New Regent Street, Spanish Mission style heritage street in Christchurch, New Zealand.
New Regent Street is a heritage shopping mall in Christchurch with roughly forty connected shops lining both sides of a 100-meter pedestrian space. The buildings feature Spanish Mission style architecture with shaped gables, decorative medallions, tiled window hoods, and ornamental columns.
The street opened in 1932 on the site of the Colosseum, Christchurch's first cinema building that had previously stood there. Architect Francis Willis designed the pedestrian mall to showcase modern retail with distinctive architectural detailing.
The street reflects 1930s Spanish Mission design with ornate gables, decorative tiles, and detailed metalwork that you notice on every building facade.
The street is a flat, easy-to-walk pedestrian area where shops and cafes line both sides. Heritage trams run through the space, so watch for the tracks and stay in the designated walking areas.
When it opened in 1932, the street was fitted with around 400 electric lamps, attracting crowds who came to see the night lighting display. This illumination made it a destination attraction at a time when shopping streets rarely had such modern features.
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