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Story: Public, commercial and church architecture

Landmark House, Auckland

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Landmark House, Auckland

Landmark House in Queen Street, Auckland, was designed by Alva Bartley and Norman Wade for the Auckland Electric Power Board and opened in 1929. It is among the few examples of the Chicago commercial Gothic style of skyscraper architecture in New Zealand, where narrow windows and mullions (piers) are used to emphasise the building's height. The building included a corner tower that was lit at night – a beacon of modernity. During the 1980s much of its interior was gutted as part of a neighbouring development.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Reference: 1104-8

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Ben Schrader, Public, commercial and church architecture – New takes on old styles, 1900 to 1930s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/44766/landmark-house-auckland (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Ben Schrader, published 28 March 2014.