131 Queen Street

Enhancing a heritage space

In a significant restoration, Krukziener Properties has transformed 131 Queen Street – originally built as the Milne & Choyce department store a century ago – into a refined commercial space that respects its architectural history while meeting contemporary needs.

The upper levels have been converted into luxury offices and a hospitality precinct, with the entrance lobby standing out as a defining feature of the development.

Sara Ford, GM of Krukziener Properties says ‘131 Queen has what can only really be described asa magnificent lobby – the most finely detailed in New Zealand, if not Australasia.’ Andrew Krukziener’s attention to detail is evident in every aspect. The entrance flooring plays an integral role in this, featuring bronze and marble flooring, custom designed 100oz wool carpets and a bespoke octagonal brass and black mat by Advance Flooring, all designed to complement the restoration.

A bespoke entrance mat solution inspired by architectural details

For every Krukziener project, Andrew draws inspiration from a building’s existing design elements and heritage. At 131 Queen Street, the most striking feature was its mushroom-head octagonal columns, which informed the broader design of the lobby.

All elements – signage, door handles, cornices and light fittings – were developed around this octagonal form. ‘It’s such a soft, elegant shape,’ Andrew explains. ‘A standard square entry mat wouldn’t have worked – it needed to be in keeping with the geometry of the space.’

Andrew has worked with Advance Flooring for over 25 years, beginning with his One Queen Street development (formerly the Air New Zealand Building). At the time, only long-stripe entry matting was available. Finding it visually unsuitable, he collaborated with Advance to develop a square-format matting, now known as Advance's popular Shuttle system, which he has since specified in all his buildings.

For 131 Queen Street, the collaboration evolved further to create an octagonal entry mat. Andrew provided the design vision, while Advance Flooring developed working drawings, 3D modelling and prototypes to refine the design and ensure precision in the manufacturing process.

A key challenge was ensuring only full octagons appeared on the mat – no half-cut shapes along the edges. To resolve this, triangular shapes were introduced to create a cohesive edge layout.

An additional detail inlaid in the mat is a brass plate engraved with ‘1924 131 Queen Street 2024,’ marking the building’s centenary. The plate integrates seamlessly with the gold and black brass frame, complementing the lobby’s other brass and bronze elements. The result is an entrance that aligns with the building’s historic character while meeting the functional needs of a high-traffic commercial space.

Bringing architectural history to life

A Krukziener property such as 131 Queen Street demonstrates absolute attention to detail, making integrated, custom-designed entrance matting key to a refined entrance experience. Their collaboration with Advance Flooring has resulted in a well-executed, architecturally appropriate solution.

The entrance to 131 Queen Street is not just a threshold – it is a carefully considered element of the building’s restoration, reinforcing its design language and materiality.

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