Conservation of our commercial building resources: case study, the Dominion Farmers' Institute, 110 Featherston Street

Abstract

The first section of this paper will discuss the relevance of the building conservation movement as a whole and then, in more detail, define measures which can be applied to any aging commercial building to discover its potential for conservation. These parameters will then be applied to the Dominion Farmers' Institute in particular to gauge its potential for redevelopment and to illustrate the building conservation process. The final section then outlines the development of a schematic design to utilize the economic potential of the existing investment. I have chosen to study the Dominion Farmers' Institute (DFI) because it epitomi es those values in a threatened building which add to the quality of life in its neighbourhood. I see this building as an asset to Wellington which is increasing in value daily as many structures of similar age, construction and quality are demolished. It is buildings like the D.F.I. which guard our environment by generating a sense of pride in, and belonging to, our surroundings.