Art Deco Favourite

National Tobacco Company Ltd. Ahuriri, Napier. June 2008. Ajr

The National Tobacco Company building in Ahuriri, Napier is everybody’s favourite example of Art Deco. Designed by architect Louis Hay and built in 1933, it is one of Napier’s most elaborately-detailed post-1931-earthquake buildings. It is seen by many as Hay’s tour de force for the way it combines elements from Art Nouveau, Art Deco and the Chicago School. Decorations on either side of the front door feature raupo (native bulrush) and roses and its brass banisters, ornate lamps, marble foyer and spectacular stained glass inner dome (featured here a few days ago – you’ll find it if you scroll down), combine to make it one of the most photographed buildings in Hawke’s Bay. I’m not going to confess to how many photos I took of it but I revisited it several times. www.hawkesbaynz.com