#Monomad Photography Terrace House Whanganui

I stumbled upon this building in Whanganui which is a town about a hour north of Wellington in New Zealand, we were staying there more for the fact that it was the right distance between two other places we wanted to go, and we had found a nice airbnb.

I didn't know what to expect, but then I rounded a corner whilst out walking on a grey day and found this, and wonderful Brutulist, I assumed office building which could have been just a easily at home in Tokyo or maybe a futuristic movie like Blade Runner. I was excited, I liked the angles, I liked just how ugly it all was, I liked that there where dirty puddles nearby and trees, beautiful trees.

I made a note to find out more, approaching it told me not much, there was a sign saying welcome but no hint that it was occupied, although it was Easter Monday so the town was largely deserted. Later that night I fired up the internet to see what I could fine, and the answer was still not much.

I learned it was built in the 1970's which I properly could have guessed, but the Government in particular the Ministry of Works which I would have also guessed, governments loved Brutalism in the 1970's I guess it was the right type of permanent, and hard wearing buildings they prefer. Unsurprisingly it's a bit of a controversial building, some like me, love it, some hate it, it would appear the government don't occupy it anymore It appears to have been sold in 2020 for just under $3.0mil NZD, which is $1.5mil EURO, which seems really cheap for a 5 story building with basement parking which promises Internal courtyards and roof top gardens and range of office spaces.

Unsurprisingly there seems to be a plan to convert it into 30 apartments, at a pre rennovation cost of $100K per apartment someone is going to make a lot of money out of this place