Indigenous Deco – The State Insurance Building

The Art Deco style was known for its use of what were thought of as “exotic” motifs from “non-western” cultures. Egyptian imagery was popular, as were African and Middle Eastern themes. Mesoamerican architectural influence from Aztec and Mayan cultures were also popular (think ziggurats).

In New Zealand some local architects chose to incorporate Māori imagery and there’s not better example of this than in the State Insurance Building at 116 Worcester St by Cecil W Wood.

Before the quakes this building housed the Design and Arts College of New Zealand as well as the Kaplan International English school but was originally the State Insurance Building. It was completed in 1935 and from a distance looks relatively plain. Once closer to the building a lot of decoration is visible and most of it draws on traditional Māori carving.