Style: May 20, 2020

26 STYLE | architecture
The back deck has incredible views of Lyttelton Harbour.
(though now, since you’re of age,
you get a craft beer instead).
In each area the vibe changes,
explains Michael.
“So there are dark dingy corners
where you can go and talk about
solving the world’s problems
downstairs with somebody,
or you can be upstairs in your
grandmother’s living room with
your family, or out the back listening
to a band and playing up,” Michael
explains.
This feeling is enhanced through
the blending of materials on the
walls. The original concrete walls of
the bank, which are 300mm thick
with steel and built to withstand
nefarious criminal behaviour, have
been left exposed, adding a certain
grittiness to the downstairs engine
room of beer making and buying.
Where height has been added to
make room for the mezzanine,
vertical weatherboards saved from
an inner-city building line both the
additional walls and roof creating
warmth and nostalgia.
Huge skylights above the vats
send light down, which bounces off
the steel of the vats – almost like
the brewing operation has been
heartily approved of from above. It
sends light into the right nooks and
keeps dark those places for serious
discussion and contemplation.
Shaun leads the way to another
wee hideaway, through a door and
up stairs, to the outside deck, which
was dug into the side of the hill. It
is very quiet, just the gentle music
of the cicadas, with the cranes from
the port dancing. The water from
the harbour twinkles and the Port
Hills dips in its toes.
Shaun rubs his hand on his beard
and grins.
“Yeah, it’s pretty good.”