), NZ Institute of. "1 Albert". NZ Institute of Architects (www.nzia.co.nz). Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Right round like a record, baby in Remuera". NZ Herald. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  10. ^ "Property Industry Awards - Winners 2023". Property Council New Zealand. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  11. ^ "1 Albert Street | Best Awards". bestawards.co.nz. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
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