New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 33/04C | Page 25

the development within the city’s history and, as
part of this, we restored and reinforced at consider-
able expense the 1935 heritage building facade on
the corner of Cashel Mall and Colombo Street. We
also retained the airbridge that will link across from
here to the Christchurch retail icon Ballantynes.”
Together with connections to the old – another
historic facade was also retained – there is also the
architecturally bold and decidedly brand new.
“With so many large buildings going up in the city
we wanted The Crossing to be on a more human
scale, with varied architectural elements through-
out. However, there are some substantial buildings
within this like the H&M building,” says Stuart Hay.
“This steel-frame building with its high-profile
tenant has a lightweight but dramatic composite
Facing page:High-end retail
– the fit-out for the H&M store
is nearly as dramatic as the
building’s 3D exterior cladding.
This page:Name retailers like
Barkers and Rodd & Gunn were
quick to secure their places in
the dynamic new retail mecca.
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